🧩 NodePlanner – Visual Task Management Inside Blender

NodePlanner is a powerful and intuitive Blender add-on that brings project and task management directly into your 3D workflow using a custom node-based editor. Whether you're a solo creator or working with a team, NodePlanner helps you visually organize, plan, and track tasks from start to finish—all without ever leaving Blender. 🧡

✨ Key Features

• 🧠 Node-based task planning inside Blender

• ✅ Checkbox-based task tracking with live progress feedback

• 📦 Link tasks to objects, collections, or text

• 📝 Note-sharing system with read/unread states for teams

• 🔄 Sync support using GitHub or cloud-sharing apps like Google Drive

🛠️ Getting Started – Step-by-Step Guide

🔹 Step 1: Install & Initial Setup

1. Install NodePlanner through Blender's Add-ons menu:
   Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install, then enable the add-on after installation.

2. (Optional – For Team Collaboration)
   If you plan to use the Sync feature with others:

   • Go to the NodePlanner Add-on Preferences.

   • Enter your GitHub Token (for push/pull functionality).

   • Set a User Name—this doesn’t have to be your GitHub name. Use any name your team can recognize.

   • Click “Save Preferences” to apply the changes.

     
     

3. Open a new editor window and switch the editor type to NodePlanner Editor from the dropdown menu.

4. In the NodePlanner Panel, click “Add Node Tree” to create your first task board.
   Give your task board a name and assign it a color to help visually distinguish it.

💡 Use separate node trees to manage different phases of your project like Modeling, Animation, Lighting, etc.

🔹 Step 2: Add a Task Node

The Task Node is the heart of your planning system. Here’s what you can do with it:

• Name your task node (e.g., “Environment Setup”)

  • Click on "Edit Text" and Give a name to the Task Node 

• Add tasks using the Add Task button

• Track progress using built-in checkboxes

Each task can be one of the following types:

• 🧾 Text Task – A basic to-do item

• 🎯 Object Reference – Linked to a 3D object in your Blender scene

• 📁 Collection Reference – Points to a collection in your project

✅ As you complete tasks and check them off, the node’s completion percentage updates automatically in the NodePlanner Panel.

🔹 Step 3: Add a Note Node

Note Nodes allow you to leave messages or reminders—either for yourself or your collaborators.

• Add general notes or comments

• Leave feedback or instructions for team members

• Use the Read/Unread toggle to notify others of new information

• Both users can contribute to the same note in shared workflows

📢 Great for leaving reminders like “Check lighting before render” or “Revisit texture settings.”

🔹 Step 4: Manage Your Node Trees

From the NodePlanner Panel, you can manage your node trees efficiently:

• 🔄 Switch between different task boards

• 🗂️ Rearrange or reorder node trees

• 🗑️ Delete old or unused trees

• 📊 View an at-a-glance progress percentage for each board

Every node tree gives you a visual roadmap of your project—helping you stay focused, on track, and in control of even complex workflows.

🔹 Step 5: Sync (Optional for Teams)

🛑 Skip this section if you’re working solo.

If you're part of a team or working across multiple devices, NodePlanner’s Sync feature lets you push and pull node tree updates just like Git:

You can sync to:

• 🗃️ A GitHub Repository

• ☁️ A Shared Local Folder synced with apps like:

  • Google Drive

  • OneDrive

  • Dropbox

  • etc.

To use sync:

• Ensure your cloud storage app is running and syncing the folder on your machine.

• Or set up a GitHub repo and push/pull directly from NodePlanner.

• Use the sync buttons to update or retrieve changes from your shared task board.

🔁 Think of it as version control for your task management—especially useful when working with a remote team.

🎯 Why Use NodePlanner?

✅ Keep all your task management inside Blender
📎 Link actionable items directly to scene elements
📊 Monitor task completion in real time
🤝 Collaborate with team members across machines
🎬 Great for game dev, animation, environment design, and complex scenes