How do I add a camera so that it moves along a path while focusing on an object with Python?

Question

How do I add a camera and script it so that it moves along a path while focusing on one object? I would also like to know how to have it rotating around the origin where one of the main objects of interest sits.

Answer 1

Basic example using a circle based on Cegaton's setup from here.

Add the primitives and a camera. Assign each object reference to a new variable and add a Follow Path and Track To constraint using Object.constraints.new() method. Finally set all the constraint properties, eg. assign the variables to the FollowPath.target or set TrackTo.up_axis to 'UP_Y':

import bpy

# Add Suzanne
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_monkey_add(size=2)
suzanne = bpy.context.object

# Add Circle
bpy.ops.curve.primitive_bezier_circle_add(radius=10)
circle = bpy.context.object

# Add Camera
bpy.ops.object.camera_add(location=(0, 0, 0))
camera = bpy.context.object

# Follow Path Constraint
fp_constraint = camera.constraints.new('FOLLOW_PATH')
fp_constraint.target = circle

# Animate Button
bpy.ops.constraint.followpath_path_animate({
    'constraint':camera.constraints["Follow Path"]
    }, constraint='Follow Path')

# Track-To Constraint
tt_constraint = camera.constraints.new('TRACK_TO')
tt_constraint.target = suzanne
tt_constraint.up_axis = 'UP_Y'
tt_constraint.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'