GH Bridge
GH Bridge connects Grasshopper directly to the differential.tools web viewer, turning a .gh definition into an interactive web tool that you can run and share directly from your computer.
1. Install GH Bridge
Download and install the desktop bridge:
GH Bridge runs in your Windows system tray and connects differential.tools viewer with Rhino and Grasshopper on your computer.
2. Check that the Bridge is running
You can check the GH Bridge tray icon to confirm its current status.
The icon shows whether the Bridge is:
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Idle - GH Bridge is running and waiting for a definition. State after the installation.
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Running locally - your Grasshopper definition is active on your computer.
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Sharing - waiting for viewers.
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Streaming - viewed by one user.
For a shared tool to work, your computer must remain turned on, connected to the internet, and GH Bridge must remain active.
Your computer is effectively acting as the computation server.
3. Prepare your Grasshopper definition
You can use any of your existing Grasshopper scripts. Simply rename the parameters you want to expose in the web UI.
Use IN_ for slider inputs:
IN_Grid
IN_Angle
IN_Spandrel
(IN_Spandrel uses a 0-1 slider, where 0 = Off and 1 = On.)
Use OUT_ for geometry that should appear in the viewer as geometry layers:
OUT_Facade
In the example façade definition, the input sliders are grouped in green on the left and the outputs are grouped in red on the right.
INPUTS:
4. Configure the geometry preview
Connect the geometry you want to display in differential.tools to the appropriate OUT_ geometry components.
This lets you control exactly which parts of the Grasshopper definition are streamed to the web viewer.
The viewer reads materiality and color from your previewed GH definition. Mesh vertex colors are also supported.
OUTPUTS:
5. Drop the script into your project
Drag and drop the .gh definition onto the GH Bridge canvas.
GH Bridge automatically detects the IN_ parameters and creates the corresponding controls in the browser. The OUT_ geometry is streamed directly into the differential.tools viewer.
Change Grid, Angle or switch the Spandrel on and off, and the Grasshopper definition recalculates on your computer while the geometry updates in the browser.
6. Share it
Once the definition is running, generate a shareable link.
Anyone with the link can interact with your Grasshopper tool remotely through their browser. They do not need Rhino, Grasshopper, your plugins, or the original .gh file.
The computation continues to run on your computer, so GH Bridge and your computer need to remain online while others are using the tool.
If something is not working, you find an issue, or you have a feature request, feel free to create a post in the relevant topic on the differential.tools forum.