Grasshopper is a visual programming language integrated as a free plug-in for Rhinoceros (Rhino), a popular 3D modeling application. It enables users to explore algorithmic and parametric modeling without writing traditional code. Instead of manually drawing geometry, users create models by connecting components (nodes) on a canvas to define relationships and sequences of operations. This non-linear, non-historical approach allows for the easy generation of complex shapes, intricate patterns, and optimized designs that can be quickly altered by simply adjusting the input parameters. Grasshopper is widely adopted in architecture, industrial design, and engineering for tasks requiring design optimization, analysis, and the creation of highly complex and adaptable forms.
For designers who are exploring new shapes using generative algorithms, Grasshopper® is a graphical algorithm editor tightly integrated with Rhino’s 3D modeling tools. Unlike RhinoScript, Grasshopper requires no knowledge of programming or scripting, but still allows designers to build form generators from the simple to the awe-inspiring.