Best API for Beginners?

[Anonymous]

I know AutoLisp and made some tools for AutoCAD, and now I'm starting to take a look at Revit APIs. My target is to create small tools, not big apps. What is the recommended API to learn? I don't want to learn C# or VB.net, that's maybe a little bit to big. So there is "Macro with Python" and "Dynamo" - can the be compared (from their features and possibilities) or is there a completely different approach?

[jeremytammik · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Revit API!

The one and only Revit API is based on .NET.

It makes no difference what language you use to address it: C#, VB, Python or other; they all address the same API, and they are all translated to .NET IL, intermediate language. 

That also means that it is easy to translate between these languages, since the IL can be decompiled again to a different language than the one used to generate it.

Dynamo is a separate environment using Python for programming that talks to the Revit API and also adds its own functionality.

Here is a pointer to the Revit API getting started material that lists many other learning resources:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#2

My personal opinion: VB is utterly horrible and obsolete. C# and Python are both fine.

By the way: please try to utterly forget AutoLISP and AutoCAD and all its APIs when learning Revit API:

Revit and Its API is Different 

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.41

Please also learn as much as possible about Revit and BIM philosophy before you try to start programming, or nothing will make any sense at all.

Good luck and have fun!

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jeremy!

[jeremytammik]

Thank you for your appreciation!

Preserved here for posterity:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2018/06/extensible-storage-and-renaming-a-family-in-a-proje...

Cheers,

Jeremy