# Read/write data on a remote server

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179>\
**Category:** Project Guidance\
**Created:** [September 20, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179 "2025-09-20T17:11:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EricRogerGarcia](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/ericrogergarcia/32/21029_2.png) [@EricRogerGarcia](https://discourse.processing.org/u/EricRogerGarcia)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179/1 "2025-09-20T17:11:33Z")

</div>

Is it conceivable to use Processing or P5js to read/write data on a remote server?

It would be about creating an application to query the data of their account (with the use of a password).

What would be the simplest way to go about it?

---

<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:** [September 21, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179/2 "2025-09-21T00:38:43Z")

</div>

> [@EricRogerGarcia](#):
>
> Is it conceivable to use Processing or P5js to read/write data on a remote server?

Yes, it is absolutely conceivable to use **Processing** to read and write data on a remote server. You can achieve this by making use of its built-in networking libraries

- [Network / Libraries / Processing.org](https://processing.org/reference/libraries/net/index.html)  
is a simplified wrapper around the core **[java.net](http://java.net) library**.

> [@EricRogerGarcia](#):
>
> What would be the simplest way to go about it?

To read and write data on a remote server with Processing, you can use HTTP requests (GET/POST) for data exchange.

Related:

> [@\[Processing net POST request\] Error : Client got end of stream](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-net-post-request-error-client-got-end-of-stream/12339):
>
> Hello ! I want to send data from arduino to a local server via a serial connection. I have found this [example](https://eacpds.com/thingworx-using-an-arduino-uno-and-serial-connection/) online but I have an End of stream error when I execute the code. This is follows by many java.lang.NullPointerException. I don’t know how to debug the code because i don’t understand what can end of stream and for NullPointerException (it is write errors at line 95 but i have only 94 lines. I think the issue is not on the serial connection to the arduino board because I receive the …

This is a while back and I won’t be revisiting this anytime soon.

I did come up with a simple proof of concept with a local Python server and communicating to it with a Processing client sketch.  
I have done this in the past and needed a serious refresher!

This should be enough to get you started!

Client:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/f/6/f658464966326e1df1fc5dcf28eb9ce48cd3e789.png)

Python server running in command window:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/b/e/be4dc0ff0778c652e668dba36aee1cf8c74c364b.png)

Python server in editor:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/4/d/4d4fb6a7a109da86e8100fda94c6a1336565156a.png)

Saves to log.txt file:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/2/f/2f77eeb1733eb7f745ea610e3f4fbb7d27d1fe95.png)

This was familiar to me and that simplified things.  
There will be a learning curve.

Have fun!

`:)`

---

<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:** [September 26, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179/3 "2025-09-26T15:01:17Z")

</div>

> [@EricRogerGarcia](#):
>
> What would be the simplest way to go about it?

Hello @EricRogerGarcia,

Any success with this project?

`:)`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EricRogerGarcia](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/ericrogergarcia/32/21029_2.png) [@EricRogerGarcia](https://discourse.processing.org/u/EricRogerGarcia)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179/4 "2025-09-26T17:52:53Z")

</div>

I’m still investigating 🙃 …

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EricRogerGarcia](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/ericrogergarcia/32/21029_2.png) [@EricRogerGarcia](https://discourse.processing.org/u/EricRogerGarcia)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179/5 "2025-09-27T17:45:51Z")

</div>

I need to study the possibility of creating a client application on smartphone and desktop (or in a browser) that can access a server that is constantly running.  
It is about allowing people to use a points system to buy and sell food.

N.B. Users would have a certain number of points per month based on a different monthly payment (in euros) depending on their resources. Sellers would receive euros based on their point sales.

I also have in mind the possibility of being able to build multiplayer games for later.

P.S. I am ready to study this subject… but I don’t really know where to start!

I’m wondering if I could use a server written in PHP (but I don’t know PHP yet) because PHP is available on most website owner

there is also the possibility to make a server with something like yunohost !

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EricRogerGarcia](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/ericrogergarcia/32/21029_2.png) [@EricRogerGarcia](https://discourse.processing.org/u/EricRogerGarcia)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/read-write-data-on-a-remote-server/47179/6 "2025-09-27T17:56:33Z")

</div>

I really would like to be able to use Processing/P5js and expand my PstarEngine project for this !

(for the client application)