aid: autodesk-maya name: Autodesk Maya description: >- Autodesk Maya is a comprehensive 3D computer graphics application used for creating interactive 3D applications including video games, animated films, TV series, and visual effects. Maya provides multiple programming APIs including a Python API, C++ plugin API, MEL scripting language, USD integration, and Bifrost visual programming environment for extending and automating Maya workflows and creating custom tools and plugins. type: Index image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg tags: - 3D Graphics - Animation - Game Development - Modeling - Rendering - Visual Effects - VFX - CAD url: >- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/autodesk-maya/refs/heads/main/apis.yml created: '2025-01-01' modified: '2026-04-19' specificationVersion: '0.19' apis: - aid: autodesk-maya:maya-python-api name: Maya Python API description: >- Python API for scripting and extending Maya functionality, providing access to Maya's scene graph and node architecture. Includes Python API 2.0 with a more Pythonic workflow and improved performance via maya.api.OpenMaya, as well as Python API 1.0 via maya.OpenMaya and the maya.cmds wrapper for MEL commands. humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/ baseURL: https://localhost tags: - Automation - Python - Scripting properties: - type: Documentation url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_Python_API_Maya_Python_API_2_0_html - type: APIReference url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_py_ref_index_html - type: GettingStarted url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_Python_API_Python_API_2_0_Quick_Start_html - aid: autodesk-maya:maya-cpp-api name: Maya C++ API description: >- C++ API providing low-level access to Maya's core functionality for creating plugins, custom nodes, and high-performance tools. The API is organized into functional libraries including OpenMaya, OpenMayaUI, OpenMayaAnim, OpenMayaFX, and OpenMayaRender. humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/ baseURL: https://localhost tags: - C++ - Native - Performance - Plugins properties: - type: Documentation url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_cpp_ref_index_html - type: APIReference url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_cpp_ref_index_html - type: GettingStarted url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_SDK_Maya_SDK_html - aid: autodesk-maya:maya-mel-commands name: Maya Commands (MEL) description: >- Maya Embedded Language (MEL) scripting interface for automating tasks and customizing Maya workflows. MEL provides direct access to Maya commands and is the foundation of Maya's scripting capabilities. humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/ baseURL: https://localhost tags: - Automation - Commands - MEL - Scripting properties: - type: Documentation url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__CommandsPython_index_html - type: APIReference url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__Commands_index_html - aid: autodesk-maya:maya-usd-api name: Maya USD API description: >- Universal Scene Description (USD) integration for Maya, enabling exchange of 3D content between applications. Provides tools for importing, exporting, and working with USD stages and layers within Maya. humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/ baseURL: https://localhost tags: - Interchange - Pipeline - Scene Description - USD properties: - type: Documentation url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-C7DB6AF9-653E-4B49-93D6-F9C2D0865B85 - type: GitHubRepository url: https://github.com/Autodesk/maya-usd - aid: autodesk-maya:maya-bifrost-api name: Maya Bifrost API description: >- Bifrost is Maya's visual programming environment for creating simulation and procedural effects. It provides a node-based graph editor for building complex effects including fluids, particles, destruction, and procedural geometry, with SDK support for custom node development. humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=GUID-1223AA4F-1CD7-473C-87EA-C16C6B28F7FD baseURL: https://localhost tags: - Bifrost - Particles - Procedural Effects - Simulation - Visual Programming properties: - type: Documentation url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=Bifrost_MayaPlugin_bifrost_for_maya_html - type: GitHubRepository url: https://github.com/Autodesk/bifrost-usd common: - type: Portal url: https://www.autodesk.com/developer-network/platform-technologies/maya - type: Documentation url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYADEV/2026/ENU/ - type: Support url: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-programming/bd-p/area-c-maya-programming - type: Blog url: https://www.autodesk.com/blogs/maya/ - type: Tutorials url: https://tutorials.autodesk.io/ - type: ReleaseNotes url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=MAYA_RELEASENOTES_2026_RELEASE_NOTES_HTML - type: TermsOfService url: https://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/terms-of-service-autodesk360-web-services - type: GitHubOrganization url: https://github.com/autodesk-platform-services - type: Features data: - name: Python API 2.0 description: >- Modern Pythonic API with improved performance and a cleaner interface for accessing Maya's node architecture and scene graph via maya.api.OpenMaya. - name: C++ Plugin SDK description: >- Low-level C++ API for high-performance plugin development with access to Maya's full internal architecture through OpenMaya functional libraries. - name: MEL Scripting description: >- Maya Embedded Language for command-line scripting, UI automation, and batch processing of Maya scenes and assets. - name: USD Integration description: >- Universal Scene Description support for importing, exporting, and working with USD assets within Maya for cross-application 3D content pipelines. - name: Bifrost Visual Programming description: >- Node-based visual programming environment for creating procedural effects, simulations, and custom workflows without traditional coding. - name: Custom Node Development description: >- Create custom dependency graph nodes, deformers, and shape nodes that integrate natively into Maya's scene graph and evaluation system. - type: UseCases data: - name: VFX Pipeline Integration description: >- Integrating Maya into visual effects production pipelines with custom tools, asset management systems, and render farm automation. - name: Game Asset Automation description: >- Automating game asset creation, optimization, and export workflows for game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity through Maya scripting. - name: Animation Workflow Tools description: >- Building custom rigging systems, animation controls, and workflow tools to accelerate character animation production for film and TV. - name: Procedural Content Generation description: >- Using Bifrost and Python APIs to generate procedural geometry, textures, and scene content for games, visualization, and architectural projects. - name: DCC Pipeline Development description: >- Developing studio pipeline tools that automate scene assembly, asset tracking, and data interchange between Maya and other DCC applications. - type: Integrations data: - name: Autodesk Arnold description: >- Integration with Arnold renderer via the MtoA (Maya to Arnold) plugin for photorealistic rendering of Maya scenes. - name: Unreal Engine description: >- USD-based pipeline integration with Unreal Engine for game asset export and visualization workflows. - name: ShotGrid (Flow Production Tracking) description: >- Integration with Autodesk ShotGrid for production tracking, asset management, and review workflows in film and TV production. - name: Houdini description: >- Interoperability with SideFX Houdini via USD and Alembic for visual effects simulation and procedural content pipelines. maintainers: - FN: Kin Lane email: kin@apievangelist.com