RenderNet

A full-stack web application for distributed Blender rendering with user authentication and queued job execution.

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Overview

RenderNet is a full-stack project demonstrating backend system design, job scheduling, and process automation using Blender's CLI. The application allows authenticated users to submit rendering jobs, manages them through a queue-based architecture, and delivers rendered outputs through a web interface.

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Key Features

• Upload and render .blend files remotely
• User authentication using JWT
• Centralized job queue with status tracking
• Download rendered frames as ZIP archives
• Admin-level access for user and job management
• Automatic cleanup of uploaded and rendered files (48-hour retention)

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Tech Stack

Backend

• Node.js
• Express.js
• JWT-based authentication
• Multer for file uploads
• Blender CLI for rendering
• Background worker for job execution

Frontend

• Vanilla JavaScript (no framework)
• HTML + CSS (dark theme)
• REST API integration

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Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js v16 or later
• Blender installed and accessible via system PATH
• npm or yarn

Setup Instructions

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/Vishrut2403/RenderNet.git
   cd RenderNet

2. Install backend dependencies

   cd backend
   npm install

3. (Optional) Install frontend dependencies

   cd ../frontend
   npm install

4. Environment configuration

   Create a .env file inside the backend directory:

   PORT=5500
   JWT_SECRET=your-secret-key

5. Start the backend server

   cd backend
   npm start

6. Serve the frontend

   You may open frontend/index.html directly in a browser, or serve it locally:

   cd frontend
   npx http-server -p 8080

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Usage

1. Create a user account
2. Log in to obtain an authentication token
3. Upload a .blend file and specify the frame range
4. Monitor job status via the dashboard
5. Download completed renders as a ZIP file

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Feature Status

Implemented

• Blender CLI–based render execution
• Queue-based job scheduling
• JWT authentication and role-based access
• Background worker for render jobs
• GPU-based rendering configuration
• Automatic cleanup of stale files

Work in Progress

• Improved job progress tracking
• Multi-worker scalability support

Planned

• Distributed rendering across multiple nodes
• WebSocket-based real-time job updates

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Contributing

This project was developed as an individual portfolio project. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.