Processing Collaborative Editor (pr05 grant project)

Processing Development
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Hello! My name is Dora and I recently have been working on the pr05 2024 grant project, Prototyping a Collaborative Editor for Processing. The Processing Collaborative Editor (PCE) is a desktop app that aims to make collaborative coding with Processing easier, more accessible, and ideal for both beginners and educators. Built using Electron, React, CodeMirror, and Y.js, the editor allows users to co-create Processing sketches in real time, drawing inspiration from tools like Google Docs and Figma.

Processing Collaborative Editor
Processing Collaborative Editor1920Ă—1248 91.8 KB

Project Goals

The main objectives of this project were to:

  1. Create an editor using web technologies that’s easy to expand and contribute to.
  2. Design an interface that makes Processing accessible to students and coding beginners by simplifying common challenges like file management.
  3. Enable real-time collaboration, where multiple users can work on the same sketch simultaneously.

Key Features

  • Built with modern technologies: Built on Electron + React, which has builds for Mac, Windows, and Linux, allowing a wider user base to get involved with development.
  • Simple UI for beginners: A streamlined, user-friendly interface designed to reduce distractions and let users focus on creativity.
  • Collaborative editing: Users can join a shared sketch session, see each other’s cursors, and co-create in real-time.

Current Limitations & Future Plans

As with any prototype, there are a few limitations, such as reliance on WebSocket for connections, which may limit performance at scale. In the future, I’d love to add features like library imports, WebRTC support for better peer-to-peer collaboration, and potentially an extension system to make the editor even more customizable.

Get Involved!

I’d love to hear from the Processing community! Whether you’re a developer interested in contributing, an educator who’d like to pilot the tool in your classroom, or a creative coder with feature ideas, I’d love your input. Feel free to explore the GitHub repo and share any feedback or questions below, or submit a feature request under “Issues”.

Download the app: Processing Collaborative Editor

See the Github repo: GitHub - doradocodes/processing-collab-editor: Prototype for a new collaborative code editor for Processing (2024 pr05)

Thanks,
Dora

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Impressive, especially for a solo project.

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