Grasshopper programming components

Hey guys, I have question Im sure many people are wondering about. I have been using grasshopper for about a year now and would like to go the extra mile, that is create my own components or perhaps even my own plugin.(like geometry gym and kangaroo). I am willing to learn programing for this but I do not know what language to learn and how to implement rhino commands in it. Can someone please explain this subject and perhaps provide tutorial links? I know some use c and some use vb. I even say a python group. How do thaws differ from one another? Thank you all in advance

Kipodi

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on March 4, 2011 at 11:51am

Hi Kipodi,

the distinction between C# and VB is a purely emotional one. Some people prefer one, some people prefer the other. There's no doubt in my mind that VB is a friendlier language, so if you're starting with programming it's probably the better choice. If however you're already familiar with Java or some other language from the 'C' family, C# would be the best choice.

I wouldn't go for Python if your final goal is to write plugins for Rhino and Grasshopper. For all the benefits of Python, it is a more difficult language to learn, not in the least because so few people can help you out.

Grasshopper has an SDK help document (downloadable via the Grasshopper Help menu) which explains in some detail how components are structured. The documentation is still incomplete and it assumes a certain basic level of understanding.

You could start with writing VB or C# script components. The editor is less comfortable to use than Visual Studio, but you won't have to worry about compiling and multiple source files and post-build events and whatnot.

David Rutten

david@mcneel.com

Poprad, Slovakia

Permalink Reply by kipodi on March 4, 2011 at 1:40pm

So i understand thatnthe actual plug on interface is done in vb or c, but what about the content of the plugin? Is there some tutorial that can show how to create custom components from a to z? Even one with a simple login? I have not found any information regarding this and the primer is not sufficient on this subject..

Permalink Reply by taz on March 4, 2011 at 2:44pm

Some people have been kind enough to produce some references, otherwise you need to feel your way around:

http://www.grasshopper3d.com/profiles/blogs/building-a-component-with

http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum/topics/guide-to-creating-custom

Permalink Reply by Luis Fraguada on March 4, 2011 at 3:29pm

The grasshopper sdk (David mentioned how to access it in a post above) has excellent walthroughs on how to set up the components in vb.net or c#.net.

Permalink Reply by kipodi on March 4, 2011 at 4:27pm

Thank u all for the reply. I will look into it .By the way I am assisting a university course in digital architectural design at the Ariel university center in Israel and I am trying to push to the usage of rhino and grasshopper . I may have access to different faculties including computer science so it is important that I know about programming in order to create a collaboration. I was in barcode a few months ago and met up with guilo and visited the iaac as well. If there are any updates or if you have any ideas for prototype ideas , .i am working with a group of students which are dedicated to learning digital design for a whole simester.
Than again
Tal

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