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Core Blender Development

Understanding the Essential Source Code

Apress

Authors:

  • Learn detailed information about the entire Blender build system

  • Understand how python is integrated into the core Blender code base and how Blender Scripting works from a bottom-up level

  • Understand the essential aspects of the Blender code base and how modules such as the physics and rendering subsystems are integrated

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eBook USD 49.99
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  • Read on any device
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  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vii
  2. Intro to the “Core” Blender Source Code

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 1-24
  3. Blender “DNA” and Serialization

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 25-54
  4. ghost: Soul of the windowmanager Module

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 55-82
  5. The blenlib and blenkernel Modules

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 83-109
  6. Blender’s Embedded Python

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 111-136
  7. Blender “RNA” and the Data API

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 137-172
  8. The editors Module, Operators, and Event System

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 173-205
  9. Editor Creation

    • Brad E. Hollister
    Pages 207-237
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 239-244

About this book

Learn the essential source code of Blender and its unique build system. This book provides the inner workings of the Blender C-based source code, and will be indispensable for those wanting to contribute to this important open-source project.


Blender is an open-source 3D modeling and rendering software package used in the production of assets for animated projects, 3D printing, games, and even scientific visualization. This book goes in depth and discusses the primary modules related to the GUI and the geometric modeling work. You'll start by learning how to reverse engineer geometric operators, and from there move on to the main features of the source code and how to apply them. When done, you'll have the necessary foundation for exploration in other modules of the Blender source code. 


Lack of software engineering knowledge, such as experience with large cross-platform code base, remains insurmountable for many new developers. While the Blender site includes much useful information, it is not detailed enough. Core Blender Development breaks down the barriers to entry for open-source development in 3-D modeling. 


What You’ll Learn

  • Find the code for various functions and editors in Blender
  • Track down bugs, and contribute new functionality to the Blender code base
  • Examine the .blend file and how it stores Blender state
  • Understand the Blender core code base beyond the community website documentation
  • Review the explicit code traces and source files of descriptions of the code base

Who This Book Is For



Primarily for novice to intermediate level developers and programmers with an interest in Blender, graphics, and visualization, who likely don’t have experience of reverse engineering a large code base.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Computer Science Department, CSUDH, Carson, USA

    Brad E. Hollister

About the author

Brad Hollister holds a PhD from the University of California Santa Cruz in computer science, and has extensive software development experience both professionally and in the areas of open source, including BRL-CAD, VTK, and SCIRun. His research includes scientific visualization, virtual reality simulation for training, and computer graphics. Dr. Hollister is also faculty adviser for the Open Source Mozilla Campus Club at the California State University Dominguez Hills.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access