# Processing-java CLI arguments for 4.4.4 on Mac

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [July 15, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734 "2025-07-15T18:30:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![blotto888](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/blotto888/32/20901_2.png) [@blotto888](https://discourse.processing.org/u/blotto888)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734/1 "2025-07-15T18:30:26Z")

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Hi ,

I am trying to pass arguments via the command line - and following the wiki suggestions to pass args after the --run command for example. However, I am getting an error from processing-java from the command line.

```auto
$ processing-java --sketch=my/sketch/folder --run 123 abc
Usage : processing cli [<options>]

Error : got unexpected extra arguments (123 abc)

```

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**Author:** ![glv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/glv/32/18785_2.png) [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734/2 "2025-07-15T19:21:48Z")

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Hello @blotto888 ,

What is the link to the wiki you are using?

Related topic:

> [@Processing 4.4.4 CLI (command line interpreter)](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-4-4-4-cli-command-line-interpreter/46641):
>
> Hello folks! I used to used the Processing CLI for projects: Processing 4.4.4 has change that and there is no processing-java.exe Is there any official documentation on the recent changes to the Processing 4.4.4 CLI? Where can I find proper usage instructions? Future of this? Reference: slight_smile

GitHub:

> <https://github.com/processing/processing4/issues/1184>
>
> \### Most relevant area for this enhancement?
> 
> Math, Accessibility
> 
> \### Feature t…o enhance
> 
> I would also like processing-java command line option, I realize you may be working on it.
> 
> \### Enhancement details
> 
> \#### Enhancement description
> Please add a processing-java.exe or .bat, I'm not sure if you have yet, please let me know where it is, I'd rather use the latest processing 4 with it.
> 
> \#### Benefits
> added security
> 
> \#### Challenges
> I use vim with processing-java, it would be nice to have that workflow for me, even in vscode possibly
> 
> \#### Additional context
> I'll check back here, I don't mind if you make as duplicate, I just want to know the path if it already exists, thanks!
> 
> \### Would you like to help implement this enhancement?
> 
> Yes, I’d like to help with this

`:)`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![blotto888](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/blotto888/32/20901_2.png) [@blotto888](https://discourse.processing.org/u/blotto888)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734/3 "2025-07-15T19:48:09Z")

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Thanks for the links. So it seems processing-java will be removed for 4.4.5? Not sure then if the 4.4.4 version is WAI. Still curious to understand argument usage and how to properly pass it through. Via the Wiki - I seem to be using it as documented.

I did find this usage based on the PRs and tried that…

`/Applications/Processing.app/Contents/MacOS/Processing cli --sketch=../../overlays/signal/mobile --run -- 123 abc`

But this gives the same error - “got unexpected extra arguments…”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/glv/32/18785_2.png) [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734/4 "2025-07-15T20:15:03Z")

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Window 10 and Processing 4.4.4 here.

I can’t find a wiki here:  
_[Home · processing/processing4 Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/processing/processing4/wiki)_

Just this for the _processing-java_ in older versions:  
_[Command Line · processing/processing Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/processing/processing/wiki/Command-Line)_

I was able to launch a sketch:  
`D:\Program_Portable\Processing-4.4.4>Processing.exe cli --sketch="D:\Users\GLV\Documents\P4\Game_1_0_0" --run`

This did not return anything:  
`D:\Program_Portable\Processing-4.4.4>Processing.exe cli --help`

I can’t comment any further on this.

`:)`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stefterv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/stefterv/32/21678_2.png) [@stefterv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/stefterv)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 5:52am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-java-cli-arguments-for-4-4-4-on-mac/46734/5 "2025-07-16T05:52:10Z")

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Hi @blotto888

`processing-java` will stay it has been renamed to `processing cli` on some platforms, on macOS it will stay `processing-java` for a little while longer.

> <https://github.com/processing/processing4/pull/1162>
>
> \*\*Resolves:\*\* \[Issue #1138\](https://github.com/processing/processing4/issues/113…8)
> 
> \*\*Changes:\*\* Using arguments.multiple() to pass the argument strings to Commander rather than defining each argument as a Clikt val in advance.
> 
> \*\*Tests:\*\* The following configs worked.
> 
> \- run --args='cli --sketch="/Users/tonz/Documents/Processing/test space/sketch\_Test" --run'
> \- run --args='cli --help'
> 
> \*\*Warning:\*\* When testing changes to this file, if you run into an error, try running:
> rm -rf /\[YOUR REPOSITORY PATH \]/app/build/compose/tmp 
> 
> \*\*Question:\*\* Should we nicely handle if they did not specify a required argument? Right now it errors out if no sketch is passed.

We fixed an issue with the CLI arguments in 4.4.5 so could you try that version to see if it fixes your issue?