I understand what Platform goal will look like.

IMHO there're 2 aspects that really holding SketchUp back, which can't really be done in API level or plugins:
1.)No real curve, I don't know if we could really have some nurb in future.
2.)Display speed performances. SketchUp don't need any rendering baked-in anymore at this age.
And the strength of SketchUp have is it's simplicity and clean design. People can get started with very little learning.

And I see SketchUp is the best thing in 3D world, not even blender can have big market like SketchUp. Because while Blender is Open-source project, but it only apply for 3D industry. One who don't have knowledge about 3D can't use for their purpose easily.

Seem like the core philosophy of SketchUp is very Open-source, free as the meaning of 'freedom', especially like a CMS called Drupal. Drupal don't do anything best out of the box as a product (it's minimal feature for people to get started), but it API/hook system is supurb and embraced collaboration with other open-source projects and make it a very flexible platform. It position itself between web framework and product, it's not the best framework nor product. But People would find it can do a lot only when dig deep in and know how to use plugins and API, feel very SketchUp to me. And when other stuck to be CMS only, Drupal can and is expanding out to more market which make it very successful, their robust 'hook system' make this happened. It successful because both normal people and pros find they can use it and customized to their works. It can built blog, e-commerce, news site, intranet, social web, web apps, etc. I think this is how Trimble see SketchUp as a platform.

And I think there should be free and $500 vanilla SketchUp version as is. Take free stuffs and increse the price is not an options and right way to do it for this business age. Professionals can buy other well-enhanced versions at higher price range. I means those well-enhanced versions should be able to do more than current SketchUp with combination of free Ruby plugins, feature that is hard to do well with Ruby, or at least well-integrated to make it interesting and valuable. Things that superior than current SketchUp.

Also, I think it's already the time to do UI/UX improvements, seem keyboard shortcut and a static menu with lot of buttons is not the only way to interact in this age. SketchUp UI start to show its age. People need to move and remember less while still able to do thing as fast. Something like Customizable Pie menu on right-click and smart floating/transparent menu seem like a good alternatives for touch interface. At least, something like Lumion is feel very clean and easy to use:
http://youtu.be/D0uZb4Yl_VA

If Trimble value business partnership, there're so many businesses that already help SketchUp grow. Not only just software in Trimble PortFolios. Make better and deep intetgration with them and the platform can grow in so many directions quickly. SketchUp can play well and become another tool in the arsenals of many people, easy to added inot their workflow. So core SketchUp developer can focused on what they can do best, make the core platform robust, adaptable.

For example, a seamless back and forth workflow between SketchUp, Layout, 3d printing CAD, current CPU/GPU/Real-time rendering and animation softwares will suffice SketchUp as Archvis/conceptual design platform for 80 percent of market needed. That would empowered the current users and open to new job opportunity a lot in this niche (this dind't count the benefit of change management in design phases).

Also, it's very right decision that SketchUp embraced both Ruby and C++. SketchUp plugin ecology can't become so rich without Ruby.

And I feel the future is bright

@rv1974 said:

@thomthom said:

@unknownuser said:

SU is not a parametric 3D program and probably never will be.

It's partially parametric. You can change edge length from the Entity window, arc segments - there is Dynamic Components - there are plugins that generates parametric geometry (I made a utah teapot plugin with parametric properties - I'm working on Bezier Surface where meshes are parametrically controlled with bezier curves and modifiers.)

Thomthom Have you seen this thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmFnq4_MkaY
Very inspiring.

That's the way the whole modeling world is going. parametric modeling synergy with freestyle modeling, they both have advantages on their own. And here come siemens PLM synchronous technology, others companies have their own name.

But seem like every lines are curve controlled by points, even straight line, to do those manipulations. Siemens adapted Sub-D modeling techniques to nurbs, form can also be controlled with cages like FFD.

Also, t-splines is interesting too. It allowed one to do Nurb using polygon modeling techniques.

3DWarehouse = Open-source Turbosquid.com
IMO A lot things can be learned from those commercials.

I think we should sum up what this forum mean to SketchUp in a few minutes. To make sure Trimble people informed about the value. How about forum showreel?

To me, just one-two aspects is crazy enough.

