Tutorial: Controlling Processing.js with jQuery UI

Years ago when I was first learning to code, I stumbled upon Processing and we quickly became great friends. As it often goes though, the years went by and I started hanging out with bigger and more dangerous languages, and Processing and I drifted apart. Every so often I would think back on the good times we had and wonder what he was up to.

But recently we bumped into each other on the street! Well, not exactly – but lately I’ve been catching up with Processing’s web-friendly doppelgänger, Processing.js. If the original Java-based language ever had any shortcomings, it was that sharing your program (or sketch, as it’s referred to in the Processing world) meant exporting it as a Java applet and embedding it in a webpage. Ahh, the good old days.

Gladly those days are over with the Javascript- and HTML5-based port of the original language. Thanks to John Resig and the excellent PJS team, we can now sketch our hearts out and share our creations without even uttering the word “applet”!

“But wait!” you say! “Javascript? Does this mean I can combine Processing’s awesome visualization APIs with the convenience of other established Javascript frameworks such as YUI or jQuery?!” Excellent question! (more…)

Breadth-first search visualization

Here’s an interactive visualization I did of the breadth-first search/shortest path algorithm on a graph. I originally wrote this code in Java as part of a class project about a year ago. I cleaned up the original code and ported it to Processing.js, one of the most fantastic little toys I’ve ever played with. It turns what was once a Processing sketch into a Javascript/HTML5-based canvas animation. It’s basically magic.

I’ve also added some user interaction using jQuery UI sliders. (more…)

RabbitDial

I’ve just released my first Android creation! It’s a fast contact widget called RabbitDial. Get it?

- Unread SMS counter for each person
- Quick, like a bunny! 2-tap call and text your important contacts
- Customize your widget appearance with any photo
- Sleek-looking, minimalistic widget and interface
- Combine all of a contact’s phone numbers into one widget

Check it out, and leave me a review if you like it or have any suggestions!

Now I just have to figure out how to stop compulsively checking the Android Market dashboard to see how many downloads I have.