q5 Beginner's Brief - q5js/q5.js GitHub Wiki

First time coding? That's awesome! 🥳

q5.js is a great place to start, but note that q5's Learn pages are a reference for using q5 and not an introduction to coding in general.

Programs that use q5.js are endearingly referred to as sketches. ✍️ They're written in JavaScript (JS), the most widely used programming language. It provides access to all the powerful tools inside your web browser. ⚡️

In JavaScript, some words and symbols have special meanings. This all may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but don't be intimidated. 😳 If you stick with it and get more practice coding, you'll be able to make incredible interactive art! 🤩

Here's a brief overview of stuff you should know about JS before you start using q5.js.

Keywords:

• let : creates a variable that stores data
• function : stores a code block that can be run many times

Syntax:

• * : multiplication operator
• % : modulo operator, gets the remainder of a division
• ' ' : single quotes, contain text data (called a string)
• ( ) : function inputs go inside parentheses
• { } : code block, can contain multiple lines of code
• ; : used to end a line of code

You probably can't memorize all this info in one read, so keep this tab open for reference as you look at q5's Learn Pages. 😅

If you come across something you'd like a detailed explanation of, ask your teacher or a chat AI like Deepseek. Note that although AI may know a lot about coding, only you have the ability to create your very own, genuinely new art that no one's ever imagined before. 🧠

Many thousands of people started learned about programming using Processing, which q5.js is based on, and you can do it too! 🤝

Head back to q5's Learn pages. ⭐️