First Steps
Introduction
Throughout First Steps, you’ll learn key concepts of functional programming and how they apply to Script-Fu. But don’t worry—these concepts are introduced in an easy-to-digest way, with plenty of examples and explanations to help you understand the principles behind the code.
Tutorial Steps
Create your first Script-Fu plug-in with basic structure
Improve code structure without changing behavior
Organize functions into reusable libraries
Add error handling and input validation
Understanding function outputs and data flow
Build a comprehensive messaging system
Advanced code restructuring techniques
Iterative improvement and optimization
Exploring GIMP’s procedure database
Summary and next steps in development
Overview
Some key topics include:
- Writing your first “Hello World!” plug-in.
- Loading and using plug-ins in GIMP.
- Refactoring your code for simplicity and maintainability.
- Introducing validation and error-checking for more reliable plug-ins.
- Sending messages to various GIMP outputs (status bar, error console, dialog box).
By the end, you’ll have built your own custom messaging library and have a solid foundation to continue developing more advanced plug-ins.
What You Need
Before you get started, ensure you have the following:
- GIMP installed: GIMP development version or Artbox,
- A text editor: You’ll be writing and modifying code in .scm files. I recommend Visual Studio Code
- Git to keep your code backed-up and version controlled.