Roughly the Blender 2.5 project has the following phases:
- Redesign of internal window manager and event/tool/data handling system.
- Porting over old code to clean-up and match the new design.
- Bringing tools and editors back using new event system and 'operators'.
- Redesign and implement UI context, workflow and visual representation.
- Design and implement the new Python API.
The first two phases are nearly complete, the third phase is about 70% done. The March-July period will be mostly devoted to steps 4 and 5.
More information can be found as hilight overview or in our wiki.
Currently work is being done on many areas in Blender;
- Volumetric rendering
- New mesh system, supporting ngons
- NPR rendering, using FreeStyle
- New dynamics based IK controllers
- Sculpting speedup, support for animated multiresolution meshes
And of course our six Google Summer of Code projects
- Raytrace speedup
- New NLA system
- Full Collada support
- Porting import/export to 2.5 api
- Light Painting
- Mesh drawing speedup
