MEL Programming language

MEL (Maya Embedded Language) is a scripting language used to simplify the task in the Autodesk’s 3D graphics software Maya. MEL is descended from UNIX shell scripting. This means MEL is strongly based on executing commands to accomplish things (like executing commands in a UNIX shell), rather than manipulating data structures, calling functions, or using object oriented methods as in other language. It provides some memory management and dynamic array-allocation, and offers direct access to functions specific to Maya.

MEL Programming code example

{`

int $a = 5;

float $b = 3.456;

vector $v = <<1.2, 3.4, 6.5>>;
floats
float $ar[] = {1.2, 3.4, 4.5}; // An array of floats

matrix $mtx[3][2]; // A 3x2 matrix of floats
`}

Applications of MEL

Data I/O
Motion capture data import
Proprietary game data export
Scene meta-data for production tracking
Geometry creation/modification
Custom primitives