Should I learn Revit Programming?

Do you want a new super power? Sure, we all do. Well, bending Revit to your will takes your next project to new heights and helps you and your teammates to be more efficient. But, you don’t know how to program or you’ve only dabbled. No problem. There are different tools that allow folks with different programming skills to take advantage of Revit’s functionality. There are many reasons to go down this path and we will show them here in addition to the tools you have at your disposal.

5 Reasons to learn how to program in Revit?

1. Streamline your workflows by automating tasks via programming.

Have you ever wanted to select all the doors and walls in one click? Have you needed to create a custom report? I wish I could create sheets automatically. By creating new tools all this can be as easy as clicking a button.

It can be hard / impossible to do certain tasks like area calculations. Programming can get deep into the model and find the data or elements you need for a report or view. For instance, a script could analyze material quantities across different building components, aiding in cost estimation and procurement planning.

Be a hero to you and your team. Each keyboard shortcut hooked up to an automated selection tool, makes BIM work life easier. Every minute saved allows for more designing and prototyping. Every pain point avoided makes your team happier and more efficient.

Explore more diverse designs automatically. Admittedly, I have not used Grasshopper. Let me know if you feel it would be easier to use it than python to explore designs. In the past I have hit roadblocks when using software of all kinds. You get 90% there and then you’re stuck. I have found creating your own tools removes those roadblocks and makes you the “sure, I can do that” guy or gal. Whether you are exploring furniture layouts or feasibility studies, programming can help you explore more design options fast.

2. How can I program Revit?

It depends on your experience. Never coded before, no problem. Dynamo is a great solution with a graphical programming interface that is easy to grasp and get started with. If you are familiar with a for loop and regex, then PyRevit and python are great solutions for you. PyRevit gives you the ease and power of python with a bunch of awesome built in tools like the hatch pattern creator and element picker. There is so much more to know about PyRevit. Fyi - Dynamo studio is no longer available. But, not to worry, the Dynamo Revit add-in works perfectly.

3. What is Revit programming?

It allows you to tap into the software and expand Revit to meet your needs. The Revit application programming interface (API) exposes a ton of functionality you can call from your scripting. The API is exposed to all the programming platforms mentioned above. The API can be a bit intimidating at first, but you will soon find many examples on how to use it and where to find the methods and parameters you need to streamline your job.

4. Where can I find Revit API help?

Some great Revit educational resources out on the interwebs include:

• Aussie BIM Guru who specializes in programming applied to the daily life of an architectural problem solver.
• Balkan Architect is another YouTuber with Revit tutorials of all sorts.
• The Revit Kid offers all things Revit and he interviews many other folks that can help you solve your Revit issues. He also explores new technologies and how to leverage them.
• Parallax Team is another great resource for hard core technical help. They specialize in creating sophisticated content, add-ons and training among other things.
• The Building Coder has a blog where Jeremy Tammik answers millions (seems like millions) of Revit specific API questions. He has connections to the Revit developers and he can get to the bottom of any issue you run into.
• And That BIM Girl can help you get started programming in Revit or she can help you with other tricky bits in Revit with her great YouTube videos.

5. Is Revit programming a super power

YES! You are no longer bound to the default functionality. When your team has a tricky project with a unique set of circumstances, a quick script can explore the data. Or, another script could try out different space sizes and layouts. Or, model cleanup and parameter manipulation can easily be done via scripting. This super power will also allow you and your firm to do rapid prototyping, testing design iterations, and implementing unique architectural concepts.

Conclusion

Revit programming is a powerful avenue for AEC professionals to enhance their efficiency, creativity, and capabilities. Tapping into Revit API programming will also take your great skills to another level that will make you more competitive and open more doors. You can start easy with Dynamo or jump into Python, it’s up to you where your super hero journey starts. Oh, and I forgot to mention the best part. Programming is fun and satisfying when you solve a major problem for your whole design team. You saved the day, BIM Avenger! Ok, that super hero name needs a little work … BIM Guru! No, already taken … API Boy! Yuck …

So, which technology are you going to try to level up your Revit game? Did I miss a YouTuber or blogger? Shoot us a tweet … X … at @arcatnews. Everyone will want to know, Python Mule! Wow, I am not good at naming super heros. :)