Announcing Our Next-Generation Connectors (Beta Release)
As previously shared in our Community Forum, we’ve been working on revamping some of our connectors…
Everybody in the AEC industry needs to share models with others, coordinate their data, and review that data outside of clunky host applications - and this doesn’t need to be slow, complicated, or land you in a walled garden.
Today, we are unveiling five next-generation connectors that enable clearly articulated workflows - from multiplayer modeling jams to data visualisation - with better performance that makes sharing models delightfully fast.
Staying true to our mission to make AEC better, we have focused on making the next-generation connectors accessible to everyone by increasing speed with a more intuitive user experience.
These beta connectors are highly modular, paving the way for us to iterate on new features and settings to support advanced workflows.
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We know this beta release is missing many key features and connectors. We’re starting from a clean slate so we can build a better and more stable product. We’ll roll out additional connectors and missing workflows over the next few months! Join us at SpeckleCon to see it all in action.
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Publish and update models in seconds rather than hours
As Speckle matures into an industry-wide platform, we’re handling larger models than ever before. Our new connectors are clocking much faster and snappier send times.
With some clever object tracking under the hood, small changes in your model are captured almost instantaneously when you publish them again. This means a sleek modelling session for you so that you can keep your Speckle models up to date for your collaborators.
Stay in the loop, in your browser and your authoring tool
We’re building tighter integrations between the Speckle web app and your connector. Now, you’ll get live updates when people are viewing your model in their browser and when they drop comments.
If you’ve loaded a Speckle model in your connector, you’ll also receive instant reminders when a collaborator pushes changes to that model!
From Multiplayer Jams to Coordination Views and Data Viz
It’s not about interoperability, it’s about communication: this is why we’re focusing on creating the lowest friction experience for you to coordinate with your peers.
We’re starting off by supporting three major workflows with the beta connectors:
- The Multiplayer Model Jam. We’re giving you as close to a file-quality send and receive workflow with your project teammates as we can - without the files, of course. Test this out in Rhino, AutoCAD, and Sketchup.
- The Reference Modelling workflow. Receive collaborator models from different connectors as lightweight reference geometry to stay up to date with project changes and to use for coordination. This is available in all beta connectors except Revit - don’t worry, we’re adding receive functionality in Revit next!
- The Data Extractor. Get additional parameters and quantities on your model objects for cool visualisations in the viewer. Revit gurus, this one’s for you.
Getting Started with Next-Gen Connectors
Are you excited to try out our Next-Gen connectors? You're just a few clicks away:
- Download the installer for your preferred connector from releases.speckle.systems/v3.
- Run the installer by double-clicking it.
- Ignore the security warning and hit "Run." Don't worry—this is normal during our Beta phase.
- Install, and you're good to go!
Note: The Next-Gen connectors are only available for Windows.
We Need Your Feedback!
We'd love to hear your thoughts as you explore the new connectors. If you encounter any bugs or have ideas to improve it, please share your feedback on our Forum. Your input will help shape the future of Speckle!
FAQ
Q: Why only five connectors?
A: Well, you have to start somewhere. These five connectors cover the tech stack used across different connectors, and they also encompass a wide range of use cases from BIM/CAD to GIS.
Q: Can I work with my current speckle data in Next-Gen connectors?
A: This is currently undefined behaviour territory: we don’t expect this to work well, meaning if you want to use the beta connectors with your existing Speckle models, you should re-publish your models with the beta versions first.
Q: Can I run current connectors side by side with Next-Gen Connectors?
A: Yes, you can run Next-Gen connectors alongside the current connectors. Just don’t expect to be able to receive current connector models in the new connectors.
Q: What if I want to develop a connector myself?
A: We’re super excited about our new connector architecture! Keep your eyes peeled for a bootstrapping guide on how to build one yourself - it should be easier than ever.
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