DynamicCodeBridge v1.7.0

Professional Live-Coding Bridge for Rhino 8 & Grasshopper

Developed by Nacho Monereo | MRAC-IAAC Robots Lab

DynamicCodeBridge is a high-performance, real-time sync system linking external code files (.cs, .py) directly to Grasshopper. It enables you to write script logic inside professional external IDEs and instantly run, visualize, and debug it on the Grasshopper canvas.

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Key Features

• Instant Live-Sync: Edit your code in Visual Studio, VS Code, Cursor, or Rider. Saving the file (Ctrl+S) re-compiles and re-calculates the Grasshopper definition in milliseconds.
• Professional IDE Workflows: Use full IntelliSense, autocomplete, formatting (Black, Prettier, C# Formatters), packages, and Git version control on your Grasshopper scripts.
• Script Internalization: Embed external scripts directly inside the Grasshopper component with a single click to make definitions fully standalone and portable.
• Automatic Rich Inputs: Annotate your code parameters with tags to dynamically generate and wire Grasshopper controls (Sliders, Toggles, Swatches, Points, Planes, and Strings).
• Deep Diagnostics: Instantly generates bridge_status_[shortId].log containing compilation error traces, execution status, input/output snapshots, and runtime telemetry.
• Export ID Binding: Exported script files are named bridge_logic_[shortId].cs / .py using the unique 8-character component GUID to keep files cleanly separated.
• AI-Ready System Prompts: Exported scripts contain custom AI system prompts in their headers. Copy-paste them directly to ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to get instantly aligned code generations.

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Professional IDE Integration & Real-Time Sync

Traditionally, editing scripts inside Grasshopper is constrained by simple, built-in text boxes lacking advanced developer tools. DynamicCodeBridge frees you from this limitation:

1. External Development

Right-click a C# or Python Bridge component and select "Export Code File...". Open the generated file or its parent folder in your IDE (VS Code, Visual Studio, Cursor, etc.).

• IntelliSense & Autocomplete: Write geometry code with full member suggestions, documentation, and parameter info for RhinoCommon, Grasshopper SDK, and system libraries.
• Diagnostics: Find syntax issues immediately through IDE red squiggles before execution.

2. Live-Reloading Sync

When you modify code in your editor and save (Ctrl+S):

1. The plugin's file system watcher detects the file update.
2. The Roslyn (C#) compiler or CPython (Python) engine parses the updated script on the fly.
3. Automatically maps any changed parameter tags to update Grasshopper pins.
4. Instantly triggers a solution recalculation to visualize the results in the Rhino viewport.

Tip

This live-sync takes milliseconds to execute, creating a seamless feedback loop between typing code in Visual Studio and seeing geometry change in Rhino 8.

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Script Internalization (Standalone Mode)

When sharing a .gh definition with clients, colleagues, or students, requiring them to manage external .cs or .py files can be cumbersome. DynamicCodeBridge solves this with Standalone Mode:

How to Internalize Your Code:

1. Right-click the Bridge component on the Grasshopper canvas.
2. Check the option "Internalize Code (Standalone)" in the context menu.
3. What happens:
   • The first input pin (File Path) is removed or hidden.
   • The external file dependency is cut.
   • The latest compiled script code is embedded directly into the component's internal persistent state.
   • The status panel shows: Link: STANDALONE.

Now, your Grasshopper file is fully portable and self-contained! Anyone with the DynamicCodeBridge plugin installed can open, run, and compute the definition without needing any external script files on their machine.

How to Re-link/Edit:

• If you need to make more changes using an external editor, simply right-click the component and uncheck "Internalize Code (Standalone)".
• The File Path input pin will reappear, allowing you to link a file and edit it in Visual Studio again.

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How to Use

1. Install: Search for DynamicCodeBridge in the Rhino 8 Package Manager (_PackageManager) and click Install.
2. Setup: Drag the C# or Python Bridge component onto the Grasshopper canvas.
3. Link: Right-click the component and select "Export Code File..." to create a template, or connect a file path string to the 'P' input.
4. Auto-Generate Inputs: Declare inputs at the top using comment tags (e.g., // IN: active[toggle], size[0..10=5]). Grasshopper will automatically construct and wire the sliders/toggles on the canvas.
5. Clean Input Metadata: Sliders and custom ranges are specified in the parameter tags. The pin name remains clean (e.g. size), while constraints (e.g. 0..10 (Default: 5)) are automatically added to the parameter description tooltips.

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AI-Assisted Workflow

1. Copy the Prompt: Copy the pre-configured system prompt at the top of your exported script.
2. Paste & Prompt: Paste the prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, then describe the geometry or logic you want.
3. Debug with Logs: If the component turns red, copy the contents of bridge_status_[shortId].log and paste it to the AI. It will analyze the variables and stack trace to return fixed code instantly.

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Rules for Developers

Python (CPython)

• Declare dependencies at the very top using # r: library_name.
• Declare inputs using # IN: Name[type] and outputs using # OUT: Name1, Name2.
• Use Inputs = dict(Inputs) at the beginning for safe dictionary conversions.

C# (Roslyn)

• Declare inputs using // IN: Name[type] and outputs using // OUT: Name1, Name2.
• Use type-safe retrieval: Convert.ToDouble(Inputs["Name"]) or pattern match using Grasshopper types (e.g., is GH_Number).

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About IAAC Robots Lab

The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) is a center for research, education, and development at the intersection of architecture, robotics, and digital fabrication.

Developer: Nacho Monereo Laboratory: MRAC-IAAC (Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction) | IAAC Robots Lab