# Processing Serial library alternatives?

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609>\
**Category:** Libraries\
**Created:** [December 12, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609 "2025-12-12T16:37:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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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:** [December 12, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609/1 "2025-12-12T16:37:02Z")

</div>

Hello,

The _Processing Serial library_ has served me very well over the years!

I am looking for alternatives to the _Processing Serial library_ for some of my more advanced projects.

What are your experiences with other Java serial libraries?

I have been exploring _jSerialComm_ and leaning toward using that:

> **[jSerialComm](https://fazecast.github.io/jSerialComm/)**
>
> jSerialComm : Platform-independent serial port access for Java

_ **NOTE:** _  
[_AI was used for research_](https://discourse.processing.org/faq#ai) for _AI generated responses_ below and need to be _scrutinized_.

Google Gemini comparison:

> **Summary**
>
> | **Feature** | **Processing Serial Library (Wrapper)** | **jSerialComm (Standalone)** | **Accuracy Assessment** |
> | --- | --- | --- | --- |
> | **API Abstraction** | High-Level, Simplified. | Low-Level, Standard Java. | **Accurate.** The wrapper hides complexity, exposing simple, Processing-friendly methods. |
> | **Underlying Library** | **jSSC** (Java Simple Serial Connector). | **jSerialComm** (Modern, actively maintained). | **Accurate.** Confirmed by the source code you provided for Processing’s current implementation. |
> | **Ease of Use** | Very High. | Medium. | **Accurate.** Processing’s single `serialEvent()` callback is much simpler than managing Java I/O Streams and custom listeners. |
> | **Threading Model** | **Fixed.** Uses a dedicated callback (`serialEvent`) invoked by Processing’s core loop (`pre()`). | **Flexible.** Supports Blocking, Non-Blocking, and dedicated thread Listeners. | **Accurate.** This is a critical architectural difference. Processing forces the use of `pre()` to handle events safely. |
> | **Configuration** | **Limited.** Simple parameters. | **Extensive.** Full control over advanced parameters. | **Accurate.** The wrapper focuses on common settings; jSerialComm exposes virtually all port options. |
> | **Port Listing** | Simple array of port names: `Serial.list()` | Returns detailed `SerialPort` objects. | **Accurate.** jSerialComm provides a richer data object for each port. |
> | **Error Handling** | Relies on throwing `RuntimeExceptions`. | Uses standard Java checked exceptions (`try-catch`). | **Accurate.** Processing often throws an immediate Runtime error, whereas Java best practice (like jSerialComm) uses recoverable exceptions. |
> | **Port Status** | Only exposes `active()`, `getCTS()`, and `getDSR()`. | Provides methods to check and set the state of **all** control lines (DTR, RTS, CTS, DSR). | **Accurate.** The Processing code snippet confirms it exposes limited control line status. |

ChatGPT comparison:

> **Summary**
>
> | **Feature** | **Processing Serial Library (Built-in with jSSC)** | **jSerialComm** |
> | --- | --- | --- |
> | **Integration with Processing** | Built-in and part of Processing 4.x (uses **jSSC** internally) | Not built-in, but can be added to Processing |
> | **Ease of Use** | Very easy to use, minimal setup | Slightly more complex, more control over settings |
> | **Platform Support** | Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS) via **jSSC** (native support for each OS) | Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS) with native support |
> | **Non-blocking IO** | No (blocking IO by default) | Yes, supports non-blocking IO (asynchronous reads/writes) |
> | **Port Scanning** | Manual, you have to use `Serial.list()` to find ports | Automatic detection and port scanning |
> | **Advanced Features** | Basic serial communication (open, close, read/write) | Full feature set (timeouts, non-blocking, error events) |
> | **Real-Time / Performance** | Suitable for simple, low-latency projects | Better for performance-intensive or real-time apps |
> | **Error Handling** | Basic error reporting | Advanced error handling with customizable callbacks |
> | **Timeouts** | No built-in timeout support | Yes, supports read/write timeouts |
> | **Use Case** | Quick prototyping, simple serial communication | High-performance apps requiring fine-grained control |
> | **Custom Configuration** | Limited (only basic port settings available) | Full control over baud rate, stop bits, data bits, etc. |
> | **Extensibility** | Not easily extensible beyond what Processing offers | Fully extensible and customizable for advanced use cases |

`:)`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jafal](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/jafal/32/19112_2.png) [@jafal](https://discourse.processing.org/u/jafal)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609/2 "2025-12-12T18:56:35Z")

