Example plugin for Blender v2.83.4

The right python version

When creating a new project, simply create a new virtual environment using the current blender install as a base.

For example, when this project was created, the venv was pointed to: /media/Data/WybeData/Tools/Blender/blender-2.83.4-linux64/2.83/python/bin/python3.7m

Autocomplete module

To get autocomplete in pycharm (or other ide's), download the 2.83 autocomplete module from:
https://github.com/Korchy/blender_autocomplete

To connect it to a pycharm project (instructions from here)

• "File -> Settings"
• "Project: -> Project structure"
• "Add content root"
• Add the 2.83 directory. When this project was generated it was: /media/Data/WybeData/Tools/Blender/blender_autocomplete_modules/2.83

Install add-on into blender

One way to install the add-on in blender, while automatically keeping it up-to-date while writing code is to add a simlink to the src folder into the blender addons directory.

In my case that would be: /home/<username>/.config/blender/2.83/scripts/addons.

The plugin will then appear in the blender addons selector after refreshing the list, and can then be enabled.

Don't forget to run blender from a terminal, so that you can see the output of print calls.

To reload all add-ons call "reload scripts" either from the spacebar menu or by binding a key to script.reload.