Intro to API in Fusion 360 Part 1 - Variables Objects and Classes #Fusion360API #Python

In this video we kick off a series learning the basics of Fusion 360 API. This will take some time but we will try to cover some important aspects of getting started for new/non-programmers.

Before you get started you should install or find a code editing program. I will be using Visual Studio Code in the videos but any will work. Fusion 360 does come with Spyder(or used to) as soon as you edit a script. If you want to use Visual Studio Code(free) you can find it here.
You can also download any other number of IDEs from Python or other suppliers for free.

Here is the Fusion 360 API Help file and the information about Objects.

Also I think Corey Schafer has some great content on Object Oriented Programming in Python in general if you would like a deeper dive past what we will cover.

For a complete beginner look at Python I found Programming with Mosh to have a really good pace and he offers a wide range of courses on Youtube

I have no affiliation with either channel but I found their content to be well suited for most users.

[HopWorksET]

Well this has been a pretty good day! Everything went the way I wanted it to, rare for me the past few years, and then I find this series. As an old-guy about ready to turn 59, when I searched and found this series, I nearly hospitalized myself trying to do a cart-wheel at my desk. Then as an added bonus, the author is very easy to follow and listen to. Like the series author mentioned, there is not that much content out there on this subject, and what is available is dated. This is even 2 years ago, but it is a start and adjustments can be realized once on the right path. I am SO VERY EXCITED that this contribution has been made, and it made me an instant fan!! {'liked':True, 'subscribed':True, 'saved':True} THANK YOU!!

[noe]

Autodesk should think about of "putting you on their payroll". For me this would be a 1+ as you are showing exactly the content I need. Amazing. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge👏

[jnorris]

I’ve been messing around with Python for a few years & I definitely prefer Fusion 360 to other CAD/CAM software. Needless to say, I’m pretty stoked about this series. Great job with the initial video & thanks again!

[trhosking]

When teaching programming (or anything for that matter), start with a plan, overview, roadmap or whatever you prefer to call it. Don’t just start from the top and start typing as the viewer won’t have a clue what you are trying to achieve and will become overwhelmed by a stream of seemingly random words and thoughts. When you have the plan, break it down into logical blocks and start to outline the program flow using pseudo code. Only then do you get into the implementation using real code. A top-down approach is always easier to understand and communicate.

[mismail]

Love this! Thanks for the detailed explanations :)

[dadasut]

Mentioning Corey Schafer and Mosh actually helped me a lot with other python related topics. I have made a drone model in 2018 as a project of a course you instructed. will try to make my model more adaptive and parametric with some API elements and maybe make version 2 of it then will share the design with you. Thanks Matt you are always the best

[Tarex_]

Excited to binge the python videos, last year i needed a super basic (in my mind) script that made batches of labels with changing text, i didn't have the time to learn python from scratch because had to make the parts and found no clear resource that had the functions i needed so i could copy/paste them at least, ended up making almost 10.000 labels literally by hand one by one lol, it was faster than breaking my brain at that moment to learn scripting python

[osvald]

This is very promising! Looking forward to follow this series, thank you very much!

[jean-jacquesjuille]

Hello and thank you very much for all your sharing. Could you please advise which Visual Studio Code extensions you have installed?
This is in order to have the same code colors as you, so we can better see any typos we may make.
Thank you in advance for your answer

[MikeJones-mfrt]

I really wish Fusion 360 offered an air-gapped option, I really hate that the entire software industry outside of open source work have all shifted to forcing cloud services as the only available option

[jean-jacquesjuille]

Thank you for your quick reply. Please, can you tell me what theme of Visual Studio Code you are using?