A simple sketch, that (if it points to the rights folders) will loop through your old processing-folder, and copy over all the libraries that don't exist in the new one, as well as copying over preferences.txt, and loading.gif

Just specify which version you are updating from and to, and where you've put it.
You will get an output with all folders / files that have been copied.

Code:

String path = "c:\\Program Files\\processing-";
String v1 = "0125";  // old version
String v2 = "0132";  // new version
boolean copyPreferences = false; // the newest version has changes to the preferences. be careful with this.
boolean output = false; // turn on to see output

File FolderA, FolderB;

void setup(){
  // Set Up Paths
  FolderA = new File(path+v1);
  FolderB = new File(path+v2);
  
  // Copy All Libraries
  if(output){
    println(" Copying Libraries from "+FolderA.getAbsolutePath()+" to + "+FolderB.getAbsolutePath()+". ");
    println();
  }
  stepThrough(new File(FolderA.getAbsolutePath()+"\\libraries"),new File(FolderB.getAbsolutePath()+"\\libraries"));
  // Copy loading.gif If It Doesn't Match
  if(copyIfNotSame("\\lib\\loading.gif")){
    println("OK - Loading.gif");
  }else{
    println("FAILED - Loading.gif");
  }
  // If Preferences Is To Be Copied
  if(copyPreferences){
    // Copy preferences.txt If It Doesn't Match
    if(copyIfNotSame("\\lib\\preferences.txt")){
	println("OK - Preferences");
    }else{
	println("FAILED - Preferences");
    }
  }
  noLoop();
}

boolean copyIfNotSame(String file)
{
  File A = new File(FolderA.getAbsolutePath()+file);
  File B = new File(FolderB.getAbsolutePath()+file);
  if(!compareFiles(A,B)){
    return Copy(A.getAbsolutePath(),B.getAbsolutePath());
  }
  return false;
}

boolean compareFiles(File A, File B){
  if(A.isDirectory() || B.isDirectory()) return false;
  try{
    FileInputStream inA = new FileInputStream(A);
    FileInputStream inB = new FileInputStream(B);
    if(inA.available() == inB.available()) return true;
    inA.close();
    inB.close();
  }catch(Exception e){
    println(e);
  }
  return false;  
}

void stepThrough(File A, File B)
{
  if(!A.isDirectory() || !B.isDirectory()) return;
  String[] missing = compareFolders(A,B);
  for(int i = 0; i < missing.length; i++){
    File source = new File(A.getAbsolutePath()+"\\"+missing[i]); 
    File dest = new File(B.getAbsolutePath()+"\\"+missing[i]); 
    if(source.isDirectory()){
	if(dest.mkdir()){
	  stepThrough(source,dest);
	}
    }else{
	if(Copy(source.getAbsolutePath(),dest.getAbsolutePath())){
	  if(output){
	    println("OK - "+source.getName());
	  }
	}else{
	  if(output){
	    println("FAILED - "+source.getName());
	  }
	}
    }
  }
}

String[] getFolder(File f)
{
  if(!f.isDirectory()) return null;
  return f.list();
}

String[] compareFolders(File src, File dest)
{
  if(!src.isDirectory() || !dest.isDirectory()) return null;
  String[] sSrc = getFolder(src);
  String[] sDest = getFolder(dest);
  String[] ret = new String[0];
  for(int i = 0; i < sSrc.length; i++){
    boolean exists = false;
    for(int j = 0; j < sDest.length; j++){
	if(sSrc[i].equals(sDest[j])) exists = true;
    }
    if(!exists) ret = append(ret,sSrc[i]);
  }
  return ret;
}

boolean Copy(String source, String dest){
  File inputFile = new File(source);
  File outputFile = new File(dest);

  try{
    FileInputStream in = new FileInputStream(inputFile);
    FileOutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(outputFile);
    int len;
    byte[] buf = new byte[1024];
    while ((len = in.read(buf)) > 0)
	out.write(buf,0,len);

    in.close();
    out.close();
    return true;
  }catch (Exception e){
    return false;
  }
} 
 

best
seltar

Hey andi,

Only glad I can be of help And thanks for testing it and making it work on a Mac. Hadn't gotten around to checking it out on a mac yet!

best,

seltar

ah ok, didnt know about the sketchbook solution. very convenient. was just wondering if it would be a good idea to promote this solution of putting 3rd party libraries into the sketchbook folder instead of the libraries folder of the processing app distribution. maybe to keep things organized there can be a libraries folder  in the sketchbook installed by default?

another plus for the sketchbook solution is that if you distribute a 3rd party library with an examples folder contained, examples will be accessible via the sketchbook menu. additionally, when importing a library from the menu bar, the 3rd party libraries will be separated from the default libraries and are contained in their own submenu - sketch/import libraries/libraries
maybe this is convenient not just for me?
best,
andi

sojamo wrote on Oct 29^th, 2007, 6:37am:

yes, it's promoted this way in the libraries documentation (libraries/howto.txt)

Libraries live inside the "libraries" folder of the Processing
distribution, however users are encouraged to install "contributed"
libraries in their sketchbook folder, which will prevent them
from having to move their libraries with new Processing releases.

not much else i can do than that. (outside of nagging every  library developer to change their docs)