# Nodes & Physics Module Meeting

Check the [overview](https://devtalk.blender.org/t/nodes-physics-module-meeting-overview/29681) thread for more information about the meeting.

## Present

* Simon Thommes
* Hans Goudey
* Jacques Lucke
* Lukas Tönne
* Mai Ao
* Quackers
* Brady Johnston
* Lars Scheel
* Richard Cato
* Cartesian Caramel

## Since the Last Meeting
* Grids:
* New Grid to Points node ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/19119231))
* New Clip Grid node ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/6d95c9dd))
* New Cube Grid Topology node ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/620ecf13))
* New Grid Dilate & Erode node ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/333b67cc))
* Support updating inactive values in Set Grid Background node ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/3ee26a95))
* Expose Min Voxel for grids in spreadsheet ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/c03d9af6))
* New Grid Mean & Grid Median nodes ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/74e74e4c))
* Swap Nodes:
* Preserve data-blocks when swapping nodes ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/69b82d91))
* Preserve bundle sockets when using Swap Node operator ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/c5912f7c))
* Improved support for single value attributes ([initial commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/b2acbff4), [more examples](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/ea4d394d))
* Add word index output to String to Curve node ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/dcef160d))
* Support string fields ([commit](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/154026))

## Meeting Topics
* ["Fit Curves" node](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/139723)
* The solver outputs attribute values for Bezier handle control points, but Blender's Bezier curves don't store attribute values on the handles, which makes the output weird sometimes.
* The suggestion is to use NURBS curve output with the Bezier knot mode if that's necessary.
* Back and forth about supporting other curve types. It would be nice but using evaluated points would mean the corner selection interpolation would not be well defined. Conclusion is to just support Poly curve inputs for now.
* "Poly Curves" input renamed to "Curves" because it's inlined with Bezier curve outputs.
* [Improve viewer instance attribute in viewer auto mode](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/153328)
* "Auto" retrieval of instance attributes is failing. Investigation reveals that it only looks for instance data if "Instance" is actively selected.
* Conclusion is to try checking the top level instances first.
* Add some function that asks instances "does this field make sense for you?" If the answer is no, go back to trying the other (non-top-level component)
* [Node Ungroup operator design](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/151432#issuecomment-1827997)
* Conclusions: always use input helper nodes, always make them input nodes when possible
* [Curve intersections](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/109393)
* [Fix #154133: UVs from Store Named Attributes node missing](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/154196)
* Let's "default to the default" in the UV editor.
## Need Help
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[date=2026-01-23 time=14:00:00 timezone="Europe/Amsterdam"]
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* Andrew
* Bernd Möller
* Brady Johnston
* Cartesian Caramel
* Dalai Felinto
* Drew Medina
* Falk David
* Habib Gahbiche
* Hans Goudey
* Iliya Katueshenock
* Jacques Lucke
* Jean-Silas Moor
* Lukas Tönne
* Mai Ao
* Mattias Fredriksson
* Nrd Kraft
* Sean Christofferson
* Simon Thommes
* Sergey Sharybin
* Mattias Fredriksson
* Raiko
* Casey Bianco-Davis
* Quackers
* Pablo Vazquez
* Endor H

## Planning

* Basic list stuff
* Geometry bundles
* Declarative bundle system
* More complete proposal will turn into a devtalk proposal document
* Mapping attributes with topology changes is tricky. May skip that at first
* Fluid simulations can come later
* But landing some more OpenVDB features sooner could be done in parallel with bundle system, though not urgent.
* More nodes creating topology
* Dense cube
* Poisson solver?
* https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/147430
* Spreadsheet support: sampling in index space
* Jolt integration after hair dynamics project finishes (Jacques)
* Open questions
* Mapping to an external library with its own state storage
* Collision filtering
* Constraint creation
* Could be a month long project
* Modal node tools (2 months Hans)
* Modeling (1 month for basics, harder to say for full design Hans)
* Self collisions seem to be necessary for replacement of particle system
* Various node features (color ramps, curve mapping) (Jacques, after initial hair dynamics)