A high speed showreel of ruby plugin magics in actions and images/videos produced from disciplines can make the whole world jaw drop, and anyone would realized the value of those plugin created by users.

http://youtu.be/G06gIBl8c9g
http://youtu.be/APEerQNvDd8
http://designreform.net/2009/09/sketchup-7-tools-plugins-and-scripts-similar-to-rhino-max-maya-and-revit

Also, I just realized I never seen any Official SketchUp showreel that really show what it can really do!!!

@thomthom said:

@alan fraser said:

Not forgetting that the Boulderados will then maybe have the option to design their own website again...as in @Last days, instead of having it shoehorned into some bland corporate house style where you couldn't actually find anything.
God! I hope Trimble don't impose their own present web style. That would be a disaster.

Ditto! I hope for a whole new website that present the whole environment of SketchUp, with it's resources (materials, components tutorials) and extensions ( render-engines, plugins ). Build their blogs into their website so the information doesn't appear to be so scattered.

That's the only way they could have the official websites that people actually use .
I think if they do really well, most people will feel very welcome to go there too.
And in fact, they can provide a place that facilitated forum, wall, downloads better than what ever available in SketchUp ecology. And place it in android market, and app store or Ruby plugin

• This forum is also a treasure to Trimble, they get ton of feedbacks for free. Without going out and do much researches, all SketchUp veteran come here and pour their wisdom in freely. Both positive/negative feedbacks are from people who love, care and understand SketchUp.
• I do monitored this forum long before registered, but I've been to those official Google group just 3-4 times for a few minutes. I suspected there're a lot of people like me. Official or not is not important,they are the people, contents and activities that matter. I almost never post anything becuase my english is not up to standard, I go to my local forum for that.
• Trimble should sponsored this forum in transparent manner, such as rewards for competitions in categories like components, models, techniques, Ruby plugin which will be 'free' to download as usual with no string attached. And that should be a good amount of money, not softwares only. Trimble should always raise up the standard for free plugins/contents to help raise the bar of SketchUp. And official plugins should do better or combine them and improved as 'distributions', so people see the values and happy to buy. It's a bit like open-source world like a CMS called http://Drupal.org, they are open-source and have ten thousands of modules developed for freely use, even for commercial purposes. And companies who founded by project owner later combined,developed and maintain them as distributions, caters for specific website uses, and give it out freely again being called Drupal Commons, Acquia Drupal, OpenScholar, OpenPublish, Conference Organization http://www.acquia.com/downloads#commons, then they provided add-on services for even convenient use. And no one can stop the user to install/modified the distribution further, any modules in Drupal ecology can also added later. And there're many more companies using this model based on Drupal. And most of them even paid/sponsors these module writers to develop more and more, and that's always in 1,000-10,000s $ ranges. And they always develop new modules for their own use and give it for free to Drupal ecology too. But one thing they never do is 'prohibited or killed those free content/plugins', contrary they 100 percent support and help them grow business. It's the right way companies can synergy with open, independent developers. I see many companies successfully grow by help their user grow, extend and push the platform to the limited. If SketchUp will be a platform, this is one of that proved successful. SketchUp can't grow if they prohibited free plugin or those Artisan, 1001Bits, Smustard, Formfonts, Maxwell, V-Ray or etc. They are Apps, and Trimble's SketchUp is iOS/app store. And Trimble being in the same position of Apple, the owner.

And to me, the most expensive asset of this SketchUp acquisition is user base. Software easiness can be copied eventually, try Bonzai3d or FormZ 7. But No 3D software can do this, BIG user based which have somewhat related to 3D modeling and it's not Google core/competant business. If it is, they will know what to do with it, acquisition would never happened for sure. I believe trimble, at least know the way to engineers/AEC pros/students. But what about average people, how they can monetize it. We should help them figure out in some way, so things can go win-win situation.

I understand Trimble need profits to answers questions from shareholders, but if realized that's not just applied to itself. There're ways to make convincing answers and give new and promising perspective. Their user need to pay bills and making money too, keep those 30 millions (or more) free users and let them grow and built business on SketchUp too. SketchUp have the potential to be the biggest 3D software in term of user base. Can Trimble make 3D modeling grow to 100 millions ? It's up to their decisions. And even Dassault will be afraid of that.

