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DX (Developer Experience) Development

YouTube tutorials + NuGet templates cut SDS2 .NET API ramp‑up from hours to minutes—4 k+ downloads per template.

Two SDS2 .NET API YouTube playlists: Step by Step and Tutorials

Quick Facts

Technologies:
C#, Python, Nuget
Platform:
YouTube, GitHub
Status:
Deployed
Project URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHtx3PAN_vU&list=PLGwaXRvxNTNiKfTclvsomBxCsqlmOIU2G
Client:
SDS2
Industry:
Developer Tools / Engineering Software

Overview

SDS2 .NET API Developer-Experience Accelerator. SDS2 opened its steel-detailing platform to third-party developers with a modern .NET API, but early adopters struggled to get started: examples were scattered and new partners spent days configuring projects before writing any business logic.

Apps By TAP created a complete developer-experience (DX) program for SDS2: step-by-step YouTube tutorials, short API fundamentals videos and NuGet project templates that cut ramp-up time from hours to minutes.

The Challenge

  • Steep learning curve — early adopters struggled to find cohesive examples and best practices.
  • Scattered resources — code snippets lived in forums, and sample apps went stale between SDS2 releases.
  • Onboarding friction — new partners spent days configuring projects before writing a single line of business logic.

Our Approach

Step-by-step video playlist

An 8-part YouTube series walks viewers from “Hello World” to a fully featured plugin, screen-sharing every build and run step.

API fundamentals playlist

Short, topic-focused clips (under five minutes) explain core classes, event hooks and common pitfalls—perfect for quick reference.

NuGet distribution

SDS2.API and four scaffold templates are published to NuGet with semantic versioning, so developers always get a version that matches their SDS2 release.

Best-practice templates

Templates for WPF, WinForms and Python-hybrid plugins include pre-wired error handling and sample commands, slashing setup time.

Technology Stack

  • C# and .NET – the API and template code. Part of our Tekla & SDS2 plugins service.
  • Python – hybrid plugin templates.
  • NuGet (.NET Standard) – packaging and versioned distribution.
  • Visual Studio project templates – one-command project setup.
  • YouTube – the video learning series.

Results & Impact

  • 4k+ downloads per template package within the first year.
  • The playlists now serve as official training material in SDS2’s partner onboarding program, cementing a unified developer experience.

Explore the Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I learn the SDS2 .NET API?

Start with the “SDS2 .NET API – Step by Step” playlist on YouTube, which goes from Hello World to a fully featured plugin, then use the “SDS2 .NET API Fundamentals” playlist as a quick reference.

Are there project templates for SDS2 plugins?

Yes. Templates for WPF, WinForms and Python-hybrid plugins are published on NuGet with error handling and sample commands already wired up.

How popular are the templates?

Each template package passed 4,000 downloads within its first year.

Does SDS2 use these resources officially?

Yes. The playlists now serve as official training material in SDS2's partner onboarding program.

  • Bim-Plugins.com

    Blazor‑powered marketplace lets devs list SDS2 plugins, auto‑sign installers, and get paid via Stripe Connect—built for rapid scale to future BIM platforms.

    Learn More

  • Allplan Profile Catalog

    Allplan Profile Catalog lets SDS2 users import global beam & column shapes in seconds—secured by Toolbox license + Bimplus login, always up‑to‑date.

    Learn More

  • SDS2 Task Scheduler

    Quartz‑based Windows service & dynamic Blazor client automate SDS2 tasks—IFC exports, custom jobs—plug‑in SDK lets users add new schedulable actions in minutes.

    Learn More

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