# How to waste time in Processing? (delay with Arduino)

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [April 4, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231 "2024-04-04T14:24:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zlfp](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/zlfp/32/19543_2.png) [@zlfp](https://discourse.processing.org/u/zlfp)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/1 "2024-04-04T14:24:27Z")

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hello, how to wait time in processing?  
and im haven’t arduino to use `delay()` in serial.  
so, can you help me?

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**Author:** ![Chrisir](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/chrisir/32/45_2.png) [@Chrisir](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Chrisir)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/2 "2024-04-04T18:34:23Z")

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You can make a timer using millis()

draw () runs on and on but the next step is only done  
when if(millis()-timer \> 5000) {

and say int timer = millis(); to start the timer

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zlfp](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/zlfp/32/19543_2.png) [@zlfp](https://discourse.processing.org/u/zlfp)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/3 "2024-04-04T20:19:55Z")

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what? no, just wait per frame, not per frame’s  
no, im sure can do that with `milis()`, but this is tons of code, is not mine (no offense)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chrisir](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/chrisir/32/45_2.png) [@Chrisir](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Chrisir)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/4 "2024-04-04T22:24:27Z")

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In theory, you can use the same timer in a while loop  
and stay in draw() (in the same frame)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 10:56am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/5 "2024-04-05T10:56:52Z")

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You do not want a (long) delay inside the draw method otherwise it will inhibit event handling and make the app unresponsive.

Why do you want a delay? Do you actually need a delay?

It would help if you explain more about what you attempting to do in your sketch.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chrisir](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/chrisir/32/45_2.png) [@Chrisir](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Chrisir)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/6 "2024-04-05T12:45:18Z")

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working with Arduino you sometimes need a delay iirc.

But I would not recommend to use more than 200 millis…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/7 "2024-04-05T13:14:11Z")

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You can try using the pause function in this sketch

```auto
void setup() {
  size(400, 300);
  textSize(30);
}

void draw() {
  background(20);
  fill(255);
  // Display time since sketch started
  text(millis(), 50, 100);
}

// Pause time in milliseconds
void pause(int time_ms) {
  try {
    Thread.sleep(time_ms);
  }
  catch(Exception e) {
    println(e.toString());
  }
}

void keyTyped() {
  if (key == 'p')
    pause(2000); // Pause for 2 seconds
}

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zlfp](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/zlfp/32/19543_2.png) [@zlfp](https://discourse.processing.org/u/zlfp)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/8 "2024-04-05T13:29:23Z")

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yes, im try `pause()`, but i have an version 4.3 don’t sure that will be work

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/9 "2024-04-05T13:36:08Z")

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> [@zlfp](#):
>
> but i have an version 4.3 don’t sure that will be work

The sketch worked for me in 4.3 😁

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zlfp](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/zlfp/32/19543_2.png) [@zlfp](https://discourse.processing.org/u/zlfp)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-waste-time-in-processing-delay-with-arduino/44231/10 "2024-04-05T13:44:00Z")

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ok, thanx quark (this coment for this this line for just here’s be \>20 simvols)