I'll know the direction of Trimble by seeing what it would do with this forum:

• If they positive about it, they will find many ways to support and see this independent forum as an valuable assets (And sure to assign/paid someone to monitor it). This user forum already bias a lot to SketchUp . They'll love it if they don't planning to do something wrong.
• If they feel somewhat unsure, fear or don't understand the value of this forum, they will leave it as is or with support that don't help raise the bar. Then it's mean they don't really understand SketchUp and don't have clear vision how to grow it. We know SketchUp Developments will be the sam as an Google age.
• If they feel negative with it forum, independent developers or even slow down Ruby API. That's also means they will leave free, things that don't generate income for them and frugal users behind. They are in for $$$ only. We all know the future won't be bright anymore.

There're a lot things Tekla or softwares in Trimble PortFolios can take benefit from SketchUp developments, both internally and independent developers. If they see the other way, I'm going somwhere else for sure. The world is moving on, I can't get stuck too long. If even Trimble failed to acknowledge from core devs meetings, so they'll also don't understand current users.

IMO This forum and core SketchUp developer reaction are the two best indicators of SketchUp health. We all know what they think, if they try to censor or not do good supports to any of them

@jason_maranto said:

Yeah, definitely -- I've been saying for a while that Google was not doing SketchUp any favors as a general 3D modeling tool... however I'm also not really into BIM either so it may not work out so good for users like me.

Just to be safe, I've begun researching alternatives much more seriously (I already own a few packages but nothing I would say is my main app like SketchUp has been) -- my needs are pretty simple: I want a competent and powerful surface modeler that allows for quick, precise(real world scale) work.

I don't care for BIM or animation tools, and I am apathetic to nurbs, solids, and Sub D (I can take or leave each approach with no issue). SketchUp has fit my needs very well to this point, with the exception of proper UV tools and better performance with high poly counts. I hope it still will in a few years, but if not I will be prepared. Layout is also a software that holds alot of promise for me, and I would be sad to see it not get further development.

As far as pay only versions goes I have no issues there, and I would be willing to pay more if the tools better fit my needs -- but I won't pay more for tools that don't (since I already routinely push SketchUps limits anyway).

Best,
Jason.

I agreed wholeheartedly.

Whatever technologies it is, I think they are too much hyped by marketing persons. Especially BIM it's just another term coined up by applied parametric and relation of 3D objects which use to solved engineerings problem for ages. They will always be new techs sooner or later.

We should focus on how effective of our problem solving, not illusions from marketing stand point. The problem is most people failed to address their real need, and lost in these marketing terms.

BTW, I want SketchUp have native options for bump map, reflections, displacement map, etc. even without native renderers or real-time presentation. I think it can be aligned with OpenGL and viewport real-time rendering update and improvements. And there're already so many matured tools these day. So I can switch to whatever rendering tools is needed without rework. Even one that need to export to get it done sophisticately later.

It would be drama for the whole industry if SketchUp under Trimble can become partners or licensed technology from Unreal or CryEngine LOL. The world will changed
http://youtu.be/EySdWbR4qcg

So, SketchUp will official become a tool for everyone who want realistic visualization too

There're only 2 development suggestions I have:

1.) This is the tech from 50 years ago, Which Alan Kay presenting, that SketchUp should realized it to the mass in some way:
http://youtu.be/mOZqRJzE8xg

2.) There're many time that I need to draw wall line, extrude it to wall and floor. Add gable/hip/typical form roofing and structures by it surfaces. I want to draw just a close loop line and have everything done instantly.

After that there will be a lot iteration/moving things as design progress. So I want things auto-update just by modified these simple exterior wall line/interior wall line. Wall-windows-Roof should have some way to know relationship. Just surface/components relation, not BIM, easier flexible and freedom like mechanical assembly. Simpler, fast, a lot smarter. Quite Spaceclaim smartness. There're so many cases BIM is not the smart way to do it becuase it slow down things.

Quite like this combine with dynamic components, but very straight-forward, automated, fast and robust:
http://youtu.be/1SqVGIwNpxY

I'm not so sure what Trimble would think about BuildEdge. So I think I should write it here