Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

p5.js VS Velocity.js

Compare p5.js VS Velocity.js and see what are their differences

p5.js logo p5.js

JS library for creating graphic and interactive experiences

Velocity.js logo Velocity.js

Velocity is a JavaScipt animation engine.
  • p5.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22
  • Velocity.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-10-02

p5.js features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    p5.js simplifies the process of learning and creating interactive graphics with its intuitive syntax, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Web-Based
    As a JavaScript library, p5.js runs directly in the web browser, enabling easy sharing and embedding of interactive sketches online without the need for additional plugins.
  • Creative Coding Community
    p5.js is supported by a vibrant community that shares a plethora of examples, tutorials, and resources, facilitating learning and troubleshooting.
  • Extensibility
    Its modular architecture allows for easy integration with other libraries like p5.sound, p5.dom, and even external JavaScript libraries, enhancing its functionality.
  • Accessibility
    p5.js emphasizes inclusivity, offering features that make it easier to create accessible web content, such as screen reader support.

Possible disadvantages of p5.js

  • Performance
    p5.js may not be as performant as other lower-level graphics libraries or frameworks, which can be a limitation for highly intensive graphical applications.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While beginner-friendly, mastering complex features and fine-tuning performance in p5.js can require significant effort and understanding of JavaScript.
  • Not Ideal for Large Projects
    Due to its simplicity and focus on learning and prototyping, p5.js might not be suitable for large-scale, production-grade applications.
  • Limited 3D Support
    Although p5.js offers 3D rendering capabilities, these are less developed and performant compared to dedicated 3D libraries like Three.js.
  • Dependency on JavaScript
    Since p5.js is built on JavaScript, it inherits the language's limitations and quirks, which might be a hindrance for developers accustomed to other programming languages.

Velocity.js features and specs

  • Performance
    Velocity.js is known for its high performance animations compared to traditional jQuery animations, offering better frame rates and smoother transitions.
  • UI Pack
    The library comes with a UI pack that provides pre-made animation effects, making it easier to implement complex animations without building them from scratch.
  • Browser Compatibility
    Velocity.js works across all major browsers, including older versions, reducing the need for multiple fallbacks and increasing consistency in animations across different platforms.
  • Robust API
    It provides a comprehensive API that allows for fine-tuned control over animations, including duration, easing, and looping, providing developers with a lot of flexibility.
  • jQuery Compatibility
    Velocity.js can be used as a jQuery plugin, meaning it integrates well with existing jQuery projects, allowing developers to leverage familiar syntax and concepts.

Possible disadvantages of Velocity.js

  • File Size
    While not overly large, Velocity.js does add additional file size to projects, which could be a concern for performance-focused applications aiming to minimize load times.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers unfamiliar with Velocity.js, there might be a learning curve to grasp its API and features, especially when combining complex animations.
  • jQuery Dependency
    Although it can operate independently, many features integrate with jQuery, which could be a downside for projects trying to avoid additional library dependencies.
  • Feature Overlap
    Some features offered by Velocity.js overlap with modern CSS animations and transformations, which may be sufficient for simple animations in newer projects.
  • Maintenance
    Like many open source projects, there can be concerns about long-term maintenance and updates, particularly with evolving web standards and new browser features.

p5.js videos

Processing or p5.js? My opinions

More videos:

  • Review - Q&A #1: Side-Scroller in p5.js
  • Tutorial - 17.11: Sound Visualization: Frequency Analysis with FFT - p5.js Sound Tutorial

Velocity.js videos

Ball Drop - Velocity.JS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to p5.js and Velocity.js)
Javascript UI Libraries
90 90%
10% 10
Charting Libraries
85 85%
15% 15
3D
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare p5.js and Velocity.js

p5.js Reviews

20+ JavaScript libraries to draw your own diagrams (2022 edition)
A JS client-side library for creating graphics and interactive experiences, based on the core principles of Processing to make coding accessible to artists, designers and educators. Beyond drawing, this project provides offers web audio functionality, collision detection and even generation of graphical user interfaces from p5.js sketches.
8 Best Free and Open-Source Drawing Libraries in JavaScript
The p5.js library is a great option for people who are looking for a library that doesn't have a steep learning curve, but which can create very complicated systems if necessary. The get started with P5.js page on the official website has a functional example that draws circles wherever you move your mouse in only a few lines of code.

