# What is py5?

Py5 is a creative coding framework for Python. Its use and
functionality is analogous to the widely used
[Processing](https://processing.org/) framework. It is a Python version
of [Processing](https://processing.org/).

Internally py5 uses [Processing](https://processing.org/)\'s core
libraries, which are written in Java, while providing the end user with
a (mostly) seamless Python programming experience.

I started working on py5 in the Spring of 2020 when I was a Research
Resident at [ITP](https://tisch.nyu.edu/itp). It began as a diversion
from my pandemic-related anxieties and grew into the library it is
today. I intend to use it as an outlet for my artistic endeavors
involving Python\'s machine learning and data science tools and want to
make it available and useful for other artists to do the same.

The py5 library itself is created by the meta-programming project
py5generator. The [source code for py5](https://github.com/py5coding/py5) and
[the source code for py5generator](https://github.com/py5coding/py5generator)
are both available on github.

## Acknowledgments

I\'d like to thank and acknowledge all the people who helped make py5
possible.

- [Ben Fry](https://benfry.com/), [Casey Reas](http://reas.com/), and
  [the rest of the Processing
  team](https://github.com/processing/processing4/graphs/contributors?from=2019-10-01&to=2021-01-01&type=c).
  [Processing](https://processing.org/) has been around for over 20
  years and is used by thousands for creative coding projects. Much of
  py5\'s functionality is provided by the Processing core libraries.
  Py5 stands on the shoulders of giants.

- [Marina Zurkow](https://o-matic.com), for believing in me and
  collaborating with me to create art with Processing and py5. Much
  of py5's early development was done while also creating
  [Hudson Follies](https://ixora.io/art/hudson_follies/). The
  opportunity for me to collaborate with Marina provided py5 with an
  opportunity to grow and mature into the library it is today.

- [Jonathan Feinberg](http://mrfeinberg.com/) and the rest of the
  [Processing.py](https://py.processing.org/) contributors.
  Processing.py is a Jython version of
  [Processing](https://processing.org/), combining the same Processing
  core libraries that py5 utilizes with
  [Jython](https://www.jython.org/), a Java implementation of Python.
  Processing.py is the spiritual ancestor to and inspiration for py5.
  Py5 is similar to Processing.py in that both use Python syntax but
  their implementations are very different. Processing.py and py5 do
  not share any code but py5 benefits from code in the Processing core
  libraries written to accommodate Processing.py.

  I\'d also like to thank Jonathan Feinberg for building the awesome
  Processing library [PeasyCam](http://mrfeinberg.com/peasycam/).
  PeasyCam is one of the Processing libraries I know to work well in
  py5.

- The developers of the
  [JPype](https://github.com/jpype-project/jpype/) and
  [PyJNIus](https://github.com/kivy/pyjnius) Python libraries. Both of
  these libraries allow Python code to interact with Java code in the
  Java Virtual Machine using
  [JNI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Native_Interface). Py5
  originally used PyJNIus but later switched to JPype. PyJNIus is
  maintained by the [Kivy](https://kivy.org/) project (which I am a
  member of). JPype\'s lead developer
  [Thrameos](https://github.com/Thrameos) introduced us to their
  library and motivated me to switch.

- [Lauren McCarthy](https://lauren-mccarthy.com/), who created
  [p5.js](https://p5js.org/), a JavaScript version of Processing.
  Lauren helped me understand the importance of developing the
  [](community). It is from p5 that py5 gets its name.

- The [ITP](https://tisch.nyu.edu/itp) faculty, including [Tom
  Igoe](https://tigoe.com/), [Dan Shiffman](https://shiffman.net/),
  and [Allison Parrish](https://www.decontextualize.com/). All
  provided early feedback that provided guidance and helped keep me
  motivated. Allison also helped me understand the importance and
  value of the integrating py5 with Jupyter notebooks.

- The [ITP](https://tisch.nyu.edu/itp) residents of 2019 to 2020, for
  putting up with me and being available to bounce ideas off of as I
  was in the early stages of developing this idea.