Revit API Training 101.01

I've been getting lots of requests from folks to post a "Getting Started with the Revit API" or "Revit API 101" series, so here is the introduction to such a series! I better see lots of views on these posts! Don't let me down.

Sample Code on GitHub

I've setup a git repository for you guys to download the source code for the samples (as they become available). Revit API 101 Samples on GitHub: http://github.com/rudderdon/Revit101 .

Introduction

This is the first of what might be an endless series on how to get going with the Revit API. Since Revit 2013 just came out, these topics will focus on 2013. If Revit 2012 is all that you have installed, don't worry. The Revit 2012 and 2013 API's differ only slightly and I'll do my best to point out what is different between the two versions in my posts as we run into those differences.

Getting Started, the Development Environment

The first thing that I would recommend for someone that is bran spanking new at programming altogether would be to download and install an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) suitable for .NET development. The Application Programming Interface (API) for Revit is based on the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0. There are several free IDE platforms out there that you can use, but if you have access to or can afford it, I recommend Microsoft Visual Studio Professional (VS). The latest official versions of VS at the time of this post is VS 2010. There is a free BETA version for 2011 out that you can use, but it will stop working later in the summer of 2012 unless you purchase a license.

Download and Purchase VS 2010 Professional
Download VS 2011 BETA
Download VS 2010 Express Versions (FREE)

Other non Microsoft Sanctioned .NET IDE's
SharpDevelop (Free)
MonoDevelop

Download and Explore the Revit SDK

The Software Development Kit for Revit contains several samples as well as key documentation that can keep you moving in the right direction. The 2012 SDK has a lot more samples than the 2013 version, but you can download either from the Autodesk Revit website. You can also read through Autodesk's tutorial entitled "My First Revit Plug-in."

View the Revit Developer Page (SDK Downloads)

View the Revit "My First Revit Plug-in" Tutorial Page

The next post will cover the Revit API implementations and how they work. We will also have our first sample piece of code to work with.