Dynamo
Primer for v2.0
English
English
  • About
  • Introduction
    • What is Dynamo & How Does It Work?
    • Primer User Guide, Dynamo Community & Platform
  • Setup for Dynamo
  • User Interface
    • Workspace
    • Library
  • Nodes and Wires
  • Essential Nodes & Concepts
    • Index of Nodes
    • Geometry for Computational Design
      • Geometry Overview
      • Vector, Plane & Coordinate System
      • Points
      • Curves
      • Surfaces
      • Solids
      • Meshes
    • The Building Blocks of Programs
      • Data
      • Math
      • Logic
      • Strings
      • Color
    • Designing with Lists
      • What's a List
      • Working with Lists
      • Lists of Lists
      • n-Dimensional Lists
    • Dictionaries in Dynamo
      • What is a Dictionary
      • Dictionary Nodes
      • Dictionaries in Code Blocks
      • Revit Use-Cases
  • Custom Nodes & Packages
    • Custom Nodes
      • Custom Node Introduction
      • Creating a Custom Node
      • Publishing to Your Library
    • Packages
      • Package Introduction
      • Package Case Study - Mesh Toolkit
      • Developing a Package
      • Publishing a Package
      • Zero-Touch Importing
  • Dynamo for Revit
    • The Revit Connection
    • Selecting
    • Editing
    • Creating
    • Customizing
    • Documenting
  • Dynamo for Civil 3D
    • The Civil 3D Connection
    • Getting Started
    • Node Library
    • Sample Workflows
      • Roads
        • Light Pole Placement
      • Land
        • Service Placement
      • Utilities
        • Rename Structures
      • Rail
        • Clearance Envelope
      • Surveying
        • Point Group Management
    • Advanced Topics
      • Object Binding
      • Python and Civil 3D
    • Dynamo Player
    • Useful Packages
    • Resources
  • Dynamo in Forma Beta
    • Set Up Dynamo Player in Forma
    • Add and Share Graphs in Dynamo Player
    • Run Graphs in Dynamo Player
    • Dynamo compute service differences with Desktop Dynamo
  • Coding in Dynamo
    • Code Blocks and DesignScript
      • What's a Code Block
      • DesignScript Syntax
      • Shorthand
      • Functions
    • Geometry with DesignScript
      • DesignScript Geometry Basics
      • Geometric Primitives
      • Vector Math
      • Curves: Interpolated and Control Points
      • Translation, Rotation, and Other Transformations
      • Surfaces: Interpolated, Control Points, Loft, Revolve
      • Geometric Parameterization
      • Intersection and Trim
      • Geometric Booleans
      • Python Point Generators
    • Python
      • Python Nodes
      • Python and Revit
      • Setup Your Own Python Template
    • Language Changes
  • Best Practices
    • Graph Strategies
    • Scripting Strategies
    • Scripting Reference
    • Managing Your Program
    • Efficiently Working With Large Data Sets In Dynamo
  • Sample Workflows
    • Getting Started Workflows
      • Parametric Vase
      • Attractor Points
    • Concept Index
  • Developer Primer
    • Build Dynamo from Source
      • Build DynamoRevit from Source
      • Managing and Updating Dependencies in Dynamo
    • Developing for Dynamo
      • Getting Started
      • Zero-Touch Case Study - Grid Node
      • Executing Python Scripts in Zero-Touch Nodes (C#)
      • Going Further with Zero-Touch
      • Advanced Dynamo Node Customization
      • Using COM (interop) types in Dynamo Packages
      • NodeModel Case Study - Custom UI
      • Updating your Packages and Dynamo Libraries for Dynamo 2.x
      • Updating your Packages and Dynamo Libraries for Dynamo 3.x
      • Extensions
      • Defining Custom Package Organization for Dynamo 2.0+
      • Dynamo Command Line Interface
      • Dynamo Integration
      • Developing For Dynamo For Revit
      • Publish a Package
      • Build a Package from Visual Studio
      • Extensions as Packages
    • Pull Requests
    • Testing Expectations
    • Examples
  • Appendix
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visual Programming and Dynamo
    • Resources
    • Release Notes
    • Useful Packages
    • Example Files
    • Host Integration Map
    • Download PDF
    • Dynamo Keyboard Shortcuts
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  • For Dynamo v2.13 and newer
  • Welcome
  • Open Source
  • The Dynamo Primer Project
  • Acknowledgments
  • Software and Resources
  • License
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About

NextIntroduction

Last updated 1 year ago

For Dynamo v2.13 and newer

Dynamo is an open source visual programming platform for designers.

Welcome

You have just opened the Dynamo Primer, a comprehensive guide to visual programming in Autodesk Dynamo. This primer is an on-going project to share the fundamentals of programming. Topics include working with computational geometry, best practices for rules-based design, cross-disciplinary programming applications, and more with the Dynamo Platform.

The power of Dynamo can be found in a wide variety of design-related activities. Dynamo enables an expanding list of readily accessible ways for you to get started:

  • Explore visual programming for the first time

  • Connect workflows in various software

  • Engage an active community of users, contributors, and developers

  • Develop an open-source platform for continued improvement

In the midst of this activity and exciting opportunity for working with Dynamo, we need a document of the same caliber, the Dynamo Primer.

We are continuously improving Dynamo, so some features may look different from what is represented in this Primer. However, all functionality changes will be correctly represented.

Open Source

The Dynamo Primer project is open source! We're dedicated to providing quality content and appreciate any feedback you may have. If you would like to report an issue on anything at all, please post them on our GitHub issue page: https://github.com/DynamoDS/DynamoPrimer/issues

If you would like to contribute a new section, edits, or anything else to this project, check out the GitHub repo to get started: https://github.com/DynamoDS/DynamoPrimer.

The Dynamo Primer Project

The Dynamo Primer is an open-source project, initiated by Matt Jezyk and the Dynamo Development team at Autodesk.

Mode Lab was commissioned to write the First Edition of the Primer. We thank them for all of their efforts in establishing this valuable resource.


John Pierson of Parallax Team was commissioned to update the Primer to reflect the Dynamo 2.0. revisions.


Matterlab was commissioned to update the Primer to reflect the Dynamo 2.13. revisions.


Archilizer was commissioned to update the primer to reflect the Dynamo 2.17. revisions.


Wood Rodgers was commissioned to update the Primer with content for Dynamo for Civil 3D.

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to Ian Keough for initiating and guiding the Dynamo project.

Thank you to Matt Jezyk, Ian Keough, Zach Kron, Racel Amour and Colin McCrone for enthusiastic collaboration and the opportunity to participate on a wide array of Dynamo projects.

Software and Resources

Dynamo Please refer to the following sites for the most current stable release of Dynamo.

http://dynamobim.com/download/ or http://dynamobuilds.com

DynamoBIM The best source for additional information, learning content, and forums is the DynamoBIM website.

http://dynamobim.org

Dynamo GitHub Dynamo is an open-source development project on GitHub. To contribute, check out DynamoDS.

https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo

Contact Let us know about any issues with this document.

Dynamo@autodesk.com

License

Copyright 2023 Autodesk

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at

http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.

Refer to the to find out what you can expect to learn from this primer.

*Note: Starting with Revit 2020, Dynamo is bundled with Revit releases, resulting in manual installation not being required. More information is available at this .

primer user guide
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Dynamo Hype Video
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