Blender 5.1 Alpha now switched Python from 3.11 to 3.13
Python 3.13 is still in bug fixing stage.
(Bonsai offers up to latest stable 3.12)
Makes sense for an 5,1 Alpha version that may be released when Python is official.
But https://www.python.org/downloads/ "Download the latest version for macOS" defaults to even 3.14.2 ?
Where bug fixing stage ends in late 2028 (?)
Does that make sense ?
For a developer, is it a problem/risk to switch/upgrade a Python Dot.x version ?
Or ist it more like using daily builds of Bonsai ?
Comments
It's an effort to upgrade Python versions, since many of our dependencies need to upgrade as well. But we'll have to address it nonetheless.
I've been building and using ifcopenshell and bonsai with python 3.14 for a few weeks and it seems ok
So is it at least downward compatible, so that you gain some 1-2 years by 3.14 without being forced to upgrade or do they need to match ?
Ok, I misinterpreted the Chart. It means "only bug fixes", not Beta, and is meant as stable.
https://devguide.python.org/developer-workflow/development-cycle/#devcycle
Why didn't Blender 5.1 switch to 3.14 already, when it is a hassle and breaks things ....
Looks like it also deactivated my Speckle Connector (ok, there is no official Speckle v3 Connector for Mac unfortunately) While the majority of my AddOns/Extensions seem to still work. I have not noticed any extension updates for most. Do they just work because they are not so deeply integrated to Blender System ?
The type of add-on that will break is add-ons that specifically rely on new Python language features (not very common, most programmers generally lag behind), or those that depend on compiled code that is "linked" to a specific Python version (e.g. Bonsai, perhaps Speckle, unsure, generally more complex add-ons that are not pure Python).
BTW,
for those who want to use latest Bonsai builds with Blender 5.1 Alpha ....
This is the last 5.1 version with old Python 3.11, compatible with Bonsai and Speckle, from 20250122 :
https://cdn.builder.blender.org/download/daily/archive/blender-5.1.0-alpha+main.05cfe524a2bf-darwin.arm64-release.dmg
Hoooh, there is already a today's Bonsai version with Python 3.13
Great !
And it current Blender 5.1, in Settings, Bonsai Extensions is no longer marked as "orphaned" and will look for updates again. It will even reactivate the AddOn. Cool.
Unfortunately it looks like it downloads the 3.11 version nevertheless (?) Or at least I realized there is now Bonsai UI and when I deactivated and reactivated the AddOn, I got the same "3.11 not compatible with this 3.13 version" warning.
I will try if un-/reinstalling helps .....
It does !
Just needs a fresh clean installation.
Thank you all very much !
The only thing I notice is, when opening the Demo Project, it will not load the Demo Library content.
EDIT : No, sorry - everything fine !
(It was my Outliner's Filtering setup for Selection only)
See the great work by Andrej here https://github.com/IfcOpenShell/IfcOpenShell/issues/7623