Create a conda build recipe for Autodesk Maya to Arnold (MtoA) plugin

The Maya to Arnold (MtoA) plugin adds the Arnold renderer as an option within Maya. The MtoA sample recipe demonstrates how to package a plugin as a separate conda package that integrates with the host application package.

Understanding the recipe

The recipe.yaml specifies a dependency on the maya package for both build and run requirements. This dependency uses a version constraint so that the plugin is only installed with a compatible Maya version.

The recipe uses the same source archives as the Maya recipe. The build script installs MtoA and creates a mtoa.mod file in the $PREFIX/usr/autodesk/maya$MAYA_VERSION/modules directory that the Maya package configures in MAYA_MODULE_PATH. Arnold and Maya use the same licensing technology, so the Maya package already includes the licensing information that Arnold needs.

Building the MtoA package

Build the Maya package before you build the MtoA package, because MtoA depends on Maya at build time. Use rattler-build publish to build and publish the package. From the conda_recipes directory, run the following command.

rattler-build publish maya-mtoa-2026/recipe/recipe.yaml \
    --to file://$HOME/my-conda-channel \
    --build-number=+1

The rattler-build publish command uses the target channel as the highest priority channel when resolving dependencies, so the maya package you published earlier is available automatically.

For other publishing options: