blender-addon-development

Blender Addon Development Skill

Version: 2.1.1 Last Updated: 2026-06-10 Dependencies: Blender 5.1+, Python 3.11+

Blender 5.1+ Notes

# Modifier type (5.1+, also valid from 4.5+)
modifier = obj.modifiers.new("GeoNodes", type='NODES')  # Not 'GEOMETRY_NODES'

# Render engine (5.1+)
context.scene.render.engine = 'BLENDER_EEVEE_NEXT'  # Not 'BLENDER_EEVEE'

# Version check pattern
if bpy.app.version >= (4, 5, 0):
    engine = 'BLENDER_EEVEE_NEXT'

QUICK START

Create Basic Addon with Panel

bl_info = {
    "name": "My Addon",
    "author": "Your Name",
    "version": (1, 0, 0),
    "blender": (5, 1, 0),
    "location": "View3D > Sidebar > My Addon",
    "description": "Addon description",
    "category": "3D View"
}

import bpy

class MY_PT_Panel(bpy.types.Panel):
    """Main UI Panel"""
    bl_label = "My Addon"
    bl_idname = "MY_PT_panel"
    bl_space_type = 'VIEW_3D'
    bl_region_type = 'UI'
    bl_category = 'My Addon'

    def draw(self, context):
        layout = self.layout
        layout.label(text="Hello World!")
        layout.operator("my.operator")

class MY_OT_Operator(bpy.types.Operator):
    """Main Operator"""
    bl_idname = "my.operator"
    bl_label = "Run Action"

    @classmethod
    def poll(cls, context):
        return context.active_object is not None

    def execute(self, context):
        mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new("MyMesh")
        obj = bpy.data.objects.new("MyObject", mesh)
        context.collection.objects.link(obj)
        self.report({'INFO'}, "Action completed!")
        return {'FINISHED'}

def register():
    bpy.utils.register_class(MY_PT_Panel)
    bpy.utils.register_class(MY_OT_Operator)

def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(MY_PT_Panel)
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(MY_OT_Operator)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

Install: Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install (select the .py file), then enable it. Test: Press N in 3D Viewport, look for the "My Addon" tab.