Coexistence?\Merge?\Bridge?\ to Open Brush.
The main inquires are:
Merging the functionality of Open Blocks and Open Brush into a single unified app/project. llm rewritten or Enabling a seamless switch or transition between the two different 3D modeling workflows - the one in Open Blocks and the one in Open Brush. As noted by an original dev in the chat, Originally, the decision was made to have Open Blocks as seperate Tilt Brush, as the 3D modeling processes are quite different between the two. However, having the ability to easily move between the two workflows, such as by importing/exporting models between the apps, would be a desirable feature. Fully merging the two apps/projects into a single unified experience was discussed as a possibility, but it seems the core logic was built quite differently, making a full merger non-trivial. so merge would likely be out. So in summary, the key features being asked about are the ability to seamlessly transition between the Open Blocks and Open Brush workflows, and potentially merging the two apps/projects into a single unified experience, if feasible. llm rewritten
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At some point I'm going to try sticking them both into the same Unity project as separate scenes to see if I can make it possible to treat them as separate modes of a single app. It will not be much of an improvement from quitting and relaunching but if it works that eases the path to gradually making things more seamless.
Would it bog down performance?
You all are packing the apps with lots of goodies.
To offer my more general thoughts, while we can certainly do as Andy suggested, i personally feel it's very specific to our situation and a bit of a hack. You end up with a gargantuan app that just has random bits of functionality stuck on to it that don't really mesh well with each other, and if you want to use any other external tool (like gravity sketch, polysketch) you're just back in the same position. I'd really like to use this opportunity to do a real study on the interop between immersive apps, as i feel it's a big unknown for productivity in XR and isn't receiving much attention from platform developers like Meta. I begrudgingly think Apple are the furthest in this area with their "Volumes" metaphor that allows multiple tools in the same space
It's the same reason why I hate everyone sticking Vulpex browser in their apps. every immersive app is a browser 🙄
I agree. I am proposing a gigantic hack but it might be a good plan B. And even if it ends up being useful I would regard the combined app as an option - not as the default.
The correct solution is for the system browser on the Quest to properly integrate and not block immersive apps.
but we need Meta to do that
Yep. to be honest, most of this relies on platform holders
the groundwork just isn't there at the moment
the best we can do ourselves is put together a demo that shows why it would be useful
I'm sure Kronos have a spec for fixing this that will be ready in a couple of decades
but file management isn't flashy or shareable so it will likely go nowhere 😦
the attention span is far too short for thing that will actually make a difference
Talking of Apple - I literally have no idea how you share files between apps on an iPad properly - so they aren't that far ahead
oh no, i'm turning into an old man aren't I
I've got apps on the iPad that lock their files away and make export a "premium" feature. The OS shouldn't make that even possible.
Easiest way seems to be plugging into their Files app and API, that's how we surface Open Brush files on our zapbox build
yeah but then you get massive inconsistencies between what apps decide to reveal and what they don't. it's a hellscape for users
oh i totally agree, it's on developers to realise/implement. but at least it's there
there seems to be at least 3 common patterns but i'm not even sure of that because my mental model of how files work on iOS is non-existent.
it's just confusing - and now android is moving in the same direction. ffs
just gimme files and folders goddamit