A new home for SketchUp
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All this - pretty much the entire thread - is speculations, speculations, speculations.
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@kwistenbiebel said:
@sketch3d.de said:
@findthong said:
I'm convinced that I should plan for some options, just in case.
You left out ViaCAD 2D/3D! That's a direct NURBS surface & volume modeler with new push/pull modeling, 2D drafting, SU import and all common 3D CAD interfaces (STEP, IGES, Acis SAT etc.) available under OSX & Win for pocket money.
Norbert
Looks interesting. I couldn't find a demo on their website
I don't believe they have a demo.
The prices are not bad, but.. 2 strikes:
1) No skp export for any ViaCAD (import only.)
I never have anything to do with software that limits workflow to import only.
2) No scripting or plugin API of any kind (that I can see.)
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This looks interesting, it has a Javascript-like scripting language with a built-in compiler:
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Read your*'Plain English translations of the Trimble press release'* with interest. Seeing as the SketchUp Team / Trimble are not yet ready to 'spill the beans' on what the plans for SU are, I wonder would it make more sense to possibly look at things from another perspective.
One possible reason for the SU Team / Trimble not divulging further information may be because they are in the middle of actually working out a concrete development plan for SU.
Rather than us being negative, would it make not make more sense for us to possibly take the initiative and offer constructive suggestions as to how WE would like to see SketchUp moving.
I have been part of the SU community since 2000 and can assure you that the Dev Team have indeed listened to what the user base wanted and they have delivered much of what was sought and some nice surprises to boot
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@kwistenbiebel said:
Looks interesting. I couldn't find a demo on their website
is avail at their Labs site, registering for the newsletter will bring you some coupon codes
Norbert
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@dan rathbun said:
1) No skp export for any ViaCAD (import only.)
I never have anything to do with software that limits workflow to import only.
which probably limits you to a small amount of apps able to write the native SKP format... 3DS/OBJ export is included.
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This topic is flying off in different directions, ViaCAD for example! While its fine to discuss peripheral issues, I think we should try and stick to the main topic otherwise there will be far too much cross-talking and the thread will be just too difficult to follow
I've put a proposition up! Should we be voicing opinions on how WE would like to see SU possibly 'morphing'. Any thoughts on this?
At least it may be something that John B and the team could hopefully comment on
After all, this is what most of us would like to get some reassurance on 
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Reminds me of the Y2K issue, everyone speculating, fear and panic and ended up a total let down as life went on as usual.
No point in speculation or fear, lets wait and see.
@unknownuser said:
I've put a proposition up! Should we be voicing opinions on how WE would like to see SU possibly 'morphing'. Any thoughts on this?
I'd rather it improve to handle more poly's, give the necessary tools to coders, etc than morphing into something else.
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in that case... my main hopes are improved dynamic components (something that would allow us to change the shape of a component other than via scaling (ie- an equilateral triangle into a right triangle -- for instance)
and another old wish of mine.. allow plugin icons to appear in the Mac toolbar upon launching (instead of closing the first window then making a new one)
(fwiw- I hardly ever bump into poly count problems etc.. but of course, performance upgrades are always welcome
... but personally, I'd rather see other improvements first) -
I want a gizmo.
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I knew you'd poke me with that.
Just let me test it for hour or so. PPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE
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This has been an interesting thread to follow.
I really would like to see SketchUp allowed to continue down the path it is on, after all that is why it is so unique amongst its peers.
So I can see the point of Trimble's integration into it's other software, but let the base engine develop as it has.
After all without the contribution of the Ruby masters, and the community in general sharing the methods of how they push the boundaries of this software, It would only be a quaint toy.
Why fix what ain't broken. -
I don't see any justification for all the negativity, myself. Those of us that have actually met and talked with the Dev team...there are quite a few of us; and in some cases that relationship goes back years...can attest to the fact that you're unlikely to meet a more dedicated bunch with a greater enthusiasm for their software or in their relationship with their user base.
They haven't even concluded the deal yet, much less are in any position to release further information on how that relationship will move forward. To all the doomsayers, it might be worth recalling what John wrote on the SU blog:-
'For the folks worried that we'll stop offering SketchUp for free, "The free version of SketchUp is an important part of our world as well, and that isn’t changing in the least."
