EVE (Excellent VEX Editor) is a plugin by Marcel Ruegenberg that replaces Houdini’s default parameter pane for writing VEX code. It injects modern editor features like autocomplete, tooltip‑style help and error messages, rainbow‑bracket visualisation and font customisation. These improvements deliver code clarity in contexts that often feel opaque.
Autocomplete and Tooltips: No More Guesswork
The plugin offers intelligent autocomplete, including function argument lists and variants. It automatically completes intrinsic functions and internal variables. Inline tooltips display help and error messages directly in the editor, reducing context‑switching to external references.
EVE enhances code readability with rainbow brackets that visually match nested delimiters. Font customisation allows users to tailor the look of the editor. Not independently verified at press time.
Beta Access and Developer Engagement
EVE is a drop‑in replacement for Houdini’s default VEX editor when Python 3 is in use. It has been tested on Houdini 19.5, 20.0, and 20.5 across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The tool is currently available as a free beta. Marcel Ruegenberg invites user feedback and appears to be actively developing new features. It certainly looks like EVE delivers precise, practical enhancements to Houdini’s VEX editing environment. Its modern features seem designed for daily coding, rather than hype. Users should test it in pilot settings before deploying it in any production pipeline.
