This skill is supposed to work as an assistant for the learning and use of the software Houdini from SideFX. Houdini is a very complex software that consists of multiple contexts hundreds of nodes, it's own build in programming language and a python API. Sometimes it is difficult to keep track of what you learned or even what individual elements are used for.
This is where the houdini database skill comes into play. All functions of the vex language, all nodes and all python elements are included.
The houdini database supports the following functions:
- get the description of any vex function, node or python hou entry - get the parameters of a specific function (content WIP) - mark a function or node as learned - get a random function, node our python entry -- only selects from unknown entries - get your current status of learned items - reset your current status of learned items -- get and reset status can be applied in general or subsets of entries - get an email with additonal information to the function/node/python in question -- it will always contain the link to the documentation -- can have links to youtube tutorials entries from CG Wiki or any interesting sources I gather over time -- an example hip file related to the node or function in question (Alexa will inform you what that will be in advance - amount of links and example files)
The categories are the same as in the official documentation - arrays, attributes and intrinsics, crowds, geometry and so on. The context for the nodes cover every area of Houdini - sop, dop, top, etc.
Remember the function: After using one of the above intents the skill is in a state where it knows which function or node was requested. You can then proceed to get the additional information. For example if you asked "How does findattribval work" you get the description and you can follow up with "Give me the parameters".
This allows for the learning experience of asking for a random function which you could learn and then ask for more specifics with "What does it do" or "parameters". Once you learned it you can tell alexa to "mark it as learned" which willl be saved with your user id. That means you can come back to the skill at any time and continue to learn.
Roadmap: 1. The basis for the initial content are the descriptions from the official documentation. Over time they will be updated to user based point of view. 2. The parameters of the functions and possible node details need to be created by hand which will be an ongoing process. 3. Simple example files will be created as an ongoing process with the goal to have the core of houdinis tools covered quickly. 3. The same goes for the links that get added to the email. I am going to adress other tutors in the community if I may include links to their work.
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