# Pointless variable declaration in source code
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923
**Category:** Processing
**Created:** [March 7, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923 "2025-03-07T02:13:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@LangdonS](https://discourse.processing.org/u/LangdonS)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/22 "2025-03-13T00:26:01Z")
Which way works always and which one works only once?
---
### Author:  [@LangdonS](https://discourse.processing.org/u/LangdonS)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 12:29am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/23 "2025-03-13T00:29:50Z")
BTW, those links in the code comments are broken links.
Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the Processing language.
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 8:42am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/24 "2025-03-13T08:42:15Z")
> [@LangdonS](#):
>
> BTW, those links in the code comments are broken links.
You mean these below for **activateIgnoringOtherApps()** & **activate()** respectively:
> **[activate(ignoringOtherApps:) | Apple Developer Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsapplication/activate(ignoringotherapps:))**
>
> Makes the receiver the active app.
> **[activate() | Apple Developer Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsapplication/activate())**
>
> Activates the receiver app, if appropriate.
Both are working for me!
---
### Author:  [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 9:21am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/25 "2025-03-13T09:21:00Z")
> [@LangdonS](#):
>
> Which way works always and which one works only once?
If one only works once it would be impossible to prove that the other (opposite action) works always. 😁
My statement explained what I discovered when I ran the sketch why not try it for yourself. 😄
---
### Author:  [@LangdonS](https://discourse.processing.org/u/LangdonS)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/26 "2025-03-13T14:48:32Z")
The newest Mac I own is a 2011 21.5" iMac computer.
The latest OS it supports is macOS High Sierra.
I can’t run Processing 4 on Mac. ☹
I don’t even code Java on it anymore; The latest version of Intellij IDEA doesn’t run.
Interestingly, the latest version of Intellij IDEA that works officially only works on Mojave and higher. Someone probably contributed a patch that makes it work on High Sierra. Hooray for open source software!
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/27 "2025-03-13T15:11:55Z")
> [@LangdonS](#):
>
> I can’t run Processing 4 on Mac. ☹
I’m using [Garuda Linux](https://garudalinux.org), which is a distro based on [Arch](https://archlinux.org).
B/c it’s a “rolling release” distro, I always have the latest package versions forever!
For protection against bad updates, Garuda creates pre & post snapshots of the OS files each time we add, remove or update packages, making them available straight from its boot manager.
Found these wikis about installing Linux on Macs btW:
> **[MacBook Pro Installation Instructions](https://wiki.garudalinux.org/en/installation-instructions-macbook-pro)**
>
> Small guide to assist with the installation on MacBook Pro's
> **[GitHub - vaughaag/iMac12.1ArchInstall: Guide to install Arch Linux on an iMac 12.1](https://github.com/vaughaag/iMac12.1ArchInstall)**
>
> Guide to install Arch Linux on an iMac 12.1
> **[Install Ubuntu on Mac \[Dual Boot\] - LinuxSimply](https://linuxsimply.com/linux-basics/os-installation/dual-boot/ubuntu-on-mac/)**
>
> Follow the step-by-step instructions, tips, and tricks to install Ubuntu on your Mac easily as a dual boot.
---
### Author:  [@LangdonS](https://discourse.processing.org/u/LangdonS)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/28 "2025-03-15T19:32:02Z")
(post deleted by author)
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/29 "2025-03-15T20:40:27Z")
Clearly my reply was based on your complaint about not being able to run latest Processing 4.
It’s just an advise that it’s possible to breathe new life to your outdated iMac machine, being able to run latest apps again, by switching from MacOS High Sierra to a Linux distro.
---
### Author:  [@ProcessingOrg](https://discourse.processing.org/u/ProcessingOrg)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/30 "2025-03-15T23:24:07Z")
---
### Author:  [@ProcessingOrg](https://discourse.processing.org/u/ProcessingOrg)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923/31 "2025-03-15T23:27:56Z")
This thread has gone off-topic, and the tone of the exchange is becoming unproductive. Please take a moment to review our [community guidelines](https://discourse.processing.org/faq).
If you have a specific question, feel free to start a new thread. Just keep the discussion focused and respectful.
Thanks
[Previous page](https://discourse.processing.org/t/pointless-variable-declaration-in-source-code/45923.md?page=1)