# Is there a place to look for coding challenges specially as a beginner?

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882>\
**Category:** Beginners\
**Created:** [August 6, 2025, 11:42am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882 "2025-08-06T11:42:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@cjef](https://discourse.processing.org/u/cjef)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 11:42am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882/1 "2025-08-06T11:42:53Z")

</div>

I just finished Shiffman’s 5 hour tutorial and it was amazing 😍

But right after that, I was looking at his code challenges and most of them are too advanced for me and i can’t jump ahead that much and prefer to learn step by step just like the tutorials, like i wish there was a second and third video that went over all of the language reference with projects. On top of that they are built with p5.js which i don’t mind if it’s what i have to change my focus on javascript after learning processing.

I’m looking for some ideas to work on, so far only built a simple sketch which initializes circles with random colors, sizes, positions and speed/directions. They change direction after hitting the window borders. I also wish there was a place to publish that sort of thing and get feedback and motivation.

On a side note, is Processing as a platform and community, moving towards putting most of its focus on p5.js? Or maybe it has already? Because most of newer Shiffman’s videos are built with p5.js. I kinda wish it’s not the case because i don’t like javascript and the that much 😵‍💫

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ProcessingOrg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/processingorg/32/18341_2.png) [@ProcessingOrg](https://discourse.processing.org/u/ProcessingOrg)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882/2 "2025-08-06T12:53:47Z")

</div>

Hi @cjef and congrats on finishing Dan Shiffman’s tutorial! That’s a big milestone.

If you’re looking for beginner-friendly challenges and learning materials for **Processing (Java)**, here are a few resources you might find helpful:

- 🧭 [**Official Processing tutorials:**](https://processing.org/tutorials) clear, step-by-step guides on everything from drawing shapes to working with arrays and images.
- 🎓 [**Fun Programming:**](https://funprogramming.org/) a series of short videos for absolute beginners, using Processing to explore creative code concepts slowly and clearly.
- 🌀 [**Plethora Project tutorials:**](https://www.plethora-project.com/education/2017/5/31/processing-java-programming) a more structured video series covering Processing basics and more advanced topics like physics and generative design.
- 📚 [**Processing books:**](https://processing.org/books) especially _Learning Processing_ by Daniel Shiffman, which continues in the same beginner-friendly style as his video tutorials. Or [**the Nature of Code**](https://natureofcode.com/) (the second edition uses p5.js, but all [the example are available for Processing](https://github.com/nature-of-code/noc-2-processing-port) as well).

For community and feedback:

- The **[Gallery](https://discourse.processing.org/c/gallery/21)** section of this forum is a great place to share your sketches.

> On a side note, is Processing as a platform and community, moving towards putting most of its focus on p5.js?

The **Processing Foundation continues to actively maintain and improve Processing (Java).** Over the past ten months, we’ve [released](https://github.com/processing/processing4/releases) ten new versions and are [actively working](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngQwedwFyOY) to modernize the platform, as well as some fun new features. Stay tuned!

Keep going, and feel free to share your sketch if you’d like feedback or ideas on what to try next!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GoToLoop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/gotoloop/32/86_2.png) [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882/3 "2025-08-06T14:33:28Z")

</div>

[Exercism.io](http://Exercism.io) got some conceptual programming challenges for many languages, like Java, JavaScript, Python, etc.:

> **[Java key concepts on Exercism](https://exercism.org/tracks/java/concepts)**
>
> Learn and master 26 key concepts in Java on Exercism.

> **[JavaScript key concepts on Exercism](https://exercism.org/tracks/javascript/concepts)**
>
> Learn and master 37 key concepts in JavaScript on Exercism.

> **[Python key concepts on Exercism](https://exercism.org/tracks/python/concepts)**
>
> Learn and master 17 key concepts in Python on Exercism.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@cjef](https://discourse.processing.org/u/cjef)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882/4 "2025-08-06T15:23:52Z")

</div>

I actually love projects and topics like the ones in _the_ _nature of code_, things like exploring algorithms behind nature and intersection between science/math and art and computer science, but I didn’t know that the code also has a Processing version.

And regarding the _Learning Processing_ book i was under the impression that it’s outdated because of the publication date but now I’m gonna look into it.

The posts in the gallery section seem like they’re mostly by more skilled people but yeah, maybe I should just go ahead and post and it’ll encourage other beginners to post as well.

Thank you very much ☺

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@cjef](https://discourse.processing.org/u/cjef)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-a-place-to-look-for-coding-challenges-specially-as-a-beginner/46882/5 "2025-08-06T15:29:07Z")

</div>

Thank you, although I couldn’t find anything related to Processing and I’m not really into programming in general and mostly interested in creative coding but I’m sure there’s a lot of stuff in there for others who might enjoy it