Jump to content

Can you use Houdini Engine components in a non-open source project?


Daniel_Daniel

Recommended Posts

  • 2 months later...

Most Houdini Engine plugins are embedded in closed source applications. You definitely can do this, HE will use license anyway. If you want to sell it to third parties, it's probably good idea to talk to SideFX though.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

As a matter of fact, from what I've heard, its actually "legally" tricky to embedd it into open source software..
I believe it would be against Blender's licence agreement if I remember correctly..

but yeah SideEffects made a Houdini engine SDK and documentation for a reason :)
so as long as you are not subverting the licensing system of the plugin, I think you should be fine
(This would mean your users would need to get your software as well as a Houdini Engine Licence)

and yeah talking about it with SideFX would not be a bad idea either. I think they're always interested in hearing about stuff like this

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/28/2021 at 3:50 AM, acey195 said:

As a matter of fact, from what I've heard, its actually "legally" tricky to embedd it into open source software..
I believe it would be against Blender's licence agreement if I remember correctly..

Yes, this is interesting. HAPI source is not GPL, but, say, I would write HE for Blender, then all I have to do is open source (GPL) my code, and then HAPI (nor Houdini) doesn't have to, since neither I have control over HAPI, nor Houdini is linked with Blender. Now this changes for SideFX, since they do control HAPI and GPL magically applies to them (to HAPI), or doesn't it? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maaaybe, I'm not an expert on this topic.. its just what I've heard from colleagues and friends.

Perhaps using an intermediary thing, like a webclient would be a work-around for blender.
You sacrifice some of the direct access, but you could still make some basic UI to send data (meshes) back and forth
https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/hom/hou/webServer/index.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

on the topic of REST webclients for Houdini here was an interesting project using python2's BaseHTTPServer and three-js (2016):

In terms of licensing, I spoke with SideFX Support a couple of months ago and they agreed on the usage of HE as a web server, as long as it isn't meant as a mere bypass into Houdini itself (but don't take my word for it, for any new project please contact them directly).

Edited by Daniel_Daniel
removed flask - mistake
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, acey195 said:

Maaaybe, I'm not an expert on this topic.. its just what I've heard from colleagues and friends.

no problem, that was rhetoric question :)

Quote

Perhaps using an intermediary thing, like a webclient would be a work-around for blender.

That's the thing, internally you don't have to worry about anything, you can even link Blender with HDK, although HAPI allows you to avoid even that (by linking with HAPI instead of HDK).

If you start selling things to third parties, then you have to be worried both about SideFX license and GPL. As Daniel_Daniel said, SideFX in its HEngine license might put some safety measures in case someone will do wrong thing with it (like making new Houdini) or renting your HEngine license in internet what HAPI effectively allows you to do.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...