Velocity.js Reviews

Top 20 Javascript Libraries
Web animation has become a breeze with velocity.js. It is a fast performance engine that simplifies website animations. It is free, open-source software. Velocity is as fast (or more) as CSS and jQuery, especially on mobile devices. We can run a sequence of animations one after the other in a neat way, unlike jQuery or CSS, where we need extensive coding. Uber, WhatsApp,...
Source: hackr.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, p5.js seems to be a lot more popular than Velocity.js. While we know about 146 links to p5.js, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Velocity.js. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

p5.js mentions (146)

  • Ask HN: Who Are Your Favorite Photography and Generative Coding Artists?
    p5.js is a JavaScript library that I've enjoyed messing with. It's related to Processing. https://p5js.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Art Blocks and the Future of Open Source with Blockchain
    Art Blocks, founded by Erick Calderon in 2020, is a platform that enables artists to create generative art using blockchain technology. It operates on the Ethereum blockchain, leveraging smart contracts to mint unique art pieces as NFTs. The process begins with artists submitting scripts that define the artwork's parameters. Once approved, these scripts generate unique pieces upon purchase, offering collectors a... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Rant: state of generative AI in code generation.
    In my experience with AI code generation, in visual projects like UI development or JavaScript based animation (using three.js or p5.js) etc. AI tools work pretty well. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Procedural Generation and Noise
    For this most recent assignment we were tasked with contributing a larger feature to an open source project. During my time with the previous assignment I worked on a game engine called Litecanvas, inspired engine by libraries like raylib and p5.js/Processing. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Antirez/load81: SDL based Lua programming environment for kids similar to Codea
    Let’s not forget P5js which has a long and esteemed history of helping to teach kids and more to program. It’s browser based so it’s compatible with every OS and requires no install. FOSS with an active community of users and contributors. I personally taught some middle schoolers with zero programming experience how to make interactive monsters in 1 hour. It was awesome! https://p5js.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
View more

Velocity.js mentions (4)

  • 100+ FREE Resources Every Web Developer Must Try
    JavaScript Animation Libraries 🔥 . Anime.js: Lightweight JavaScript animation library. . ScrollReveal.js: Easily reveal elements as they enter the viewport. . Popmotion: A functional, flexible JavaScript motion library. . AniJS: Declarative handling library for CSS animations. . Wow.js: Reveal CSS animation as you scroll down a page. . Typed.js: A JavaScript library that types. . Velocity.js: Accelerated... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Top 10 JavaScript Animation Libraries
    Velocity.js (17.3k ⭐) — A library that combines the best of jQuery and CSS transitions. It can animate colors, transforms, loops, easings, SVGs and more. It can work with or without jQuery and has a high performance. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Jquery animations choppy on mobile?
    Also I've never used it before but I checked just now and http://velocityjs.org/ looks like a pretty solid drop in replacement for jQuery animations. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Anyone know if this animation effect is a library?
    Just gotta look in page source. There's cdn for Velocity.js. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing p5.js and Velocity.js, you can also consider the following products

Pixi.js - Fast lightweight 2D library that works across all devices

GSAP - GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform) is a suite of JavaScript tools for high-performance animations that work in all major browsers.

Processing - C++ and Java programming at the speed of thought.

Anime.js - Lightweight JavaScript animation library

Three.js - A JavaScript 3D library which makes WebGL simpler.

Popmotion - Popmotion is the JavaScript motion engine that enables user to create delightful user interfaces.