Blender Sabbatical: Focusing on Python

In order to focus and develop my programming ability, I will be taking a year-long sabbatical from Blender.  I’ve enjoyed using Blender since I began with 2.48 in early 2009.  In fact, I’ve been dabbling in 3D since 3ds for DOS beginning in 1995 and then 3ds Max 7 in 2005.

3ds R4 for DOS, circa 1995

My first foray into programming was with GW-Basic on a Tandy 1000 back in 1990.

Tandy 1000, my first computer back in 1990.

We didn’t have a tutorial manual, but we did have a reference manual.  In retrospect, learning from the reference manual was probably the better way since there was no hand-holding or “first steps”–it just tossed you in.  If you didn’t know the terminology that went with a routine, you had to look up the referenced command or figure it out through tinkering.  I played with Basic until I got hooked on 3ds for DOS and left programming behind.  A few years ago I tried to learn programming again, but with limited success–and again while I was deployed with some minor gains.

Screencap from Basic.

As a SNCO and active LDS member, I have a lot of duties that need to be taken care of preventing me from focusing on the various hobbies I wish to progress in.  My thinking is that by taking a year-long break from 3D/2D to focus on programming will give me gains that can be applied back into Blender/GIMP through scripts or code contribution.  Also, I’ve always wanted to recode Blender’s Video Editor to rival Sony Vegas (I don’t know much about After Effects, but let’s rival that, too!)

So, continue to look here for my musings, gains, and pains of learning Python during the next year–and I’ll pick up Blender in 2.7x!