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Hi

About Year ago with help of deep seek i made sketch that can communicate with c340 chip using APDE with native libraries the sketch just deal with esp32/ Arduino /etc that using c341/340

I played with all serial libraries to achieve that  
In the photos libraries I used …. may it could help

 ![Screenshot_2025-12-12-21-41-24-394](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/d/c/dc29703e8059cb75441b34ba071074e23f01b17f.jpeg)

 ![Screenshot_2025-12-12-21-39-55-201](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/9/6/960849d18cbc09f01c44528b748fd7156bb0ddc6.jpeg)

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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:** [December 12, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609/3 "2025-12-12T19:19:56Z")

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Hello,

Thanks for the feedback.

My focus is on alternatives to the _Processing Serial library_ for use with _Windows_ and _Processing Java_ version and _cross-platform_ for future projects:

_[processing4/java/libraries/serial at main · processing/processing4 · GitHub](https://github.com/processing/processing4/tree/main/java/libraries/serial)_

`:)`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![villares](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/villares/32/3166_2.png) [@villares](https://discourse.processing.org/u/villares)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609/4 "2025-12-16T18:39:05Z")

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> [@glv](#):
>
> I am looking for alternatives to the _Processing Serial library_ for some of my more advanced projects.

What is missing for you from the Processing Serial library?

Maybe we could convince someone to update it for the future, keeping the multi-platform “batteries included” nature of the Processing tools.

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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:** [December 16, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-serial-library-alternatives/47609/5 "2025-12-16T23:53:52Z")

</div>

> [@villares](#):
>
> What is missing for you from the Processing Serial library?

Hello @villares ,

One example:

> <https://github.com/processing/processing4/issues/1256>
>
> \### Most appropriate sub-area of Processing 4?
> 
> Events, IO
> 
> \### Processing versi…on
> 
> 4.4.7
> 
> \### Operating system
> 
> Windows 10
> 
> \### Bug description
> 
> I noticed that when you physically remove a connected serial device processing does not detect it and serial.list() does not update.
> 
> \### Steps to reproduce this
> 
> 1.connect serial device.
> 
> 2.run below sketch (set correct serial port).
> 
> 3.unplug serial device.
> 
> 
> \### snippet
> 
> \`\`\`processing
> 
> import processing.serial.\*;
> 
> Serial myPort; // Create object from Serial class
> 
> void setup() 
> {
> size(200, 200);
> 
> String portName = Serial.list()\[0\];
> myPort = new Serial(this, portName, 9600);
> }
> 
> void draw()
> {
> println(Serial.list());
> delay(500);
> }
> \`\`\`
> 
> 
> \### Additional context
> 
> The https://fazecast.github.io/jSerialComm/ library can detect hardware disconnects.
> 
> \### Would you like to work on the issue?
> 
> No, I’m just reporting the issue

Another example:

> [@Is there an associated timeout function when using Serial Buffer](https://discourse.processing.org/t/is-there-an-associated-timeout-function-when-using-serial-buffer/30886):
>
> I have been testing the [Serial library buffer() function](https://processing.org/reference/libraries/serial/Serial_buffer_.html) and it works very well with Serial Event. But I am left wondering what happens if the Serial port is somehow disrupted. Is there a timeout parameter somewhere that I can use (a bit like in Arduino with it’s [Serial.setTimeout() function](https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/communication/serial/settimeout/)), or is there some other way to still trigger the Serial Event (or trigger a flag/event to notify) to read or even clear the data.

The Processing library is a modified version of jSSC:

> <https://github.com/processing/processing4/blob/main/java/libraries/serial/library/jssc.txt>

The Processing version is a user friendly version; some of the features of _jSSC_ may not be exposed to us.

I _may_ try using the jSSC library (add the jssc.jar) directly:

- [GitHub - scream3r/java-simple-serial-connector: Official jSSC (Java Simple Serial Connector) repository](https://github.com/scream3r/java-simple-serial-connector) (original 12 years old)
- [GitHub - java-native/jssc: Java library for talking to serial ports (with added build support for maven, cmake, MSVC)](https://github.com/java-native/jssc) (forked from above)

_[jSerialComm](https://fazecast.github.io/jSerialComm/)_ is an option for users that want advanced features.  
I used it alongside the Processing Serial library here:  
[Processing not finding Arduino Uno - #5 by glv](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-not-finding-arduino-uno/47602/5)

`:)`