Skip to content

Bip Client 3.0.0 released

Bip 3 is exclusively a backend version. It focuses on migrating to Python 3.x and bring a new link API for easier data management.

Note

The VFX Platform-induced upgrade to Python 3.7 has forced us to freeze or disable some features, for safety and stability. This version of Bip therefore brings no new feature, only a stable ground for the next features to be implemented or restored quickly.

Additions

  • Offline mode: As per some new projects requirements, Bip can now work completely off internet. (that includes updates, database, repositories and python dependencies)
  • Data models: Projects are now associated with custom and bespoke data models, describing how the data is structured and is flowing for a given project. This is one step towards workflow-agnosticity.
  • Maya support: Maya now becomes the main DCC for Bip.
  • New app Center: Essential (from former apps Project Manager, Admin and Users) management tasks have been merged in a new Center application.
  • New app Explorer: Essential (from former app Browser) scene saving/openning features have been implemented in this new app.

Changes

  • Updated Launcher: Works in offline mode and various optimizations.
  • Updated Updater: Works in offline mode and various optimizations.
  • Updated Installer: Works in offline mode and various optimizations.
  • All apps: Better error catching, making troubleshooting faster.

Regressions

  • Modo support dropped
  • Disabled apps: For the sake of stability and simplicity, some apps have been removed, migrated or disabled for now:
  • Watcher (moved to Center)
  • Admin (moved to Center)
  • Users (moved to Center)
  • Settings (moved to Center)
  • Project Manager (moved to Center)
  • Browser (moved to Explorer)
  • Mediabuilder (to be integrated to Launcher)
  • Ingestor (to be integrated to Launcher)
  • Scene Manager (to be refactored into future Editor)
  • Renderer (to be refactored into future Editor)

Backend

  • Python 3.x: Following the industry standard (VFX platform), Python 2.7 has been dropped and the whole Bip codebase has been upgraded to Python 3.x
  • bip.link: Refactored data API
  • Dynamic data model
  • Agnostic path patterns
  • Type hinting
  • Strong permission system
  • Query optimization
  • bip.uink: Ui library refactored, with new reusable widgets and Bip unified stylesheet.
  • bip.sdk: The sdk now provides utilities for building:
  • Apps: runner, dialogs, exception catching, logging...
  • Plugins: templates for building our two types of Plugins: Hosts (DCC abstraction layer) and Trackers (Third-party production trackers.)
  • Plugin system: Hosts and Trackers are now handled as external modules, which are dynamically imported and executed, using sdk templates.
  • Application system: Applications and Trackers are now handled as external modules, which are dynamically imported and executed, using sdk templates.
  • Documentation: Developer reference (WIP) see here
  • General code cleaning: Obsolete code removed, modern idioms applied.
  • Imports policy harmonized: Imports are now consistent between library. Most calls at initialization have been removed for easier self-containing lib imports.
  • Deprecated API removed: The old link has been deleted.