What does it take to get into LW plugin development?
- Thread starter WaveRider
- Start date
Basic requirements?
Mathematics (at least A level grade. Speaking from a UK perspective)
--- Geometry, Trigonometry, Matrices, Vectors, Equations.
Basic physics principles
Computer graphics theory and principles
Computer science.
Out of all of the above the most fundamental subject to have a strong grasp of is without doubt, mathematics. Without it, you're pretty much handicapped. All the other subjects are based on it.
How many years of coding experience needed to develop LW plug-ins?
If you have the above subjects under your belt, you should be able to create something within a year once you've studied the LW SDK.
Mathematics (at least A level grade. Speaking from a UK perspective)
--- Geometry, Trigonometry, Matrices, Vectors, Equations.
Basic physics principles
Computer graphics theory and principles
Computer science.
Out of all of the above the most fundamental subject to have a strong grasp of is without doubt, mathematics. Without it, you're pretty much handicapped. All the other subjects are based on it.
How many years of coding experience needed to develop LW plug-ins?
If you have the above subjects under your belt, you should be able to create something within a year once you've studied the LW SDK.
Viktor Veličko
Member
Absolute basic requirements is to have a brain, 10 fingers and at least one functional eye
Now seriously
Start with LScript and Python.
Just start with simple modeling scripts, and try to do small modifications.
You don't need to be worry about math.
If you have finished college math class, you are fine.
You'll find out very soon, if this is for you or not.
When you will handle basic scripting, you can move on to C++ plugins.
Good luck!
Last edited:
Kryslin
Active member
I disagree; Once done with simple scripting, move onto more advanced scripts, and begin learning C/C++ to move onto the "new and more interesting ways to crash Lightwave/Your Computer" phase of things.Absolute basic requirements is to have a brain, 10 fingers and at least one functional eye
Now seriously
Start with LScript and Python.
Just start with simple modeling scripts, and try to do small modifications.
You don't need to be worry about math.
If you have finished college math class, you are fine.
You'll find out very soon, if this is for you or not.
When you will handle basic scripting, you can move on to C++ plugins.
Good luck!
Being able to resist tearing your hair out when frustrated with something (with me, it's SDK documentation) also helps.
Viktor Veličko
Member
Never discourage a traveler at the beginning of the journey!
Learning Python is always plus, for any next career in the CGI.
And the C++, if it is not for him, he need to try it first.
Last edited:
Absolutely agree (hopefully the math classes in WaveRider's country are of a high quality).
Kryslin
Active member
I agree with that, yes. I tried C++ a long time ago, thinking I would need to learn it. I gave up after a year. Got tired of rebooting my PC 3rd or 4th compile. I much prefer C#, but you can't write Lightwave plugins in that, unless someone's coded a wrapper for it.Never discourage a traveler at the beginning of the journey!
Learning Python is always plus, for any next career in the CGI.
And the C++, if it is not for him, he need to try it first.
High School Algebra is a necessity, along with basic trig and vectors; not that you have to be able to work the problems by hand, but understanding what it does. None of that is hard, but some people don't 'get' math.
WaveRider
Member
Some good information here, thanks.
Well, it's a start. I'm taking refresher courses (30 years since I left school), should take 6-12 months. I also acquired some books about computer graphics fundamentals. Not sure about learning how to code properly...never managed to look into it since it wasn't part of my career.
Well, it's a start. I'm taking refresher courses (30 years since I left school), should take 6-12 months. I also acquired some books about computer graphics fundamentals. Not sure about learning how to code properly...never managed to look into it since it wasn't part of my career.
And I've always thought the reason for this is because:
a) the school system has a one approach fits all in its teaching methods
b) some (probably most) teachers are really bad communicators, create really boring lesson plans and are truly unimaginative.
I think anyone can understand math principles and solve math problems confidently, if time is taken with the pupil to determine where the "point of failure" is in their comprehension of a lesson and then address it.
stevmjon
Member
i am also interested in making plugins/lscript/python too. not sure how to go about it either.
i have only used basic language for about 15+ years. in my spare time i learnt 3D theory and in this basic language even manually wrote a basic 3D engine (i needed to manually calculate everything because it is a 2D language so had no 3D commands). i learnt 3D theory and maths over a 2+ year period.
** what i want to do is to look at the numeric panels in modeler ** is this possible?
eg. i would like to add an extra line to the modeler > axis translate tool.
it has the start position & end position when translating a point (which is good i guess but you need to do math in your head, and only good if moving along xyz axis), but i need distance between start pos and where it is now as i move it displayed in the numeric panel (or even on screen if this is easier). that way i can translate the point a more accurate distance. i keep using translate plus to achieve distance which is multiple clicks and selections every time i translate a point.
any advice is appreciated. which language do i need, and which files do i need to read?
also, good luck WaveRider. i hope it works out for you too.
thanks steve.
i have only used basic language for about 15+ years. in my spare time i learnt 3D theory and in this basic language even manually wrote a basic 3D engine (i needed to manually calculate everything because it is a 2D language so had no 3D commands). i learnt 3D theory and maths over a 2+ year period.
** what i want to do is to look at the numeric panels in modeler ** is this possible?
eg. i would like to add an extra line to the modeler > axis translate tool.
it has the start position & end position when translating a point (which is good i guess but you need to do math in your head, and only good if moving along xyz axis), but i need distance between start pos and where it is now as i move it displayed in the numeric panel (or even on screen if this is easier). that way i can translate the point a more accurate distance. i keep using translate plus to achieve distance which is multiple clicks and selections every time i translate a point.
any advice is appreciated. which language do i need, and which files do i need to read?
also, good luck WaveRider. i hope it works out for you too.
thanks steve.
No. You would have to rewrite entire tool from scratch..
C/C++ if you want to use LWSDK.
Look at LightWave folder.
It's there but packed.
Alternatives are: LScript (legacy) and Python. Both much slower than native LWSDK plugin.
Last edited:
Watch out for C++, you need to wrap it in C++ properly wtih more casting variable for LW SDK if you work with it... I think you have first to try in C there not problem for casting variable and more easy than C++, after if you know very well in C you can make in C++ for more advanced with OOP classes. You can learn from examples there as Sensei said
For Python you can achieve some similar to C in Python LW SDK, it is very powerful as well. Link : LWPY 11
For Python you can achieve some similar to C in Python LW SDK, it is very powerful as well. Link : LWPY 11
lardbros
Not so newbie member
Such a great reply. Coming from the dev of some of my favourite LW tools of all time... such a positive replyAbsolute basic requirements is to have a brain, 10 fingers and at least one functional eye
Now seriously
Start with LScript and Python.
Just start with simple modeling scripts, and try to do small modifications.
You don't need to be worry about math.
If you have finished college math class, you are fine.
You'll find out very soon, if this is for you or not.
When you will handle basic scripting, you can move on to C++ plugins.
Good luck!
I find coding really tedious, but I don't do it often enough. If you keep hammering away at it, it's one of those things that gets easier the more time you spend doing it.
As concepts start sinking in, the more complex ideas become easier to understand.