You will probably get some varying responses on this depending on the background of the person. My personal opinion is that I never have a need to touch MEL anymore. The benefit you can from python is flexibility. The same commands that are available to mel are available to python, plus you have the entire python standard library and 3rd party libs. Where mel might excel is in core stuff like for loops. But usually if speed becomes an issue and the python api library still isnt sufficient, you probably need c++ anyways. Python is a very friendly language to new programers because it reads easily. You can also write maya plugins as scripted python plugins. A HUGE reason for me to use python is that you get to write your GUI apps using PyQT as opposed to that horrid legacy native ui.
There may not be a large selection of python for maya books vs mel books but there are plenty of tutorials. You dont really need a python for maya book, as much as just a standard python book. Once you know the language, the maya python commands are just another thing. Chad Vernon has a lot of tutorials online if you search. Also I can offer a shameless plug in recommending my two python maya video tutorials on cmivfx.com Thats just my two cents. I find mel pretty unnecessary now. On Aug 6, 2012, at 1:40 PM, Chuen Liang <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > I'm new to programming in Maya and was thinking of starting out > learning MEL by getting the book "Complete Maya Programming: An Extensive > Guide to MEL and C++ API" by David Gould. However, I hear the discussions > that Python is better and more widely used and wondering if I should just > skip MEL and go with Python instead. My problem is that I can't seem to find > a book as thorough as the MEL book I mentioned for beginners. Can you all > suggest one? Would it be wise to start out in MEL and transition to Python > after I'm done and familiar with the book? Please remember, I'm a total noob > when it comes to programming and haven't a clue how Maya actually works > behind the visible screen. > > Thanks :) > -- > view archives: http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya > change your subscription settings: > http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya/subscribe -- view archives: http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya change your subscription settings: http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya/subscribe
