Apple + Blender = Smoothie?
Hey guys, following up today's presentation of Apple's new machines, fully transitioning on ARM chips and the soon to be released macOS 11 Big Sur, what kind of future can we envision for Blender on the Apple ecosystem? I'd be really interested to know your opinions on that. Thanks everyone!
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Update: Just found out that somebody is working on a branch of Blender that would be working for the ARM architecture (And hence the new Apple M1 processor). This is a great step: developer.blender.org/diffusion/B/browse/mac_arm64/
And there is the task for it:
developer.blender.org/T78710
Meanwhile, it could run on the new M1 Processor translating the x86 instruction using their "rosetta 2" emulator software:
engadget.com/rosetta-2-will-keep-old-intel-apps-running-on-apples-new-silicon-182442712.html
From the apple point of view, this is not an apple product so they don't have any interest. They ask developers to comply to their "universal" platform. As they think they are now the "standard" (API, etc)
Apple never gave sign of support on the Blender developer fund even if Blender can run on their systems now. It's running there because of contributors and the community.
For Blender to run on this architecture, and proprietary API; Blender will need to have investors ready to invest in this type of development. Perhaps a new campaign?
So would it be fair to assume that Blender is unlikely to run on the new Mac generations, as of now?
* @andbia * Not now, but there are Mac enthusiasts or studios out there that would like to use MACs and would perhaps join the Blender development fund, and request the port... fund.blender.org/
It might come once Blender will be able to use the VULKAN api as there is wrapper out there that would use this to work on MAC as METAL. The work to make Blender on Vulkan as started, we'll see...
Note: I've heard that they could still run on "legacy" software (Mac's). So Blender should work on it, but will not take avantages of any of it.
Iām also very excited to see where Blender is going with M1 Apple Silicon. Following. :)