{
 "categories": [
  "3d-modeling",
  "design",
  "open-source"
 ],
 "deployment": "desktop",
 "evidence": [
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "homepage",
   "note": "blender.org presents Blender as the free and open-source 3D creation software, currently advertising Blender 5.2 LTS.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "vendor",
   "note": "The About page states that Blender is a community project coordinated by the Blender Foundation and funded mainly by donations.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/about/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "deployment",
   "note": "The download page distributes desktop installers and archives for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus source code, not a hosted SaaS tenant.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/download/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "platforms[0]",
   "note": "Official 5.2.1 LTS downloads include Windows x64 and Windows ARM installers compatible with Windows 11, 10, and 8.1.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/download/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "platforms[1]",
   "note": "Official 5.2.1 LTS downloads include a macOS Apple Silicon build that requires macOS 13 Ventura or newer.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/download/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "platforms[2]",
   "note": "Official 5.2.1 LTS downloads include a Linux build for recent GNU/Linux distributions using glibc 2.28 or newer.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/download/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "license",
   "note": "The Blender Foundation states that Blender is released under the GNU General Public License. Source defaults to GPL Version 2 or later; official binaries are distributed under GPL Version 3 or later.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/about/license/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "status",
   "note": "The download page offers current Blender 5.2.1 LTS builds dated 2026-08-25 as an active release.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/download/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.api.exists",
   "note": "The official Blender Python API quickstart documents bpy as the first-party API for editing scene data, running operators, and integrating tools.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[0]",
   "note": "The documented API is the Blender Python API, accessed through bpy.data, bpy.context, bpy.ops, and bpy.types.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.api.coverage",
   "note": "Blender states that the API can edit any data the user interface can, including scenes, meshes, and particles; modify preferences; run tools; create UI; create tools and render engines; and subscribe to data changes. Missing features listed are new space types and assigning custom properties to every type.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.api.docs",
   "note": "Opened the current official Blender Python API quickstart as the API documentation URL for this record.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.exists",
   "note": "The official Python API is the first-party SDK for writing operators, panels, and add-ons against bpy.types.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.official",
   "note": "The quickstart is vendor-published documentation on docs.blender.org.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[0]",
   "note": "Python is the documented language of the official Blender API.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.mcp.third_party[0]",
   "note": "Opened the ahujasid/blender-mcp repository. Its README titles the project MCP for Blender, states it is a third-party integration and not made by Blender, and documents an MCP server plus Blender add-on for LLM-driven scene work.",
   "source": "https://github.com/ahujasid/blender-mcp",
   "tier": "community"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.mcp.third_party[1]",
   "note": "Opened the ellmos-ai/ellmos-blender-use-mcp repository. Its README describes a third-party headless MCP server that spawns blender --background --python for FBX asset QA. It is not a Blender Foundation project.",
   "source": "https://github.com/ellmos-ai/ellmos-blender-use-mcp",
   "tier": "community"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.cli.exists",
   "note": "The official Blender 5.2 LTS manual documents the blender command-line interface, including --background, --python, --python-expr, render, format, add-ons, and --command.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/advanced/command_line/arguments.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[0]",
   "note": "Python scripts run from the Text Editor, Python Console, Scripting workspace, or the command line.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[1]",
   "note": "blender.org states that users can use hundreds of add-ons or create their own using Blender's Python API.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[0]",
   "note": "The official Importing and Exporting Files page lists Alembic (ABC) among Blender's distributed interchange formats.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[1]",
   "note": "The same page lists Universal Scene Description (USD).",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[2]",
   "note": "The same page lists Wavefront OBJ.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[3]",
   "note": "The same page lists Stanford PLY.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[4]",
   "note": "The same page lists STL.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[5]",
   "note": "The same page lists FBX and FBX (Legacy).",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[6]",
   "note": "The same page lists Import/Export SVG as Grease Pencil.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[7]",
   "note": "The same page lists Export Grease Pencil as PDF.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[0]",
   "note": "Alembic is listed as an official import/export format.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[1]",
   "note": "Universal Scene Description is listed as an official import/export format.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[2]",
