Apple Joins Blender Development Fund (blender.org)

Article summary

Apple has joined the Blender Development Fund as a Patron Member, contributing at least $120,000 per year to support the development of the open-source 3D creation tool. This move is seen as a significant investment in the open-source community. Apple will also provide engineering expertise and resources to the Blender community. The contribution aims to support Blender artists and developers.

Main themes

• Apple's open-source support
• Blender development
• GPL licensing
• AR/VR strategy
• GPU programming
• Cross-compatibility
• Open-source community
• Corporate motivations

What commenters say

• Apple's support for Blender is a positive step for the open-source community, but it may be motivated by self-interest in improving performance on Macs.
• The company's contribution to Blender is unlikely to be a sign of broader support for open-source software, particularly in areas where Apple has its own products.
• Blender's GPL license may not be a concern for Apple, as the software is used to generate non-GPL work product, such as 3D models.
• Some commenters believe Apple's move is strategic, potentially related to future AR/VR endeavors, while others see it as a gesture to attract professional creators to MacBooks.
• The deprecation of OpenGL on macOS is seen as a poor decision by some, who argue that it will limit cross-compatibility and hinder the pro market.
• Others argue that low-level access to hardware, as provided by Metal and Vulkan, is necessary for modern GPU programming, despite potential drawbacks.
• The relationship between Apple's contribution and the potential for Blender to become dependent on the company's funding is a topic of debate.
• Some commenters think that Apple's support for Blender is a small price to pay for the potential benefits, including improved performance and attracting professional creators.