11.1. Functional differences

Dotnetprocessing is a port of the original language. But as they are implemented with different languages and in a different way, they have different features:

• The original language needs the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed in the client computer to running sketches, so that it was coded in Java. It makes it so much portable. Dotnetprocessing only can be executed in computers with .NET Framework or Mono, because it's implementated with .NET technology. That's why it's less portable than the original.

• Processing sketches can only be coded in Java language, while dotnetprocessing allows programming in some .NET languages: C#, J# and Visual Basic. This is one of the advantages of using our language: it's is more flexible and can be used by more programmers.

• Processing is a multiplatform language and it can be displayed in almost all operating systems with graphical environment. It has this feature because it uses the JVM. As we had explained in the first paragraph, our language depends on .NET Framework and it makes it less multiplatform than the original.

• Actually, dotnetprocessing only works with Intenet Explorer, while Processing can be executed at least with Explorer and Mozilla browsers. It's because of Mozilla doesn't have yet a plugin for execute our code.

• Our sketches can be exported to web controls, to DLL's (for use in all .NET applications) and to autoexecutable programs. The original language can export only web controls. This is one extra feature in favour of our port.

• Dotnetprocessing makes possible interactions between two or more sketches. We can implement a project using some sketches and catch events of one of them to make an action in other one. That functionality isn't present in the original environment.

• Processing is an older language and it's more developed than dotnetprocessing. It has more extra features like 3D graphics or sounds. It has a lot of libraries that can expand his features and makes it very powerful and easy to use. It has a great community that supports it. Our language is only a part of it, and it isn't yet so extended, but it's a good beginning of its alternative.

• Interactuate between sketches...