   "note": "Wavefront OBJ is listed as an official import/export format.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[3]",
   "note": "Stanford PLY is listed as an official import/export format.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[4]",
   "note": "STL is listed as an official import/export format.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[5]",
   "note": "FBX is listed as an official import/export format.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[6]",
   "note": "Import SVG as Curves is listed as an official import path.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "modalities.agent_docs.llms_txt",
   "note": "Opened https://www.blender.org/llms.txt; the URL returned 404. That is not a first-party agent documentation index.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/llms.txt",
   "tier": "scraped"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.api",
   "note": "Official bpy coverage of UI-accessible data, operators, add-ons, and integration APIs is broad, documented, and unlicensed. Remaining gaps such as new space types and the in-process desktop host keep the score at 8.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.cli",
   "note": "The official blender CLI supports headless Python, rendering, formats, add-ons, logging, and subcommands. It is a product automation host rather than a general account-operations CLI with a documented structured-output contract, which keeps the score at 7.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/advanced/command_line/arguments.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[0].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current Blender About page, including Blender Foundation coordination and GNU GPL.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/about/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[1].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current official bpy quickstart.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[2].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current Blender 5.2 LTS command-line arguments reference.",
   "source": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/advanced/command_line/arguments.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-11",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[3].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current Blender license page, including GPL terms for bpy scripts.",
   "source": "https://www.blender.org/about/license/",
   "tier": "declared"
  }
 ],
 "freshness": {
  "last_verified": "2026-09-11",
  "volatility": "medium",
  "watch": [
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://www.blender.org/about/"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/advanced/command_line/arguments.html"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://www.blender.org/about/license/"
   }
  ]
 },
 "homepage": "https://www.blender.org/",
 "id": "blender",
 "license": "open-source",
 "modalities": {
  "agent_docs": {
   "llms_txt": false
  },
  "api": {
   "auth": [],
   "coverage": "full",
   "docs": "https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html",
   "exists": true,
   "kinds": [
    "python"
   ]
  },
  "cli": {
   "exists": true
  },
  "computer_use": {
   "issues": [],
   "viability": "unknown"
  },
  "data_access": {
   "export": [
    "abc",
    "usd",
    "obj",
    "ply",
    "stl",
    "fbx",
    "svg",
    "pdf"
   ],
   "import": [
    "abc",
    "usd",
    "obj",
    "ply",
    "stl",
    "fbx",
    "svg"
   ]
  },
  "extensibility": {
   "scripting": [
    "python",
    "add-ons"
   ],
   "webhooks": "unknown"
  },
  "integrations": {
   "make": "unknown",
   "n8n": "unknown",
   "power_automate": "unknown",
   "zapier": "unknown"
  },
  "mcp": {
   "first_party": "unknown",
   "third_party": [
    {
     "maintained": true,
     "registries": [
      "github"
     ],
     "repo": "https://github.com/ahujasid/blender-mcp"
    },
    {
     "maintained": true,
     "registries": [
      "github"
     ],
     "repo": "https://github.com/ellmos-ai/ellmos-blender-use-mcp"
    }
   ],
   "verdict": "unknown"
  },
  "rpa": {
   "drivability": "unknown",
   "notes": "No repeatable UI probe was run. The official bpy Python API and blender command-line host cover scene, operator, add-on, and batch work without visually driving the viewport. Computer-use viability is not inferred from the desktop UI.\n",
   "ui_stack": [
    "desktop-native"
   ],
   "vendor_support": []
  },
  "sdk": {
   "exists": true,
   "languages": [
    "python"
   ],
   "official": true
  }
 },
 "name": "Blender",
 "platforms": [
  "windows",
  "macos",
  "linux"
 ],
 "related": {
  "alternatives": [
   "autodesk-maya"
  ],
  "our_products": []
 },
 "schema_version": 1,
 "score_version": 1,
 "status": "active",
 "vendor": "Blender Foundation",
 "verdict": {
  "best_path": "api",
  "scores": {
   "api": 8,
   "cli": 7,
   "computer_use": null,
   "integrations": null,
   "mcp": null,
   "overall": 8,
   "rpa": null
  },
  "summary": "Blender is automatable today through the official Blender Python API (bpy) and the blender command-line host. This record is Blender as coordinated by the Blender Foundation, not Maya or 3ds Max. The About page and blender.org present Blender as GNU GPL free and open-source 3D software used daily by millions. The current Python API quickstart states that bpy can edit any data the user interface can, run operators through bpy.ops, create UI and tools, subscribe to data changes, and integrate render engines, with scripts run from the Text Editor, Python Console, Scripting workspace, or the command line. Official 5.2 LTS command-line help documents --background, --python, --python-expr, render, format, add-on, and logging switches on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The license page states that published scripts using bpy must be GPL-compliant. Third-party MCP repositories exist, including ahujasid/blender-mcp, which declares itself not made by Blender, and ellmos-blender-use-mcp for headless asset QA. The Blender Foundation has not been shown to declare a first-party MCP server or the absence of one, so first-party MCP ownership and the MCP verdict stay unknown. iPaaS connectors were not opened. Computer-use viability is unassessed. API scores 8 and is the best path. The official CLI scores 7.\n"
 }
}