MIT Template (Grasshopper, .NET 8)

A deliberately small, MIT-licensed starting point for a Grasshopper plugin that builds and debugs the same way on Windows and macOS (Rhino 8+, .NET 8).

It contains no functional components - only the minimum scaffolding plus one clearly-marked example you copy and replace.

What's inside

File	Role
MIT_Template.csproj	SDK-style project; outputs a .gha; Grasshopper is a compile-only reference.
TemplateAssemblyInfo.cs	Registers the plugin (name, icon, unique GUID). One per plugin.
TemplateComponent.cs	Thin base class: fixes the ribbon category + shared WrongInput helper.
ExampleComponent.cs	Inert skeleton showing the GUID + input/output + SolveInstance shape.
.vscode/	Cross-platform Rhino launch/build config (see Debugging).

Getting started

1. Rename the project, AssemblyName/RootNamespace, and the Name in TemplateAssemblyInfo.cs.
2. Generate new GUIDs: one for TemplateAssemblyInfo.Id, one for every component's ComponentGuid. Never reuse the template's GUIDs.
3. Copy ExampleComponent.cs per new component; rename the class and fill in IO.
4. dotnet build - the .gha lands in bin/Debug/net8.0.

Design notes (the questions you should ask)

Do I need a base class? A thin one pays off fast: it pins the ribbon category in a single place and hosts shared helpers. Keep it thin - promote code into it only when 2+ components need it.

Inheritance vs. composition? Components must inherit GH_Component (framework requirement). For your own logic prefer composition (plain classes the component calls) so it stays unit-testable without Rhino.

Component documentation? Three layers:

• name / nickname / description in the constructor -> tooltips & search.
• Per-parameter descriptions in Register*Params -> the param tooltips.
• XML /// docs on the class -> for the next developer (not shown in Rhino).

Debugging on Windows and macOS

The .vscode folder launches Rhino (a .gha has no entry point and cannot be "run") and attaches the .NET debugger so breakpoints bind.

1. Open this folder in VS Code with the C# extension installed.
2. Press F5 -> "Rhino 8 - Grasshopper (template)".
3. Rhino starts, Grasshopper opens, and breakpoints in your components bind.

RHINO_PACKAGE_DIRS in launch.json points Rhino at bin/Debug/net8.0 so it loads exactly the .gha you just built. Adjust the Rhino paths in launch.json if yours differ.

License

MIT - see LICENSE.