For the folks worried that we'll only pay attention to the AEC industry, "If you’re one of the many, many people who use SketchUp for something else—from education to woodworking, geo-modeling to movie-making—rest assured that there will be a SketchUp for you, too."
If you're just worried because you don't like Trimble's website, don't judge a book by its cover.'
Are you accusing him of telling outright lies?So I'm hoping that the core program remains essentially the same and continues to do what it does...but better.
I'm hoping that its usability and popularity can be increased much further by the continued efforts of 3rd party developers like those on this forum...and that Trimble finds a way of facilitating and coordinating that development by working more closely with those 3rd parties to produce a more capable and even more diversified product than it is already....oh! and while you are gluing Trimble together, do you think you could spare a bit for the toolbars. -
@solo said:
No point in speculation or fear, lets wait and see.
wise words, pete.
what is the point of agonizing about something over which we have no control whatsoever?
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Alan.
you're obviously not reading those statements via google.translate.almost_unbiased_english.com
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When I first adopted SketchUp (v1), I was delighted with my new found ability to explain my building ideas to clients in understandable 3D. I never had any difficulty getting the design ideas across to co-workers with the use of 2D plans and some quick sections. Their brains automatically formed the 3D pictures.
My design work-flow was, get the idea, do some very rough freehand (mostly plan) sketches, then move on to tracing paper over a 300 x 300 mm grid and draft up (again freehand) the plans, sections, and elevations. For presentation of house design, I used to do quick and dirty single point perspectives which showed front gardens etc and the front elevation with some perspective 'cheats'.
Ideally for me, it would have been better if SketchUp had a SIMPLE 2D drawing front end. I know with the various plugins, this is possible but its not quite a simple process as I was used to with the tracing paper over my 300 x 300mm grid. Layout, is just that, a good layout process.
So my question is, could there be a companion front end to SketchUp that would allow the designer to 'draft up' the initial floor plans quickly and accurately? Maybe I should just start talking to the 3rd party developers that have produced all the great 2D drafting plugins and see what could be combined to create what I have in mind.
I think the ingredients are there, it maybe just a matter of mixing them into something to get what I want
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I agree. Why be negative? It's all very interesting anyway. I keep thinking is v9 coming when the dust settles?
As for corporations, there is nothing really to expect but that they will act as corporations. The closest I got to that was working at a small firm that had corporate clients. The people with whom I would work were wonderful, fun, and professional; but the corporate bosses (and mind-set that everyone kow-towed to) were, as usual, a different matter. I never want to be that close to the corporate work world again. It stinks. I find it silly that people go to work at such a place then whine on the internet.
Doesn't mean SU will go one way or the other.
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@unknownuser said:
Alan.
you're obviously not reading those statements via google.translate.almost_unbiased_english.com
Oh yes I am, Jeff. I just left the Add Unwarranted Cynicism box unchecked.
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@solo said:
... lets wait and see.
Agreed. Until the next release of SU appears there's no way to know Trimble's intentions, anything they say now is public relations-speak, it may or may not be translated into actions.
When @Last sold SU to Google there was a great deal of speculation amongst the users, the optimists were excited about the huge resources Google would bring to bear on future development, others worried about what would happen to the development team and still others feared that Google would 'devalue' SU by releasing a free version as they had done with another app (I forget what it was).
If I remember correctly (and it's quite possible that I don't), @Last themselves stated at the time that the buyout would boost development, but in reality SU has largely stagnated in Google hands. At the time Google stated that the buyout would not result in any @Last people being 'let go', but behind the scenes some had already been asked to clear out their desks. And Google stated that they had no intention of releasing a free version, only to announce the free version soon after.
I'm glad Google won't be stifling SU's potential any longer, what Trimble will do with it remains to be seen but I'm not holding my breath. I love SU dearly and it's an important part of my workflow, but it became clear to me years ago that I couldn't pin any hopes on SU evolving much beyond what it was then (V5/6) or growing in the direction I needed to go. I looked to Luxology's modo as the next rising star and I'm happy to say that 5 versions later its still evolving faster than I can learn its new tricks.
I hope one day I'll be as excited about a new release of SketchUp.
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