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  • Published 27 Aug 2022

Custom blender startup

We should be able to, at startup, choose modes and workspaces we want loaded for each session.

A screen at startup (before anything is done) would show us check boxes of modes eg. animation, edit, composite, particle system, sims, VSE, Sculpting etc.

This would slim down memory use and mean fewer tabs. We should have the ability to save config. as template or not.

Making every part possible modular makes the UI much more flexible and load time faster.

Think of it as addon preferences for all of blender.

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Development Status: Open

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johnross
27 Aug 2022

5 Comments

jeroenbakker

Hi John, thanks for this request.

There is already a startup.blend that can be user defined and application templates where the whole UI of blender could be customized. Users are already able to create their own. In the startup screen those options already appear (vse editor is an example of this).

Note about the current state of blender (since 2.8) that this request would not make load times faster as only the open workspace is evaluated. It also doesn't save memory. When switching to another workspace the previous one will be removed from memory. During a blender session the workspaces can be unloaded/loaded already.

It feels like this request is about moving buttons around. Or improving the existing application templates feature. What I agree is still in its infant state.

Not sure when making the UI mode modular would improve flexibility.

1
johnross Author

Yes a robust template would help, but again blender always starts up with sculpting, VSE Etc. and factory addon whether I use them or not. Currently templates are not inclusive

Lauloque

In which way, Blender's Application Templates are "not inclusive"?

inclusive

adjective

  1. including all the services or items normally expected or required

Example: "menus stating fully inclusive prices"

  1. not excluding any of the parties or groups involved in something

Example: "only an inclusive peace process will end the conflict"

  1. aiming to provide equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or intellectual disabilities or belonging to other minority groups

Example: "this is a testament to the inclusive environment fostered at our school"

Removing things that YOU don't need is not being inclusive. You may feel "more included", but removing stuff from everyone for the sake of one person is being privative.

You, the user, is the only one that can make a correctly customized Blender that suits your needs. Blender provides a default experience that can fit somewhat everyone to some extent, and a few example templates that are more specialized and serve more as an example to see how things can work, so that you can make your own jam.

You have the ability to make your own application templates, your own workspaces, your own startup files, your own addons lists, your own UI themes.

You can spend one afternoon once in a lifetime setting up and fine-tuning Blender to your needs and have it rolling the way you want from there.

Lauloque

I don't see how this would "slim down memory use and mean fewer tabs". Close the tabs and disable some addons if you want, it's not that big of a deal.

If anything, it adds an extra step just to "be able to open Blender", just to not have a few tabs open.

Vyach

Choosing startup config every time will be a hell. And you can add your own templates.

And remember that more flexibility leads to less managability