The Blender Developer Fund is a financial initiative designed to support the ongoing development of Blender, the free and open-source 3D creation suite. This fund plays a critical role in ensuring that Blender remains at the cutting edge of 3D graphics technology, available to users worldwide without any licensing fees.
History and Context
The idea for a developer fund was born out of the need to sustain and expand the development capabilities of Blender. After Blender was acquired by the Blender Foundation in 2002 through a community-driven effort known as the "Free Blender Campaign," it became clear that ongoing funding was necessary to continue its development:
- 2002: The Blender Foundation was established, and initial funding came from the community and sales of the Blender Game Engine technology.
- 2011: With the rise in demand for more advanced features and the growing user base, the need for a more structured funding approach was recognized, leading to the conceptualization of the Blender Developer Fund.
- 2013: The fund was officially launched to provide a more sustainable financial model for Blender's development.
Function and Operation
The Blender Developer Fund operates by collecting donations from:
- Individual contributors who appreciate the software and wish to support its growth.
- Companies and studios that benefit from Blender in their workflow.
- Through various campaigns and events organized by the Blender Foundation.
The funds are used for:
- Paying developers to work on Blender.
- Supporting new feature development, bug fixes, and maintenance.
- Organizing workshops, conferences, and other community-driven events like Blender Conference.
Impact
The impact of the Blender Developer Fund has been significant:
- It has allowed for more consistent and focused development efforts.
- Enabled the hiring of full-time developers, leading to improvements in software stability, performance, and the introduction of new features.
- Helped in maintaining Blender's open-source ethos while still providing a professional-grade toolset.
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