Maya python for point to poly constraining locators to a mesh. Not super useful on its own, but good first step to automatic face rig.

pinLocsToVerts

# maya Python Script
# based on https://gist.github.com/protofALk/4564420

import maya.cmds as cmds
import pymel.core as pm


class NumericString:
    def __init__(self, rawValue):
        self.rawValue = rawValue
 
    def __cmp__(self, other):
        if self.rawValue == other.rawValue: return 0
        if self.rawValue == None: return -1
        if other.rawValue == None: return 1
        if self.rawValue == "": return -1
        if other.rawValue == "": return 1
 
        xList = self.getValueList(self.rawValue)
        yList = self.getValueList(other.rawValue)
 
        for i in range(min(len(xList), len(yList))):
            compareResult = self.compareTwoVals(xList[i], yList[i])
 
            if compareResult != 0:
                return compareResult
 
        return cmp(len(xList), len(yList))
 
    def compareTwoVals(self, xVal, yVal):
        if xVal.isdigit() and yVal.isdigit():
            return cmp(int(xVal), int(yVal))
        if not xVal.isdigit() and not yVal.isdigit():
            return cmp(xVal, yVal)
        if xVal.isdigit():
            return -1
        return 1
 
    def getValueList(self, rawValue):
        values = []
        tempVal = ""
 
        for i in range(len(rawValue)):
            val = rawValue[i]
 
            if val.isdigit():
                tempVal += str(val)
            else:
                if tempVal != "":
                    values.append(tempVal)
                    tempVal = ""
 
                values.append(val)
 
        if tempVal != "":
            values.append(tempVal)
 
        return values

def SortNumericStringList(original):
    newList = [NumericString(x) for x in original]
    newList.sort()
    return [x.rawValue for x in newList]

# make an array with alle the 'birnen*'
def getSpecificObjectsIntoArray(objectName):
    return cmds.ls(objectName)
 
# make an array with all the selected verticies
def selectedVerticies():   
    vertexSelection = cmds.ls(sl=True)
    cmds.ConvertSelectionToVertices()
    vertexSelection = cmds.ls(sl=True, fl= True)
    vertexSelection = SortNumericStringList(vertexSelection)
    return vertexSelection


# iterate over vertex array 
def placer(objectName):

    
    specificObjectList = getSpecificObjectsIntoArray(objectName)
    specificObjectList = SortNumericStringList(specificObjectList)


    for i,selectedVertex in enumerate(selectedVerticies()[:len(specificObjectList)]):
           
        #place a birne on each verticy with rows columns intact
        cmds.move(cmds.pointPosition(selectedVertex)[0], cmds.pointPosition(selectedVertex)[1], cmds.pointPosition(selectedVertex)[2], specificObjectList[i], a=True, ws=True)
        cmds.select(selectedVertex)
        cmds.select(specificObjectList[i], add = True)
        #currently has to use PYMEL implentation as python cmds does not work 'because maya'
        pm.runtime.PointOnPolyConstraint()
        cmds.select(cl=True)
        
        
def makeLocs():
    sel = cmds.ls(sl = True)
    currSel = sel[0]
    vertNum= cmds.polyEvaluate(v = True)
    i = 0
    while (i < vertNum):
        cmds.spaceLocator()
        i+=1
    cmds.select(currSel)
makeLocs()
placer('locator*')