Design Data's SDS/2 Code Clash is a programming competition designed to promote the creation of parametrics and custom members with SDS/2. Design Data wants to encourage its customers to create their own parametrics and custom members for the software, and this competition helps to motivate that creativity.
Parametrics are add-on scripts written in the Python programming language that can be run from within an SDS/2 modeling environment. More than just simple macros, parametrics can be used to model anything from a simple seat connection to a complex caged ladder or even a spiral staircase. They can also be used to generate information from an SDS/2 model for use in other software, or import information into an SDS/2 job to update member information. The capability of a parametric is only as limited as its author's imagination.
Custom Members are similar to parametrics in that they can be used to add new members and material to an SDS/2 model; however, Custom Members are designed to be edited after they have been added. SDS/2 includes a few custom members built-in, such as handrail, which runs like a parametric the first time through. After it has been added, the user has the ability to edit the handrail member, and make changes to it using the same dialog box interface that was used to create it. Custom Member technology allows for the creation of specialized members that can be difficult to model by hand, and can be altered easily once they have been added to a model.
SDS/2 Code Clash 2011 will highlight the creative minds of the SDS/2 community by awarding prizes to the authors of the best parametrics and custom members that are submitted. Any current SDS/2 customer with a taste for innovation and some programming skills can submit an entry into the competition throughout the summer. Design Data will judge all entries and award prizes at the annual SDS/2 Users Group Conference in late September.
One of Design Data's main goals with Code Clash is to encourage the open-source parametric and custom member community to grow, share and collaborate. We believe SDS/2 users can benefit greatly from these add-ons that are written by fellow users and can be critiqued and enhanced by the entire SDS/2 user base. Design Data will maintain a database of free parametrics and custom members authored by its users.
A second goal is to begin building a Python module library. This library will contain modules written by the SDS/2 community that can be shared and distributed with SDS/2 and on the SDS/2 Web site. By maintaining a module library containing useful Python modules that users can import into their own add-ons, we can help parametric and custom member authors to be more productive.
Design Data's final goal is to enhance the future development of SDS/2 by keeping a close ear to what the parametric and custom member community needs from the software. If the need for a feature comes across strongly through parametrics or custom members, Design Data may incorporate that feature into future versions of SDS/2.