Dynamo
Primer for v2.0
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  • 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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On this page
  • What is DaaS?
  • What version of Dynamo is executing my code?
  • What packages/nodes are available in this version of Dynamo?
  • What should I be aware of while I write graphs for DaaS?
  • How am I supposed to remember all of that? What if it changes?
  • How much does this cost?
  • How do I get started?
  • Security
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  1. Dynamo in Forma Beta

Dynamo compute service differences with Desktop Dynamo

This page highlights the differences you should be aware of when writing Dynamo programs to execute in the Dynamo compute service cloud context.

What is DaaS?

DaaS, Dynamo as a Service, Dynamo compute service, etc. all refer to the same thing: Dynamo's core runtime executing in a cloud context. This means your graph is not executing on your machine. DaaS can currently be accessed only through the Dynamo Player extension for Forma, where users can upload and manage .dyn files created in the desktop environment, run .dyn files shared by their colleagues through the extension, or use pre-loaded .dyn routines provided by Autodesk as samples.

Because your graphs run in this cloud context, and not on your machine, DaaS currently cannot directly use traditional Dynamo host contexts (Revit, Civil 3D, etc.). If you want to use types from those programs in your graph, you will need to serialize (save) them into the graph using the Data.Remember node or other in-graph serialization techniques. These are similar to the workflows you need to use when writing graphs for Generative Design in Revit.

What version of Dynamo is executing my code?

The version is based on 3.x and is updated frequently based on Dynamo's open-source master branch.

What packages/nodes are available in this version of Dynamo?

  • Most of the core nodes, see the next section for some specific limitations.

  • DynamoFormaBeta package for interacting with the Forma API.

  • VASA for voxelization / efficient analysis.

  • MeshToolKit for mesh manipulation. Mesh toolkit is also available out-of-the-box starting in Dynamo 3.4.

  • RefineryToolkit for useful algorithms that allow clash test, view distance, shortest path, isovist, etc.

What should I be aware of while I write graphs for DaaS?

  • Python nodes will not work. These will currently just fail to execute.

  • Custom packages cannot be used.

  • The UI/view layer of UI nodes will not execute. We don't anticipate this to be a problem with core functionality, but it's good to keep in mind if you see a bug related to a node with custom UI.

  • Windows-only functionality will not work. For example, if you try to use the Windows registry or WPF, this will fail.

  • View extensions will not be loaded.

  • Filesystem nodes are not going to be very useful. Any files you reference on your local machine will not exist when running in DaaS.

  • Excel/DSOffice interop nodes will not function. Open XML nodes should function.

  • Network requests in general will not function, though you can make calls to the Forma API.

How am I supposed to remember all of that? What if it changes?

  • In the future, we intend to provide tooling inside Dynamo for the desktop that will make it easier to ensure your graph runs the same in both contexts.

How much does this cost?

  • During this Beta, compute time is not currently charged.

How do I get started?

  • Getting access to Autodesk Forma.

  • Installing the DynamoFormaBeta for Dynamo on Desktop and the Dynamo Extension in Forma.

  • Writing your first graph.

Security

  • Be aware your shared graphs are stored in Forma.

  • Max graph execution time is currently less than 30 minutes. This value may change.

  • Execution requests are rate limited, so you may see errors if you make many compute requests in too short a period.

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Last updated 1 month ago

Check out the , or the Samples in the Forma Extension to get started. These will guide you through:

blog post
YouTube series