How many years until SU incorporates all major plugins?

ntxdave

So here's my guess that by about 2040 we'll see most major plugins of the last 2 decades incorporated into base SU. You heard it here first, check back in the next decade and let me know how it's progressing.

I think you are a little optimistic but then it depends on what you are calling "major plugins".

My real question is, with the annual price for the Pro version, why does it take so many plugins to create detailed models.

Rich O Brien

3d for everyone...

andybot

Good question about what one might consider the major plugins. Things like FredoScale, Weld, Tools on Surface, some Extrusion Tools, SmartDrop, Align, ThruPaint, Cleanup, Make Face. Just offhand some of the less complex (on the user-end) ones I use pretty much daily. (Not getting into more complicated ones like Quadface & Vertex tools, Skatter, etc.)

Yes, that is the underlying question, is the cost worth it for something so incomplete. (And will it ever be offered in a "complete" state?)

andybot

@rich o brien said:

3d for everyone...

But they do keep adding tools... that's why I am posing the question about pace. SU devs obviously have to evaluate if the tools can be made "for everyone"

solo

Rich O Brien

I like to see productivity tools you expect in a modelling environment integrated. Especially as they tend to be more performant and robust.

But if the extension ecosystem is used to feed their 'roadmap' then that's not great if you've worked on a tool for years and its simply cloned.

I would like to see a community edition of SketchUp that had LTS(Long term support) to really accelerate things. You can't always get what you want though.

andybot

@rich o brien said:

But if the extension ecosystem is used to feed their 'roadmap' then that's not great if you've worked on a tool for years and its simply cloned.

1000%

That's another underlying point I was snarkily making, best exemplified by solo's meme above.

rv1974

@andybot said:

I see a major new feature is the "flip" tool...

It's not. The main feature is the fact the product is afloat yet another year plus its performance and user experience are gradually improved.

andybot

@rv1974 said:

It's not.

I know, that was the point of my comment. Seems like yet another year SU adds some small tool tweak and "performance improvements" in the name of keeping the $$$ubscription model afloat.

Gus R

Somehow I picture Trimble charging a fee to use other people's plugins. Maybe charge a licensing fee to developers.