I'm kind of in the same boat, I've come to the conclusion to really get the most out of the API having a solid foundation in c++ would be the most rewarding. I write scripted plugins and have an understanding of c++ but it can be very slow going at times. Personally I wish I would have just powered through c++ and really learned it when I had the chance.
-s On Mar 23, 3:05 pm, JP <[email protected]> wrote: > Hey all, > > Just wanted to drop a line and get some advice on advancing beyond > basic Python scripting and starting to delve into the API. I started > digging through the API documentation and quickly realized that C++ > almost seems a prerequisite for learning the Python API. So, I bought > the C++ Primer Plus from Amazon, then considered whether I should > start using it as a doorstop or Yoga block when it arrived. > Damn...all I really want to do is to learn to write plugins with > Python - okay, so maybe it's not that simple - but is it really > necessary to get through 1200 pages of C++ before I feel like I can > understand how to utilize the Python API? > > So perhaps a little background on where I feel I'm "at" would be > useful: I started learning Python about a year ago, and it's the only > language I've learned other than MEL (which I started about 1.5 years > ago). I have since gotten fairly comfortable using it as a scripting > Language inside Maya. I've been working with PyMEL quite a bit over > the past 6 months, and feel like I have a handle on basic OOP > concepts, though I still feel I haven't had an "ah ha" moment when it > comes to knowing when and why to create custom classes, outside of > simply packaging and organizing things. That being said, I've been > experimenting with them in some character setup scripts I've been > writing, so I understand the basic syntax and concepts...it just seems > that every time I try and design something more object-oriented, I > create more problems and complexity than I alleviate. > > So that being said, I *would* like to try and start learning about the > API and how to create some simple plugins, and feel like maybe seeing > and working with Python in this context will help clarify some of OOP > design concepts that I'm not quite there with. The problem is that > pretty much all of the documentation I've found assumes a C++ > background and familiarity with the C++ API. > > I found Jason Osipia's posts here about the Digital Tutors Python > tutorials, and Chad Vernon's excellent answers to his questions > (http://www.chadvernon.com/files/doublerNode.html). I still don't > feel like I really *understand* what's happening with the creation and > initialization functions and how it all ties together with the > derrived MPxNode class. I'm going to keep reading through it and > trying to wrap my head around it, but after all that, I wanted to > throw this out there: > > Has anyone been able to learn enough about the Maya API without > knowing C++ to do something useful with it? Should I resign myself to > putting the API off for another year while I slog through the C++ > Primer? Or am I just getting hung up on some initial concepts that > just take some time to understand? I'm not setting out to create the > next mind-blowing plugin, but I think it would be a good skill in my > "toolkit" to be able to read through a Python plugin, understand > what's going on, and hopefully design some simple nodes, file > translators, etc. of my own. I also think it will help me be a better > Python scripter, provided I can get past all the C++ roadblocks! If > anyone out there has had a similar experience or any advice they'd > like to lay on me, I'm all ears :) > > Best, > > JP -- http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya To unsubscribe from this group, send email to python_inside_maya+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the words "REMOVE ME" as the subject.
