Lynx is a stand-alone, cross-platform application designed and developed for task building. Lynx offers dependency graph features since it's a node based application which allows users to build tasks easily and effortlessly. It's very easy to lean and use since it's similarities with other node based applications like compositing applications or node editors in 3D applications such as Autodesk Maya.
I have embedded Python interpreter by using Python's C API in Lynx so users can interact with the application via Python scripting language. Python can be used in automating tasks, developing new nodes, writing new command based plug-ins and more.
Tasks can be executed in Lynx (in Embedded Python Interpreter) or in Autodesk Maya which opens new doors for 3D content creation and production pipeline when it used with Lynx. You can use Lynx from renaming files to compiling plug-ins, sending e-mails to rigging characters, creating 3D assets to publishing them.
We use Lynx on our productions mainly for following tasks;
While I am using it for;
Node attributes may require additional features like browsing a file, directory, selecting a node in Autodesk Maya, even selecting components like faces, edges, etc. Lynx allows nodes to have those additional feature.
Features appear along side of attributes in the attribute editor when a node is selected. For instance; if an attribute represents a directory, “Browse for a directory” feature appears and allows users to interact with the attribute in efficient manner. Following features are also available and new features can be added very easily.
I have developed Lynx in a way which can be extended in easiest way possible. Following approaches can be taken to extend Lynx.
Lynx offers built-in Python commands which offers Python Scripting within the application. You can do virtually everything via Python commands that Lynx offers. Please see the Python Commands reference for detailed documentation and example codes. Please visit Python Command Documentation for more information.
If you have Python modules that you have written or modules written by third party you can use them in Lynx by creating custom nodes. Nodes represent Python objects (including classes and methods) that can be executed within Lynx or in other applications such as Autodesk Maya.
You can use Python scripting language to create custom command plug-ins which will be listed under "Plug-Ins" menu on the main menu bar of the application. Users can easily run those commands by using allocated menu items.
You can connect Lynx and execute Python commands via the port it listens. This allows you to run commands in Lynx from another application such as Autodesk Maya.
Lynx offers many environment variables that you can use. You can also initialize Lynx environment based on needs of your pipeline by using its environment file.
Lynx offers several useful command line arguments to work with.
I have been receiving some questions about the Lynx application. I like to answer them below.
No. Lynx can be used virtually for any purpose. For instance; I am compiling C++ codes and sending the binaries via e-mail with the Lynx application.
Intention of developing the Lynx application was to offer a scalable platform. The platform is scalable with the nodes, so it’s hard to answer this question. You can create more nodes as you need. However, I do use about 70-80 nodes for personal needs. At work, based on the project we are working on this number jumps to 250-300 nodes.
Please see "Licensing" section.
I've created them.
Lynx is not available for public download neither for free nor for commercially.