Hello @moebius,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Juding from you mentioning Visual Studio I assume you are on Windows and want the plugin for Windows. I went ahead and compiled the 2023.0
SDK for you, i.e., you can use it from 2023.0.0
up to the last service pack of 2023
which we will publish. After that the ABI will change and you will need a new plugin.
SDK 2023.0.0 Windows (binaries only)
@x_nerve said
As an expensive commercial software, C4D does not do a good job in how to compile the C++ SDK. If it is not for other C4D users to publish tutorials and only rely on the compilation instructions of the C++ SDK development document, it is true that even the first step of the compilation can not be successful. The SDK team should make a change.
The C++ API has for a long time being documented as documentation from experts for experts, with a certain reliance on 'they will get that, they are also experts!'. When you look at our Getting Started: Introduction page, you will see that it tells you everything (you technically) need to know to get a compilation going, but additional information is a bit scattered and also relies on the fact that people know their way around VS, Xcode and a compiler.
I have revamping the introduction section on my bucket list, but people also want to see the Asset API, OCIO, Pyro, etc. to be documented in a more analytical fashion, and there is also the whole subject of the maxon API which requires major work. Which puts the importance of a more beginner friendly getting started section a bit more into perspective. While we certainly want to move into less expert territories with out APIs and their documentations, I am afraid that the information needs of people who take this hurdle on their own take priority for now. It is not that I would disagree with your sentiments, but as always in documentation, you must be selective, as you cannot do everything you would want to do.
When I have time, I will give making the introduction section more beginner friendly a spin.
Cheers,
Ferdinand