Introduction to Maya Python API

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Maya is an “open” product which means that anyone outside of Autodesk can change existing features or add entirely new features. Our “openness” support now includes a Python interface to Maya commands (described elsewhere in the documentation) and a Python interface to the C++ Maya API. We refer to the last item as the Maya Python API. The Maya Python API is available on all of our supported platforms: Microsoft^® Windows^®(32 and 64 bit), Linux^®(64 bit), and Apple^® Mac OS^® X.

Most of the Maya API is available in the Maya Python API and you can write the following types of solutions:

Scripts that make use of the wrapper classes and function sets to modify the Maya model.
Scripted plug-ins that use proxy/MPx classes to add new functionality to Maya. Includes new:
- Commands that support undo.
- Nodes that are saved/retrieved in the Maya scene file with appropriate requires lines for the Python script.
Standalone scripts that make use of the wrapper classes and function sets to modify the Maya model that can be run from the command line.