software keeps changing too much

[Meanator]

I get that it's to make things "easier" but everything I knew last year about the system is invalid as I can't press some of they keys I used, not even space bar for searching a tool does not work anymore cause it's replaced with animation frames play and pause

[Pte Jack]

You were given the choice to set the space bar to either search or play animations when the version changed on the splash screen. You can still change it in preferences.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Also if you prefer to stick with a certain version you like the best, there is always the option to reroll to older versions, either using the STEAM BETA tab or by downloading a standalone copy, of whatever version you fancy, from blender.org.

[thekadani]

The keymap change isn't actually that huge, it was mostly getting rid of some keys and just a few like space -> F3 and playback -> space got replaced in the default settings (which you can even tweak in the quick settings and you can of course always customize the key map).

You also have the option to use the old keymap where it is compatible but I think the new one is actually much better, I already started to struggle with using the old keymap when I have to work with older blender projects.

Keep in mind this was one larger change and it won't happen in anytime soon again, so it might be worth taking the few hours of reduced working speed until you got familiar and read up about the new UI and keymaps until you profit from that and probably work even faster than before.

Also keep in mind there are some areas left that wait to get an overhaul but I don't expect this would be such drastic changes since they only affect certain areas.

For example manta flow is now in the master branch and will replace the old fluid system in the next release, but this is imho much easier and powerful to use.

[Meanator]

Originally posted by *P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*:

Also if you prefer to stick with a certain version you like the best, there is always the option to reroll to older versions, either using the STEAM BETA tab or by downloading a standalone copy, of whatever version you fancy, from blender.org.

X_X wish I knew about this....

[Sersch]

Originally posted by bestdani:

Keep in mind this was one larger change and it won't happen in anytime soon again, so it might be worth taking the few hours of reduced working speed until you got familiar and read up about the new UI and keymaps until you profit from that and probably work even faster than before.

This sums it up very well. Give it a couple of hours or even days, you will not regret it. When I slowly started transitioning from 2.79 to 2.8 while it was still in early Alpha, there was this point when 2.8 already felt better and I didn't want to go back to 2.79 anymore, but 2.8 was still too rough and new to feel like home. I can't imagine going back now, as 2.79 already feels so dated. The realtime rendering capabilities (PBR materials) and viewport performance alone are a blessing.

2.79 had so many weird UI choices that never really made sense, but you get used to them after a while. I suggest playing around with the new reduced keyboard shortcuts a bit and then start customizing them until you're comfortable again. Maybe you don't even need as many shortcuts as before, because now there's this handy Quick Favorites menu on Q. You can add entries by right-clicking most things and then choosing "Add to Quick Favorites".

[⎛⎝⎛-||-⎞ ⎠⎞]

If change is too much for you, then continue to use an older version. No one is forcing you to upgrade.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Originally posted by Sersch:

Originally posted by bestdani:

Keep in mind this was one larger change and it won't happen in anytime soon again, so it might be worth taking the few hours of reduced working speed until you got familiar and read up about the new UI and keymaps until you profit from that and probably work even faster than before.

This sums it up very well. Give it a couple of hours or even days, you will not regret it. When I slowly started transitioning from 2.79 to 2.8 while it was still in early Alpha, there was this point when 2.8 already felt better and I didn't want to go back to 2.79 anymore, but 2.8 was still too rough and new to feel like home. I can't imagine going back now, as 2.79 already feels so dated. The realtime rendering capabilities (PBR materials) and viewport performance alone are a blessing.

2.79 had so many weird UI choices that never really made sense, but you get used to them after a while. I suggest playing around with the new reduced keyboard shortcuts a bit and then start customizing them until you're comfortable again. Maybe you don't even need as many shortcuts as before, because now there's this handy Quick Favorites menu on Q. You can add entries by right-clicking most things and then choosing "Add to Quick Favorites".

I agree, the 2.8 changes (bit of backwards compatibility/ UI and Keymap) etc. weren'T done lightly. This new version was in the making for several years now and was the first major overhaul since 2.5, many years ago. 2.8 brings so much new stuff to the table, tons of improvements, better tools and overall more awesomesauce.
It will take another couple of years for the next gen blender to arrive.
So getting to grips with 2.8 is well worth the time of adapting.
As a very simple hint: If you want to continue with your old files you should not really open them in 2.8 but rather append either whole scenes/ objects / whatever into fresh 2.8 files.
I noticed that blender can totally go out of whack UI wise when simply clicking open on 2.7x files or older.

[Rogue_Zephyr]

I would say keep at it and learn blender 2.8. The older versions are so terrible that it makes blender look like a "Toy" as many say. Now blender has moved forward and is adding alot of cool creative features. I never wanted to touch sculpting till now in 2.8 where we have remesher and other cool things coming in the future. The main thing about getting into 3d or being a 3d artist is you MUST adapt to change within any software. Some bigger companies for example may not need a latest version cause they have their own features added to for example an older version of maya. Just give it a chance and make learning always a priority, its how we grow as 3d artists. I think you will love blender 2.8+ more, just take some time to go through some easy tutorials. Jayanam, AsknK, Grant Abbit are some great youtube blender users that show off alot of that stuff.