Mantis v0.11.11 Changelog

Standout Features

• INSTANT UPDATE for Constraints and some other nodes!
• FASTER performance! Mantis now watches for changes and updates only when needed.
• More precise messages when there is an error, fewer ugly Python Exception popups.
• 11 new nodes
• Numerous bug-fixes, especially for Schema and Array workflows
• New nodes and sockets for rigging with Curves
• Lots of code cleanup and restructuring
• New Operator: Convert Bezier Curve to NURBS
  • Accessible via the F3 search menu
  • Copy the curve first to preserve the original Bezier Curve
  • Assists in rigging with curves; Hooks work better with NURBS curves
• New Nodes:
  • Schema: Entire Array Input
  • Utility: Choose Nearest Point
  • Utility: Choose Nearest xForm
  • Utility: Array Length
  • Utility: Get Curve Point
  • Utility: Get Nearest Factor on Curve
  • Utility: Number of Splines
  • xForm: Curve Pin
  • Matrix: Invert Matrix Node
  • Matrix: Compose Matrix
  • Matrix: Align Matrix Roll

Improvements to Existing Nodes

Hook Deformer

• Fix: Hook Deformer sometimes fails to set its target
• New Sockets:
  • Influence: Controls the deformer's influence
  • Auto-Bezier: Toggle automatic hooking of Bezier handles (disabling allows separate hooking of handles and control points)
  • Affect Curve Radius: Duplicates the input curve and assigns drivers to control points to affect the curve's radius in Pose Space

Other Nodes

• Compare Node: Added comparison operations (Equal, Not Equal, etc.)
• ALL Curve nodes now support "Spline Index" socket
• ALL Link and Deformer nodes now apply to all connected downstream xForms, eliminating the need to duplicate node chains
• Choose Node: Now supports all connection types (including xForm and Relationship)
• Choose Node: Mantis ignores unconnected Choose Nodes instead of failing
• Copy Scale: Added Power socket

Mantis Execution Improvements

• No execution when moving in/out of Groups and Schema
• No execution upon undo/redo
• No execution during unrelated actions (e.g., modifying an object's material)
• SPEED UP: Tree rebuilds only when the graph changes
• SPEED UP: Many properties update instantly
• SPEED UP: No re-execution of nodes during tree building

UI Improvements

• New error messages for various issues (e.g., invalid Matrix Input in Bone Length Node, missing Schema inputs, incorrect inputs in Driver Variable or Compare Nodes)
• Error popups now work inside Schema, printing messages and selecting relevant nodes
• Renamed Matrix Transform to Multiply Matrices for clarity
• Schema Constant Input now has a unique Circle-Dot appearance
• Fixed Curve Socket type display issue on group inputs
• Auto-selects all Mantis-generated objects for easier management (e.g., moving or deleting Collections)
• (Blender 4.4+) Reroute Sockets are now colored correctly
• Improved error reporting when Mantis fails to build a tree
• Node UI paths shown in error reports instead of Mantis Signature
• Detailed error messages for graph errors in Matrix from Curve and other curve nodes
• New warnings for missing objects or zero-radius curves
• Better messaging for execution failures due to bugs, missing connections, or cycles

Bug Fixes

• Group/Schema Nodes sockets are more consistent and less prone to breaking
• Fixed incorrect link order in multi-input nodes
• Multiple fixes for Schema dependency handling and connections
• Array Nodes inside Schema no longer cause dependency errors
• Schema of length 0 no longer causes failures unless depended on
• Optimized matrix math in AxesFromMatrix node
• Fixed parenting issues with GeometryObject and Bone
• Fixed rare ZeroDivisionError in Matrix From Curve
• Optimized min/max operations in Int/Float Math nodes
• Prevented infinite loops in NameOfXForm with invalid inputs
• Fixed issues with Custom Properties, Array Outputs, and nested Schema
• Improved floating-point error checks
• Fixed freezes with Array Get
• Sort Nodes operator now handles disconnected graph regions
• Removed unnecessary data before execution to prevent graph build failures
• Mantis now duplicates curve data to avoid modifying original scene data