Vraag

A high level API for Blender, modeled after JQuery

Blender originated in the Netherlands, and Vraag is Dutch for query, so this is a high level library of utilities for Python scripting in Blender.

Components of Vraag: * Vraag Queries: Query and manipulate data objects * Vraag Array: convert between blender data and numpy arrays * Vraag Construct: create objects and scenes algorithmically, like in OpenScad * Vraag Animate: easy setup of animations (not yet implemented) * Turtle: A turtle graphics like way to define a sequence of points, for use in meshes, curves or placing objects

Currently Vraag is targeting mainly Blender versions before 2.8, with initial support for 2.8 coming up.

Vraag Query

For example

```python

>>> from vraag import V
>>> V("object")
V([bpy.data.objects['Camera'], bpy.data.objects['Cube'], bpy.data.objects['Lamp']])

```

This queries all data objects of type "Object". Analogous to CSS' id selectors we can search for an object by its name, and hide it:

```python

>>> from vraag import V
>>> V("#Suzanne").hide()

```

Note that Vraag doesn't care in this case what type the object is, it just searches for one with this name.

Vraag Array

Another nice feature is the array accessor, making Blender data easier to use with numpy:

```python

>>> a = V("object").array.location
[[ 7.48113155 -6.50763988  5.34366512]
[ 0.          0.          0.        ]
[ 4.07624531  1.00545394  5.903862  ]]
>>> V("object").array.location = a + 1
>>> V("object").array.location
[[ 8.48113155 -5.50763988  6.34366512]
[ 1.          1.          1.        ]
[ 5.07624531  2.00545406  6.903862  ]]

```

This API is still mostly undocumented, and rough on all the edges. There are a lot more data structures yet to be covered. The repository is just a preview of what may be possible in the future.

To install Vraag, put the "vraag" directory (the one with the __init__.py, some place where Blender's Python can find it. Alternatively set a PYTHONPATH environment variable to the project's location.

Vraag Construct

Inspired by OpenScad, Vraag Construct offers a way to construct scenes and geometry through code.

Features: * fully introspectable in Python * creates native Blender data

• components can be kept as seperate Objects
• objects are parented in a hierachy
• applying the Boolean modifiers is optional
• materials can be assigned through scripting
• existing objects can be instantiated

• allows "debugging" the geometry through the Blender interface
• allows easy rigging and animating through usual means

Disadvantages over OpenScad: * a bit more verbose * missing some primitives * no 2D support * no extrusion/lathe yet

Turtle Graphics

Back in the early days of computer science education, there were programming environments in which a student could program a turtle running along the screen. Most famously this was the Logo programming language. The commands were like "go 5 steps forward", "turn left 20 degrees" etc.

This paradigm turns out to be quite useful in constructing 3D geometry. The turtle module implemented in this project is not, however, specific to blender. Its output is a sequence of vertices, or a sequence of edges. You can use it in various ways.