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.

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.