Hey all,

I'm creating Processing tutorials for my little site, and I'm working on an OOP tutorial. I'd like to show an example of the private keyword (even though it's not really used in Processing, I was hoping to teach the concepts before jumping in to Java).

My idea was to show an example sketch where a ball chased the mouse when it was clicked. That works great. Then I wanted to expand that example and ask "what if you were working on a team, and somebody used the wrong variable from your Ball class?". Something like this:

1. Ball ball = new Ball();
   
   void setup() {
     size(500, 500);
     ellipseMode(CENTER);
   }
   
   void draw() {
     background(0);
     ball.draw();
   }
   
   void mouseClicked() {
     //was hoping for a compiler error here
     ball.x = mouseX;
     ball.y = mouseY;
   }
   
   class Ball {
     private int x = 250;
     private int y = 250;
   
     int targetX = 250;
     int targetY = 250;
   
     void draw() {
   
       if (x < targetX) {
         x++;
       }
       else {
         x--;
       }
   
       if (y < targetY) {
         y++;
       }
       else {
         y--;
       }
   
       ellipse(x, y, 25, 25);
     }
   }

I was hoping that the mouseClicked() method would result in a compile-time error, showing how you could use the private keyword to protect the variables you don't want other code messing with. But alas, this code runs fine.

I realize that this is happening because classes in Processing are inner classes, and private variables in inner classes are available to outer classes in Java... but is there a better way to show the use of the private keyword in Processing? Or is it just *never* used at all?

Appreciate any input or suggestions!

Kevin

I just updated to Processing 2.0b6, and I realized that the option to export as an applet (and a runnable jar) is no longer available.

Sadly, this is confirmed at here and here.

This seems like a huge drawback. Being able to share Processing sketches as both an applet and a runnable jar (and therefore Java Webstart) is great, and actually a requirement for many programming competitions and web portals.

I know I can use Java-fu to embed a Processing sketch in a Java applet, but many users aren't going to consider that option.

So my question is, is there a way to export a Processing sketch as an applet or a runnable jar (and Java Webstart) that I'm missing? Or any plans to bring it back in the near future? Why was it taken out in the first place?

Full disclosure: I run a Java and Processing game portal at Static Void Games, and this is going to be a big deal to my users.