# The p5.js Editor is moving to a new backend: help us test it!

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/the-p5-js-editor-is-moving-to-a-new-backend-help-us-test-it/49748>\
**Category:** p5.js\
**Created:** [October 22, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/the-p5-js-editor-is-moving-to-a-new-backend-help-us-test-it/49748 "2026-10-22T16:55:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kit](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kit/32/20478_2.png) [@kit](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kit)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/the-p5-js-editor-is-moving-to-a-new-backend-help-us-test-it/49748/1 "2026-10-22T16:55:55Z")

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Dear p5.js community,

Over the next few months, the p5.js Editor will update its backend infrastructure on how it stores sketches and accounts. Instead of using our own servers, the Editor will utilize OpenProcessing’s API and servers. [OpenProcessing](https://openprocessing.org/) is a social creative coding platform for Processing, founded in 2008. Processing Foundation and OpenProcessing have collaborated for years, most recently on the [Art + Code](https://openprocessing.org/class/99495#/) curriculum and associated professional development for K-12 teachers, and OpenProcessing’s sponsorship of [Processing Community Day](https://day.processing.org/about/).

A technical collaboration with OpenProcessing on the p5.js Editor will allow the p5.js community to spend more time on the user-facing parts of the Editor: fixing bugs, improving accessibility, supporting teachers and learners, and improving the possibilities for new contributors to propose new features. The Editor will look and work exactly as it did before, and your p5.js Editor and OpenProcessing accounts will stay separate.

No changes have taken place yet. The full data migration will happen **no sooner than December 15, 2026.** If you prefer to opt out, you can download all of your sketches and close your account.

There are three phases. You can take part in Phase 1 now. The second phase is a rigorous internal test that you won’t be part of. The third phase is the complete switch.

- **Phase 1: Open Testing (now):** Anyone with an OpenProcessing account can try it at [editor-op.p5.js.org](https://editor-op.p5js.org/). Action: Please test by **making new sketches** ; your existing OpenProcessing sketches might not work correctly or show up well (especially if they are “Tutorials”). This is a quirk of the alpha testing period. But please test behavior around sketches created in the p5.js Editor.

- **Phase 2: Staff and Maintainer Test (upcoming, not open to the public):** A small set of specific accounts is migrated in a rigorous test of the new system, and the migration process. Action: none for most users. You don’t need to do anything and you cannot join this phase.

- **Phase 3: Full switch (no earlier than December 15, 2026) :** [editor.p5js.org](http://editor.p5js.org) will go to the new backend, and all accounts are migrated. Action: download your sketches if you don’t want them hosted by OpenProcessing.

## How you can help test:

- Go to [editor-op.p5js.org](http://editor-op.p5js.org) and log in with an OpenProcessing account. If you don’t have one, you can make one for free. **Please only test with new sketches you made in the new Editor.**

- These new sketches should work fine on both p5.js Editor and OpenProcessing. The projects you will create during this phase will not be lost: after the alpha phase, they will still be accessible on OpenProcessing.

- Your existing sketches on OpenProcessing may be missing index.html file, therefore not work currently on p5.js editor properly during the alpha testing phase. Ultimately, the accounts will stay separate, so this is a quirk of the alpha testing period. If you find a problem, report it on [GitHub](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-editor-op/issues), Discourse [this thread], or Discord ([discord.p5js.org](http://discord.p5js.org)).

## Future Changes to Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

We’re in the process of updating the p5.js Editor’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service to match these changes.

- Your sketches and account information will be stored by OpenProcessing.
- We’ll switch to Fathom Analytics, which [doesn’t use cookies](https://usefathom.com/why-fathom-analytics/privacy-focused-web-analytics) for web analytics.
- We’ll remove services we no longer use.
- We’ll make the policy more accurate about what data we collect and what we don’t.

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## FAQs

**Q: When will migration happen?**  
A: Migration will take place no earlier than on **December 15, 2026.** However, the timeline may be longer, depending on the results of the alpha and beta testing periods.

**Q: Does this mean my OpenProcessing and p5.js Editor accounts are automatically merged?**  
A: No, although in the future we plan to develop a function to optionally merge your accounts if you choose. Merged accounts are not the default. [OpenProcessing.org](http://OpenProcessing.org) and the p5.js Editor remain separate tools. This collaboration affects the p5.js Editor back-end operations only.

**Q: What happens if I do nothing?**  
A: Your account and sketches will move to OpenProcessing during the full switch, unless you download them first.

**Q: Where can I learn more about this, or ask additional questions?**  
A: Discord ([discourse.p5js.org](http://discourse.p5js.org), Channel: `#editor-new-backend`) or this Discourse thread.

**Q: How can I opt out?**  
A: You can opt out by downloading all your content and hosting it elsewhere.

**Q: I have ideas for how to improve the p5.js Editor design or user experience! Where can I share them?**  
A: Because we are focusing on backend stability and sustainability right now, it may take much longer to triage new ideas and feature suggestions. Please check [existing issues](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-web-editor/issues) first as there’s a number of feature ideas that are currently open that need more extensive community discussion - maybe some of the existing threads could benefit from a new perspective!

* * *

_I’ll be back on this thread every couple of weeks or so to respond to ideas and questions! I will expend the FAQs above to cover incoming questions. I am more frequently active on [discord.p5js.org](http://discord.p5js.org), and can be found there as `kit @ processing foundation`._

Best,  
Kit.