processing.cpp

C++ Mode for Processing. Write sketches with setup() and draw() inside the Processing IDE, or drop the engine into your own C++ project and use the same API from your own editor and build system.

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Two ways to use it

1. Inside the Processing IDE

If you know Processing, this is the fastest way in. Install C++ Mode through the Contribution Manager, select it from the mode dropdown, and write sketches exactly like you normally would. They compile to native C++ instead of Java, but the workflow is identical.

Install:

1. Open Processing
2. Click the mode dropdown (top right, says Java by default) → Add Mode...
3. Search for C++ Mode and click Install
4. Restart Processing, select C++ from the mode dropdown

void setup() {
    size(640, 360);
}

void draw() {
    background(20);
    fill(255, 140, 0);
    circle(mouseX, mouseY, 40);
}

2. As a standalone header library

Use the Processing-style API in any C++ project without opening the Processing IDE. Two packaging options:

Drag-and-drop — unzip, drop two files next to your source, compile:

#include "Processing.h"

struct Sketch : public Processing::PApplet {
    void settings() override { size(640, 360); }
    void setup()    override { background(0); }
    void draw()     override {
        background(0);
        fill(255, 140, 0);
        circle(mouseX, mouseY, 40);
    }
};

int main() {
    Sketch sketch;
    sketch.run();
}

g++ -std=c++17 main.cpp Processing.cpp -o sketch && ./sketch

CMake — add as a subdirectory and link:

add_subdirectory(processing-cpp)
target_link_libraries(your_target PRIVATE processing_cpp)

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Downloads

Get the latest release from the releases page:

• processing-cpp-dragdrop.zip — drag-and-drop version
• processing-cpp-cmake.zip — CMake version

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Requirements

Windows

MSYS2 with MinGW 64-bit. Install once:

pacman -S --needed mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc mingw-w64-x86_64-glfw mingw-w64-x86_64-glew

Always build from the MSYS2 MinGW 64-bit terminal, not PowerShell or Command Prompt.

macOS

Xcode command line tools and Homebrew:

xcode-select --install
brew install glfw glew

Linux

# Ubuntu / Debian
sudo apt install g++ libglfw3-dev libglew-dev

# Arch
sudo pacman -S gcc glfw glew

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Documentation

Full reference and tutorials at processing-cpp.github.io

• Getting Started — first sketch in the IDE
• Drag-and-Drop Setup — full Windows/macOS/Linux walkthrough
• CMake Setup — full Windows/macOS/Linux walkthrough
• Reference — full API reference
• Examples — 100+ example sketches

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License

LGPL-2.1