Resources for teaching programming

for artists, designers and architects (repository)

An earlier version of this table was published as: VILLARES, A. B. A., & MOREIRA, D. (2017). Python on the Landscape of Programming Tools for Design and Architectural Education. Presented at the SIGRADI 2017, Concepcíon, Chile.

Extended table of Hosts, Platforms & Languages

Drawing or 3D modeling software that embeds a scripting language on the user interface or allows automation with a very limited number of steps between programming and code execution.

Tools aimed at teaching programming in a visual or graphic context.

[Ad hoc: tools that have shown potential for teaching in a visual or graphic context.]


SORTABLE VIEW OF THE TABLE	CSV on GitHub	raw CSV

Processing + Python tools table

Name	Processing features	based on (& Python version)	Python standard library	libraries ecosystem	main features	main limitations
Processing Python Mode✱	Processing Java	Jython (Python 2)	complete	Java & Processing Java	available inside Processing IDE, very Processing compatible	no web sharing/deployment, no modern Python libs
p5py	a new inplementation (incomplete)	Python 3	complete	Python only	truly Python compatible	New names (for those used to Processing), experimental, still incomplete, no access to Processing Java libraries
pyp5js✱ (pyodide or transcrypt mode)	p5.js	Python 3 via Pyodide or Transcrypt	complete	Python, JavaScript & p5.js	web ready sketches & editor, very p5.js compatible & pyodide makes it very Python compatible	Experimental, still incomplete, p5.js features (as opposed to Processing Java/Python modes)
SkulptIDE and trinket.io	ProcessingJS	Skulpt (Python 2, going to 3 now)	partial	unknown, possibly JavaScript	very nice web IDE, browser based sketches	ProcessingJS is defunct; not extensible
BrythonIDE and p5py.com	p5.js	Brython (Python 3)	fairly complete	JavaScript & p5.js	browser IDE, browser based sketches & very p5.js compatible	p5.js features (as opposed to Processing Java/Python modes)
py5✱	Processing Java 4 via JPype	Python 3	complete	Python & Java*	truly Python 3 compatible for libraries, can be used on Jupyter notebooks, same core capabilities as Processing Java	New names (for those used to Processing), experimental, maybe some Processing Java libraries might not work

✱ these are the ones I’m using most!

More FLOSS + Python options to explore

3D

FreeCAD — Your own 3D parametric modeler
- It has great a Python interactive console, bult-in editor (macro panel) and can also be used for 2D.
Blender — Blender’s Python API
OpenSCAD + Python tools:
CADQuery & CQ-Editor — A Python parametric CAD scripting framework
PyPlasm — Python version of the PLASM 3D modeling functional language
VPython — A 3D programming environment for Python:
sdf — A Python library to generate 3D meshes based on SDFs (Signed Distance Functions)

2D

ShoeBot — A great creative coding environment designed for making vector graphics and animations
- Related to the DrawBot/NodeBox1/PlotDevice family of tools.
guizero — A really easy Python GUI library (based on Tkinter)
Bezmerizing — Allison Parrish’s wonderful tiny library
- based on Flat — Generative infrastructure for Python
PageBot — Scriptable page layout, vector graphics and typography environment
Pero — A unified Python API for multiple drawing backends
generativepy — Generative art and graphing library based on PyCairo
vsketch — A plotter-centric Python generative art toolkit

Books and references

Allen Downey’s Think Python 2e EN / Pense em Python 2e PT
Tristan Bunn’s Learn Pyhon Visually and other wonderful resources, including Processing.py in Ten Lessons and the thonny-py5mode plugin EN
Al Sweigart’s Automate the Boring Stuff and many other open resources EN
Jake VanderPlas’ Whirlwind Tour of Python EN
My own open resources for teaching, in Portuguese Introdução à programação com Python em um contexto visual PT

Please consider feedback, colaboration by means of pull requests, and/or a small donation!

Alexandre Villares