SketchUp 2018
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I'm waiting for a few developers to join together and make an alternative to SketchUp. I'll pay filthy money for it. Just do it. Make yourself rich. You know what it needs to be.
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@ben ritter said:
@sketch3d.de said:
@ben ritter said:
...why won't it be possible to have 2017 and 2018 reside on the computer at the same time?
it can and should be installed side-by-side sothat you are able doing a fallback to version 2017 if required because e.g. plugins are not compatible (yet).
Actually do not deactivate product activations of existing previous versions because they cannot be reactivated after activating SU 2018 again even on the same system! Use the 30 day trial runtime before activating a new version anyhow.
I'll have to get the exact quote from Trimble, but I didn't upgrade because there was some language stating that 2017 would become inoperative after 30 days. Not sure if anyone else saw this too?
True story. Happened to me with 2016 after I installed 2017. Worked fine alongside until later I had to reinstall my OS, and then I couldn't get 2016 activated.
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Thank you, Trimble, I am happy with Sketchup Pro 2018, keep up the good work.
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@juju said:
Does anyone have the ETA for SketchUp 2018? SU2017 was released 7 November 2016, so I'm guessing any time in the next month probably...
Oh. To answer your question. Yes, I happen to know it will be released in November.
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@bruce watt said:
Thank you, Trimble, I am happy with Sketchup Pro 2018, keep up the good work.
This may be a "first" on Sketchucation!
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Hi SJS, your plugins should work as they did in 2017...
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OK, I now understand there is a focus on trying to get extensions to work in the cloud sometime in the future. I suppose we can expect the whole app (PRO + FREE) to end up in the cloud at some point. If not, then this truly is a waste of valuable developer resources.
Pros
- Eventually when SU Pro goes to the cloud, we’re back to one code base set.
- Nothing to download (except I suspect there will need to be a ‘cached’ app somewhere so when you’re not connected to the cloud you can still do work like GApps.)
- Easy to update all at once.
- Can perhaps run on slower machines as most heavy processing can be done in the cloud (aka OnShape).
- If prefs ever get implemented, it will be nice to have them stored online for all computers.
- No license per computer and no dreaded licensing conundrum Trimble has put us through year after year.
- Makes the Google Chromebooks team happy!
Cons
- Not pipeline or ecosystem friendly. If you can’t quickly save and open the program in a different app. In fact I’m not even sure how to actually download the file. If it’s not as simple as SAVE to FOLDER then it’s a fail for working in any sort of workflow, pipeline or other ecosystem. And because there is no renderer, no animator and other missing items, it’s necessary to go to 3rd parties to get things done.
- By focussing on the cloud, valuable resources are usurped which could be used to actually add some new and needed features. Those resources are now focussed on making the proper frameworks, trying to get existing extensions to play, client-side code, and the whole cloud architecture, among other things.
- Takes a long time to put everything in place-- and meanwhile SketchUp core features keeps getting further and further behind. SU2018 is such an example. It’s more than clear all the dev resources are now focused on the cloud as this is the lamest update I can ever remember.
- Sometimes instant updates create serious problems and if not adequately tested can be very problematic for professionals on a schedule. I hope you consider the ability for customers to roll back to previous versions.
So, instead of finally getting a fillet or chamfer command, or UV mapping (after all it is 2017), or better booleans, or even a decent renderer, we are now watching the programmers spend all their time on trying to figure out load balancing on servers and how to get around the limitations of different browsers.
I sure would’ve like to have been in THAT meeting where the decision was made to allocate major development resources to move the whole codebase to the cloud. Perhaps the decision was made by programmers knowing they need to add significant cloud development capabilities to their resume?
It is more and more apparent to me there is little focus at Trimble on what users need to actually model and render buildings, products, and 3D prints in 2018. There have been very few tools added over the past decade. Yes, I know we all EXPECT the plugin developers to create them for Trimble. Still, even the magnificent Fredo can’t easily build the standard filleting tool every other poly modeler has because of the internal architecture of SU.
Here’s what SketchUp 2 looked like in 2003. Mostly all the same tools. That was 15 years ago!
Yes, I know the original design was a departure from standard vertex poly modelers…and a good one at that. Even so, there are so many ways to make it better. Trimble seems very reluctant to actually add the necessary features, and instead they’ve decided to now spend significant resources towards isolating the program, and it’s users, in the cloud. I’m just wondering if the programmers are actual 3D guys, or former Google Cloud computing developers?
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@kimi kimi said:
I'm waiting for a few developers to join together and make an alternative to SketchUp. I'll pay filthy money for it. Just do it. Make yourself rich. You know what it needs to be.
Like Shape? I dunno how its gonna turn out, it's not out yet.
and there's also
but I never used it.
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@kimi kimi said:
I'm waiting for a few developers to join together and make an alternative to SketchUp. I'll pay filthy money for it. Just do it. Make yourself rich. You know what it needs to be.
Competition would be good. But I think there are patents that would prevent replicating some of our favorite features such as push-pull. It would be interesting to see what others could come up with.
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@slbaumgartner said:
Competition would be good. But I think there are patents that would prevent replicating some of our favorite features such as push-pull. It would be interesting to see what others could come up with.
Not really, AutoCAD has similar with it's "presspull" command set. As does Fusion 360. Form-Z also has a similar toolset. None are as user friendly as SU but as you said..."competition would be good".
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@utiler said:
Hi SJS, your plugins should work as they did in 2017...
All plugins seem to be working ok so far, although haven't tested all of them yet.
Been having issues with Windows 10 Creators Fall update more so lately. Had to reset my computer twice due to black screen of death.
So now I have Creators Fall updates installed, I've noticed SketchUp backup files (.skb) aren't recognised in Windows 10 explorer now & trying to set SketchUp 2018 as the default program to open files is proving to be a bit tricky. In attached image I've selected .skb file extension but SketchUp 2018 doesn't come up as an option, only "Look for an app in the Store". Tried a few other ways but no luck so far.
Anyone got the same problem? Probably should post as new thread.
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Any luck with the spacenavigator? I tried copying files to the program data folder with no luck? I have the spaceexplorer model. Using driver ver 10.4.3 most current available
@david. said:
My 3DConnexion SpaceNavigator doesn't work with 2018. Seems like this happened with 2017, too. I currently can't connect to 3DConnexion.com to check for updated drivers.
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What is the future for Sketchup?
Will Sketchup 2018 be the last desktop based software only to be replaced by a web based software like Sketchup Free?
How will this affect Sketchup Pro versions or will the Pro version also be web based.
I find web based apps to be fraught with many issues including application crashes; memory hungry web browsers; data limits for those without a DSL connection including people of lesser financial means to sustain a cloud based connection without eating into data limits.
How will this affect extension development and will extension developed for Sketchup Free work with versions at or below Sketchup 2018.
Generally speaking I'm sure Sketchup 2018 should have at least another 3 years of life in it. Many people are in fact still using Sketchup 8.
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