From the course: Learning Grasshopper

What is Grasshopper?

From the course: Learning Grasshopper

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What is Grasshopper?

- [Instructor] Grasshopper is a plugin for Rhinoceros 3D modeling software. It gives us a visual interface for building algorithms that generate geometry in Rhino. As powerful as Rhino's 3D modeling tools are on their own, there comes a point, especially when you're dealing with complex models, where a user might want even more flexibility or control. For example, the ability to quickly change fundamental attributes of a complex model, or the ability to make complex formations through repetition of simple forms, or maybe a user would like to use mathematical functions to control or generate shapes. Some such flexibility can be accessed from within Rhino by using the built-in support for scripting languages, like RhinoScript or Python. These scripting tools offer powerful control over Rhino's modeling commands, including some that are not even available through the graphic interface. Using scripting languages, though, requires a fairly in-depth knowledge of computer programming techniques, which of course, many artists, designers, or other creative users don't have. Grasshopper combines the mostly graphical approach of working in Rhino with some of the most powerful algorithmic techniques found in scripting. The benefit of using Grasshopper is that you don't need to have a high level of scripting or programming experience to jump right in and start generating interesting models.

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