Sketchup 2019 and its knock-on effects
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So I'm curious after the dramatic flourish of the SU2019 roll-out, where are you all in your Sketchup upgrade cycle. I ask, and am posting in this section of the forum, because I feel like the lack of excitement about SU and its future is impacting the vitality of SU related places like this forum. Thoughts?
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SU 2019 Pro, classic. Not going subscription route.
I've seen this forum dying down by a margin, seems like people may be flocking to other software instead of to SketchUp, a real pity.
Personally, I'm using SketchUp less than I used to. I'm also less active on the forum (and other SketchUp related) because it feels as though SketchUp isn't really so much into their userbase anymore, it's more of a corporate product these days, with a few spin-doctors trying to keep things personable. I understand the importance of keeping a product viable else there won't be a product, just commenting on the way I see and experience it.
Speaking of influencers. I'm not so sure what would have become of SketchUp if it wasn't for the many extension developers, so many of them offering great extensions, and then many of those free, and of course not discounting the efforts of the many great commercial coders, I probably have a few extensions more than I really need but the FOMO is real here. And not discounting all the regular helpers on this forum as well as the other. They, together with the extension developers, really make SketchUp shine from my point of view.
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@juju said:
SU 2019 Pro, classic. Not going subscription route.
Ah, I wasn't even paying attention! I forgot they split the options into full license and subscription. Makes sense to buy the 2019 Pro and stop there if you already paid up the Maintenance subscription. I had held off and let the maintenance lapse, so I ended at SU2018.
That's exactly it - it's felt like the "influencers" who contributed plugins, pro tips, and a dynamism to the Sketchup community are mostly either scooped up into the Trimble corporate maw, or else have moved on to other software.
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Some people are using the Trimble forums more. I wonder too if this is a fall-off of users or just forum visitors. I have gone to 2019 Classic and intend to keep using SU as a primary modeler and some of my documentation, though I'm venturing into other software.
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SU 2019 Pro Classic on my side. I have also noticed a drop off in activity here at Sketchucation, especially from many formerly highly active and skilled users. Fortunately we do still have people like Dave R. and Box actively contributing here (who each seem to frequent both forums extensively). At the Trimble forum, there's more activity but still a relatively small core of active higher-skilled pro users.
I think that drop-off may be function of pro users getting frustrated with the
lackpace of evolution of the software and the seeming indifference of Trimble to their opinions and needs — and they've subsequently migrated to other 3D tools. I suspect many are like Chipp Waters: talented pros who still use SU somewhere in their workflow, but no longer as their primary tool. So their focus and excitement has shifted from SU to Blender (or whichever) and they therefore have less time/energy to hang out in SU spaces. There are several such users who are now conspicuous by their absence here.I should note: In my opinion Dave R. alone is worth more than the entire Trimble support staff in terms of the quality and frequency of his contributions and his active, patient — and voluntary support — of users at every level in both forums. And Box's instructional gifs and tips are more helpful in real-world use than the
entireSU knowledge base — plus I've learned a lot about efficient modelling and the creative use of (mostly) basic, native tools in producing complex shapes. (I also totally concur about the incredible value contributed to the SU ecosystem by the various extension authors.) -
2019 PRO Classic also....
I still use it daily but not like I used too either; the same applies to activity on the forum here.
Doesn't seem to have the same interest lie the good old days.
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The exciting developments have been SubD, profile maker 3. Skimp....all extensions, there seems very little difference from Sketchup 2017-2019, rather all the effort has been on a failing on-line version. I for one, am very disappointed in Sketchup development. I would naively hope for some improvement in the areas I work in, now the solution seems to write ones own ruby scripts (not an easy task). If 2020 is not some major improvement, or something to reignite my enthusiasm then if my ruby does not solve my issues, it will be goodbye from me, despite the investment (reason to be faithful so far) I have made.
I am still on 2018, I may reinvest if 2020 proves worthwhile
Yes there has been a drift to Sketchups forum at the expense of this one, but I do find the searches much more fruitful here
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2019 classic here as well. Still using su&Lo for my architecture business. Keeping eyes open for alternatives but not found a match yet.
The classic / subscription shady marketing moves of 2019 still leave a bad taste. Combined with few useful improvements and lack of bug fixes (for me) over the last years, trust in the su team went away with that.
Edit; Only excitement is for what is done by plugin makers and modellers/artist over here. Barely visiting the official forums nowadays.
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Yeah mine is not really on the list as I have SU19 Classic w/maintenance.
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Still on 2018 though my maintenance is current, haven't even downloaded 2019, dashed lines didn't seem like a big enough feature to go through the trouble of migrating extensions and setting up toolbars. I have been playing with Rhino, Blender, and got a beta version of Altar Inspire, though haven't gotten around to actually checking it out yet. Must say that Rhino does have the potential to replace SU/LO for me. We'll see what 2020 brings but Trimble has left a bad taste in my mouth with 1) not providing a decent replacement for Google Maps, get location is pretty useless now and 2) the subscription thing, the way it was done and for kind of slapping the face of people who have supported them with maintenance fees over the last 6 years that now get less than someone who signs up for a $200 subscription.
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oops, thing I learned today is that editing the poll choices re-sets the poll
Hoping this correction addressing my omission of the classic licensing scheme captures most people's situation. -
Have any features been added to SU since the subscription model has been rolled out?
Also, FWIW, around this time of year I would receive an email notifying me about paying for the next years maintenance. I haven't seen anything. So this thread actually prompts me to call and inquire how that is supposed to happen now.
Lastly, The Plugin writers and the creators of Sketchucation have been the largest influencers in my SU pursuits. Been using this software since 2010, and it has helped my professional workflow immensely. Saddened a bit to see some of the old timers not here on a regular basis, and very grateful for those that have remained!
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Apparently SU2019.2 is due to be released next week. SketchUp API C++ compatibility will be deprecated in favour of C in this update. There's a new feature for you. I hope the developer leveraging C++ know about this and are ready to release updates to their extensions.
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Cant remember i was notified there was a .1 update. Or do you need to be in the non-classic version for that?
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@kaas said:
Cant remember i was notified there was a .1 update. Or do you need to be in the non-classic version for that?
I'm on SU2019Pro classic with active maintenance. It was not SU that notified me, but a 3rd party rendering extension.
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@unknownuser said:
Apparently SU2019.2 is due to be released next week. SketchUp API C++ compatibility will be deprecated in favour of C in this update. There's a new feature for you. I hope the developer leveraging C++ know about this and are ready to release updates to their extensions.
Uff!! This had me worried and made me have a look in the release notes.
I dont think it is as bad as it sounds. It is only the C++ modelreader (or exporter might be its name ?) that is being deprecated. I doubt many developers are still using that anyway.
edit: ups! Guess I was wrong
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As one of the early posts mentions though, it seems like activity on the forum has dropped off a good bit lately. Does this concern anyone else?
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@ntxdave... I have noticed this too... Quite sad.
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SU 2018 pro, but not using it as much as before, Cinema 4D and Blender are slowly taking over the SU chores.
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It's not just Sketchukation.. I see general activity drop in all significal archviz forums. The main reasons IMO are the huge volume of avaible educational stuff online plus stagnation in matured 3D packages development.
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