Exercises for a beginner?

[3bslamz]

Hello everyone, I’m new here in this forum and new to dynamo generally. I’ve been following the dynamo primer and it’s awesome so far but I think it’s lacking of exercises, one exercise per topic doesn’t feel enough for me to completely comprehend that topic and to be able connect it with earlier topics. I’m currently working with the 5th chapter “Geometry for Computational Design” and I want to practice more what I’ve learned.

So my question is are there any resources out there that offers exercises for dynamo beginners and increases in difficulty gradually depending on my current level in dynamo?

Thanks in advance, all replies will be appreciated.

[jacob.small]

Not that are well coordinated.

My general recommendation is to do the primer and follow along one other tutorial and then try to implement a few things on your own.

For computational geometry I like trying to generate a point every [1, 3, 7] units along a curve (so 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 18 units).

Building bricks on a face is another good example; as is building basic and complex building mass generators.

[Alien]

I’d reiterate what Jacob said… Think of a simple problem you want to solve and try to work out how to do it.

If you’re interested in something you’re more likely to have fun solving it.

Basic things that can help at work are a great place to start. Thinks that are super boring like numbering doors or seeing what a facade looks like with different sized windows maybe.

[jacob.small]

@Alien

If you’re interested in something you’re more likely to have fun solving it.

VERY well said.

[3bslamz]

Sounds great, thanks for the recommendation

[3bslamz]

@Alien

If you’re interested in something you’re more likely to have fun solving it.

Yeah that’s true and so far I’m enjoying using dynamo even I’m still at the beginning. Most of the time, working inside the visual programming interface is like solving puzzles or Legos .

@Alien

Basic things that can help at work are a great place to start. Thinks that are super boring like numbering doors or seeing what a facade looks like with different sized windows maybe.

Those are some helpful recommendation also, thanks. But I’m intending to use dynamo as a tool for parametric design inside Revit, where I can generate geometry based on equations and given inputs (parameters), that’s why I started learning it.

[Alien]

Different sized windows… That’s geometry you can generate using input parameters

Or maybe try spacing stuff on a facade based on a formula?

[Marcel_Rijsmus]

Here’s some history maker.
Check his archive section.

buildz

And maybe this too

List of mathematical shapes and how to create them using Designscript

Hi, I’m on a quest to get the corresponding disignscript of the shapes in this list and get as many as possible If this works it could be a treasure trove for all that come across this thread. I got to this idea because i wanted to draw a parabolic line on paper (2D) , then bend the paper in a parabolic shape, making it 3D, and write it down using designscript. Any help on this one? So this idea of the treasure trove was born, and give this post a “like” if you support it. Y…

[jacob.small]

@3bslamz

But I’m intending to use dynamo as a tool for parametric design inside Revit

Then instead of renumbering doors think of it as generating a logical sequence of points to generate a path from lowest score to highest based on similar parameters.

Good computational design is all geometry in the end, even if some of us would prefer to focus on the Data output of the geometry rather than the form aspect.

[RevitRobot]

I think you can follow Gavin Crump’s youtube series for learning. But the education is mostly autodidactic. Dynamo is a tool. You are asking for home asignments to learn how to use a screwdriver. But I think you should ask yourself if you want to build a chair or hang up a lamp. Completely different tasks.

For me personally I learned Dynamo is these steps:
-library of nodes. It’s like learnig the language and knowing which nodes are available. Packages do a lot too
-understanding Lacing
-converting nodes into Node to Code and write them in Code Block language to save space etc.

To do this, I ask myself if there is a task I can make easier and then lookup the nodes for it and create a graph. Lacing then becomes like spellchecking. Start there and always understand that if you get stuck, you can use simple Code Blocks and numbers to test how to set the lacing of a certain node

[mavs013]

I agree with this.
First you learn by basic example or tutorials.There are official tutorials（not much）.You can search the YouTube and find many other youtubers upload dynamo video about parametric design as well.
Second you don’t follow steps of others and think of a parametric facade or shape and try to make it your own.You may encounter many problems and then you can search the forum or google it.A very good way to learn is to by solving problems,I think.

[RevitRobot]

One of my studies was to make a checkerboard type of Curtain Wall.

Another was to convert AutoCAD anything into Revit. But because of nanoscale inaccuracies between the softwares I settled on just converting Room data from AutoCAD.

Another script I studied on was arranging views on a sheet.

So as you can see, completely versatile tool with 3 completely different applications. So your question shouldn’t be, how can I exercise. Your question should be: “What nodes can you recommend for a parametric designed Curtain Wall”

[sovitek]

yeah personlly i have never go through Primer i just start with set/get parameter and import export data to excel…imo still a very powerfull workflow. and then i get hooked and just go into/analyse all ootb nodes in library and practice so much i can…a really big help for me was the forum here with all these kind people there show how its works in practice…thanks…Konrad S, Jacob S, Sol A, Vikram S, John P, Alban, Cyril, Taco , Erik F…and many more