Pixo vs user scripts

[bism]

As I have been playing around lately with Zscripting I began to wonder what the difference is between user scripts and official pixologic scripts. Are we using the same set of tools here or are they reserving a few that we don’t know about? Is it the use of dll’s as in the new ZappLink? Is it that we don’t really know how ZB runs on the inside?



Is the 2.5 upgrade just going to be more plugins? If so why cant users write similar tools/upgrades?



Just curious, as I think the fact that we can make our own tools is one of the great things about ZB.

[Svengali]

The issue parses into several factors.

1. The absence of the promised but as-yet unreleased SDK, which is most likely the missing component to more powerful and innovative user-created plugins.

2. Incomplete information about the functionality of the existing ZScript command set including the use of external calls.

3. An understandable reluctance by Pixologic to commit resources to supporting the ZScripting community at the expense of essential development efforts on the next version of ZBrush (and, I suspect, undisclosed future Pixologic projects).

The current success of the user/scriptor community is the product of enthusiastic and dedicated individuals and their willingness to voluntarily share information about ZScript's basic functionality and its more obscure and undocumented features.


I for one learned what little I know about ZScripting from reading the early source scripts posted by Pixolator, himself, and other members of the pixologic team and other .txt scripts posted by the user/scriptor community. I also learned a lot through patient detective work in reading ZScripts that I recorded myself along with seemingly endless hours of trial and error.

I'd be interested to hear what other ZScriptors have to say on the subject.

Sven

[Verdant]

If I remember right, Pixologic was looking to hire someone to work on the SDK some eight or nine months ago. If they were only looking then, it takes some time to actually roll out the SDK itself.

Maybe I'm thinking of a different app. though.

[Svengali]

Verdant,

Not sure whether it means anything but as of yesterday the SDK job listing was still posted at the pixologic.com website.

Sven

[bism]

For the SDK listing it does not say you have to be in San Fran. Do you think they would let someone put it together elsewhere? That would be a fun project!

[Digits]

Verdant,

Not sure whether it means anything but as of yesterday the SDK job listing was still posted at the pixologic.com website.

Sven

I guess I can quit holding my breath hehe