“An Introduction to Python Scripting in Autodesk Maya” by McNamara

Coding is a highly desirable skill. Learning to code can boost problem-solving and logic skills. Perhaps more importantly, coding empowers automation. Scripts can handle mundane and repetitive tasks in an efficient and precise manner. This course will offer a gentle introduction to the Python programming language using a hands-on interactive format. It is intended to be a foundational course. The goal is to cover the basics but provide enough information for attendees to build on later. We will take a “creative computing” approach by applying Python scripts in the Autodesk Maya environment. Python scripting can automate many tasks in Maya, from running simple commands to developing plug-ins. Examples will be presented first as concepts in pure Python, then subsequently applied in Maya. The hope is that connecting Python language foundations to visual tasks will motivate reluctant programmers to experiment and explore the possibilities. Attendees will learn how to automate simple tasks using the magic of scripting. The course will cover data types and variables, lists, conditional statements, iteration, functions, and Object-Oriented Programming. By the end of the course, attendees should walk away with a fundamental understanding of the Python language, Maya commands the ability to write basic scripts for Maya. Hopefully, they will have the tools, confidence, and initiative to explore more advanced scripts independently. Attendees should have Autodesk Maya, Python, and Visual Studio Code pre-loaded on their devices if they intend to follow along.