Extensive Guide

Maya
1

Hi everyone!

Has anyone of you read "Complete Maya Programming. An Extensive Guide to MEL and C++ API"?

If (true){
How did you like it?
Is it really that extensive?
Is it a good reference book or is it more of a tutorial book?
}
else{
Is there another book you recomend?
}

I am a former professional Java and C++ programmer, so I don't need a beginners' tutorial.

Thanks,

montecore

2

Well it reads more like a reference at places. Its actualy super good on 3 things, explaining how the dg works, and how to traversse the graph and basic api development.

While stilll certainlyundeniably one of the best mel/api books around its lacking a bit of information, worse yet it promotes a bit of bad thinking since it does not cleraly enough emphazize you how mel should be utilized properly. To this end it even has some exaples wih while illustrative of code is something id never do with mel and not even suggest anybody would do.

Also some of the api costructs are jsut etaching tols rtaher than something youd realy do with api. But considering how hard maya apis to uderstand the book does a wonderfull job at this.

Id piuit the book somewhere between inermediary and basic for requirement on the reader. But it does not realy part any suuper insights so at teh and of the day your left ibetween.

theres a second book in this series tough! Hevent reqad it but i do use the complete programming sometimes. its not my most used refernce unlike the regexp reference.

3

the second book is more or less a remake of the first. It has a better layout, but it still does not go into much detail of how to use mel and the API. If you are going to buy it, get the 2nd one. My site has a little bit of info on mel and the API.

4

Thanks you two for your helpful replys!

I ordered it ... I hope its the second edition.

Rob, thanks for the link to your site. I am sure I can get something out of it

5

Hi

Rob its not little bit some how heavy

6

Rob maybe we should write a book then

7

QUOTE(Joojaa @ 05/04/06, 02:28 AM) [snapback]236308[/snapback]
Rob maybe we should write a book then

I was thinking the exact same thing last night

8

Yeah, write it!

I always wanted to be indirectly responsible for someone to wirte a book ...
Please deditcate the book to this thread.

9

QUOTE(montecore @ 05/04/06, 07:21 PM) [snapback]236322[/snapback]
Yeah, write it!

I always wanted to be indirectly responsible for someone to wirte a book ...
Please deditcate the book to this thread.

Ahhaaaaaaaaa.. good

10

QUOTE(Joojaa @ 05/04/06, 02:28 AM) [snapback]236308[/snapback]
Rob maybe we should write a book then

oh jeezus.. no Joojaa, please... by all means contribute but PLEASE.. let Bateman do all the actual writing..

:nathaN

11

contrary to the polular belief i CAN spell i just choose not to do so...