Modeling with the Modeler plugin is designed to minimize user movements for a smooth and engaging model creation process. Convenient component selection, enhanced navigation, the use of Construction Plane, as well as interactive node setup with Parm Slider significantly simplify modeling in a procedural environment and spare the user from unnecessary recourse to the parameter editor.
Unlike other direct modeling software, Modeler is optimized to harness the procedural power of Houdini. Modeling interactively in the viewport, the user can turn to the node editor at any moment for detailed model tweaking. For instance, after a portion of the model has been designed, you can adjust nodes by selecting them in the node editor and adjusting their parameters in the parameter editor or in the viewport.
Suppose you cut out one geometry from another using a boolean operation. Then you decided that the cut would look better if the cutter had a bevel. This is very simple. You need to select the cutter node which is connected to the second input of the Boolean node without deactivating the Display flag. Next, using selection tools, select the necessary components and apply the Bevel tool. Then you need to interactively set up the bevel node in the viewport. In this way, you can add any number of modifications to the cutter and instantly see the changed result as the display flag is set on the Boolean node. You won't find such power in any other 3d modeling software, regardless of how powerful a modifier stack it may have.
Another powerful feature of Houdini is the ability to connect different streams of geometric data from distinct node branches, or from a single branch but at an earlier editing stage.
Suppose you're modeling a cylindrical object and at a certain point, the small details have lost their general form. In Houdini, you can project a portion of geometry with the Ray node, connecting the second input with any geometry stream. This would be a challenging task in other modeling software unless you had copied the cylinder beforehand.
Modeling tools also utilize the capabilities of Template nodes, allowing modeling within a single container rather than in separate objects. At the same time, Modeler doesn't employ nodes with the Selectable Template flag, as it only complicates the modeling process. Use the Create in Context viewport option for creating primitives and modeling within a single SOP container.