most python libraries install pretty easy if you got pip installed in python, and easy_install. For the most part with how python libs are packaged it is simply just running pip install <pacakgename> in console, or downloading the package and uses easy_install
Mel helps somewhat but usually the python documentation is well documented and the mel knowledge helps when converting maya commands to pythonic terms.
finally finished a set of C#, python and max scripts to establish 2 way communication between python and 3ds max (thanks blur for taking down your 3ds max/python stuff :( ). First I tried COM objects but this didn't prove practical because I had problems with multiple instances, python Qt windows never stayed on top of 3ds…
getting my hands dirty with C++ and ZScript and managed to write a C++ DLL which I can load in a ZScript with FileExecute.... which then continues to host a .NET CLR with a loaded C# dll, which then launches a Python script (we use the same C# dll from Max). C# talks to Python via ZMQ (thanks to Rob Galanakis for…