Processing vs Flash?

FlowingData Forums » Data Visualization

Started 2 years ago by yghitza / 7 posts

yghitza
Member
Posted 2 years ago #

I'm new to advanced visualization tools (i.e. anything besides R and Excel) and trying to figure out what tools to learn. I'm hoping to make some custom interactive web-accessible visualizations -- think of Hans Rosling as a starting point -- and have some coding background.

I get the sense that Processing and Flash/Actionscript are two of the main options. From what I can tell, people seem to describe Processing as a learning tool and a good place to start, but then you might want to move to something else. My question: what does Processing lack that Flash/Actionscript has? In other words, if I learn Processing (which is open source and has a ton of easily accessible learning materials), what are the drawbacks? Can Flash more easily handle large-scale data, advanced GUIs, something else? Is there something else I should consider? I looked around a little bit but haven't found satisfying answers to these questions.

For what it's worth, I'm a student so cheap or free is always a bonus. At the same time, I'll be investing a lot of time so I'm not just looking for a temporary solution.

Thanks for any help!
nathany
FlowingData Editor
Posted 2 years ago #

if you're after interactive web viz, then processing and flash/actionscript are definitely where it's at. rosling's trendalyzer, for example, is in flash. Some people are using Flex too, which in the end comes down to Flash.

I've done some stuff in Processing, which seems to take less time to actually start producing stuff if you're new to the area. People are doing really advanced stuff with Processing too though, so it's not just a learning tool.

I think that since you're just beginning, you should go with Processing to start and move to Flash if it doesn't suit your needs. There's a good number of tutorials.

Personally, I code in actionscript in Flex Builder. Students can get a free license here:

https://freeriatools.adobe.com/flex/

The main thing is just getting started. I guess that's always the hardest part. Basically, if you learn either in depth, you'll always be able to go to the other later on, and it won't be a hard transition.
femion
Member
Posted 2 years ago #

I've done web-based science data visualizations in both Processing and in Flash. I haven't used Flex, and I programmed in AS 2.0.

Flash Disadvantages:

- data must be in xml and the way to search through your xml data was a little infuriating (at least in AS 2.0)
- the geometric functions were a little limited (at least in AS 2.0). I think they've expanded a bit in AS 3.0.
- proprietaryness. There is an open source AS compiler, but I never got it to work correctly.

Flash Advantages:

- timeline control
- vector graphics editor built-in
- easily compiled and exported to the web

Processing disadvantages:
- has some bugs when you try to import external libraries
- has some bugs when you re-export your applets
- applets must be signed if you're going to talk to the internet for anything, or else they'll crash.
- no graphics editor - external images must be imported as vector graphics
- no timeline editor (although the play functions are intuitive)

Processing advantages:

- not proprietary
- can accept any type of data (not just xml)
- nice tight knit community
- lots of geometric functions

I lean towards Processing.
yghitza
Member
Posted 2 years ago #

Great, thanks very much, this is really helpful.
goldfisch
Member
Posted 2 years ago #

@femion
try flash with json instead of xml. you will find an as2 class here http://www.json.org/json.as
i find it much easier to work with json, because the data structure can be accessed as object.
kevincannon
Member
Posted 2 years ago #

I'd say go with Flash. You can get a discounter student version of it from Adobe.

Flash is generally much easier to get to grips with because you can easily create objects and move them around just telling them to move from A to B. in Processing you need to worry about the maths behind it. Also, basic interactive features like buttons and dragging are built in to Flash whereas with Processing you need to code them each time. This is not difficult for someone who's experienced, but it's hassle for a beginner.

If you're learning to program from scratch then you won't lose anything by dabbling with Processing, it's good for a lot of other things and the price is right, but when it comes to deploying things on the web, and interactivity, Flash wins hands down.
markslay
Member
Posted 1 year ago #

more of a substantive thought:
IMO, it depends on what you are really trying to go for. If you want to do more cool applets with complex, intelligent, object-oriented programming, then Processing is much better, but if you're designing for consumer-based (commerce-focused) interaction, then flash is the answer. Art = Processing, Advertising = Flash, more simply put... in my humble opinion. For example, see this cool applet "LifeForms" which simulates an ecosystem: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~omalled/omalled.com/Applets.html