RNDR (Blender Add-on) – Render Optimization & License Infrastructure
RNDR is a Blender add-on built to streamline render setup and reduce iteration time without sacrificing visual quality. It focuses on practical, production-minded defaults: identifying common bottlenecks, applying sensible render optimizations, and keeping the workflow simple enough that it feels like an assistant, not another tool you have to babysit.
Beyond the add-on itself, RNDR includes a complete licensing stack: a lightweight FastAPI license server with SQLite storage, activation tracking per machine, and token-based validation. This allows me to manage trials, yearly licenses, and lifetime tiers, revoke access when needed, and keep the system robust even with intermittent connectivity. An accompanying Tkinter admin panel provides key management, status monitoring, and database control in a straightforward desktop UI.
What this project demonstrates:
Shipping a user-facing Blender tool with a clean workflow and minimal friction
Building backend infrastructure (API, database, auth, activation logic) for real-world distribution
Treating reliability as a feature: clear states, predictable behavior, and measurable outcomes
End-to-end ownership: concept, implementation, packaging, branding, and deployment
Tech: Python, Blender API, FastAPI, SQLite, token-based validation, Tkinter admin UI.
Render without RNDR
Render with RNDR
Performance Comparison (8K Textures, identical look)
Both renders use the same scene and 8K textures. RNDR optimizes render settings for speed while preserving the final image quality.
Baseline: 5m 45s
RNDR optimized: 1m 19s
That’s a ~77% time reduction (≈ 4.4× faster) with no noticeable difference in the final render.
UI
Easy to understand UI
Built with AI-assisted development; architecture, decisions, integration, testing and product direction by me.