Oh, this topic again...
And as surprising as it is to find out that this new addon, or suite of addons, are being created by a former Graphisoft developer from outside their ecosystem, it's equally as disturbing what it represents. I'll circle back to that in a moment...
I don't know how many on here are old enough to remember another third party addon that was produced quite a while ago (must have been over 15 to almost 20 years ago in the ArchiCAD 10-12 era or period.) called the Ceiling Editor. I believe it's still availble as a library object in the Bimcomponents warehouse repository, but it as an amazing tool that allowed you to create, model and document ceilings as separate objects from the floor slab above and which allowed you to customize how it was represented in RCP's and to host ceiling objects like lamps and vents (and to schedule them). Anyway, the point is that it was a great tool plugging a hole that Graphisoft had long ignored (.....and continue to ignore....TO THIS DAY), with a very parametric, intuitive and customizable tool and toolset.
Unfortunately they never kept updating it, and it only exists as that initial version that was released, but even as dated and rudimentary as it is, it's still miles ahead of anything Graphisoft ever did or has done since then in the area of ceiling design.
And here's the key point:-
It too was created by a former GS developer who left the firm and was creating those kinds of addons and gsm objects independently.
It's the idea that there were (and I believe, ....currently ARE) developers at Graphisoft capable of developing these kinds of tools that EXACTLY address the things we need and precisely how we need them, and yet we never see these improvements in the program. At least not until (like in the case of these two examples) they leave the firm and get to work on their own cognizance and independence.
What is it about the Graphisoft ecosystem or current (corporate and technical) structure that prevents the developers who work there from actually addressing the issues we need addressed, how we need them addressed, or which makes them feel incapable of doing so until they're out of the firm?
What, ...for example, prevented some of the ideas in this BIMdots addon from being intergrated into the Attribute Manager revamp when that was being done two to three versions ago (I'm not sure when this particular developer left GS, and whether it was before or after that)? Or preventing us from getting layer management improvements like they have, or the enhanced custom Levels integration, etc etc....
I could go on and on.
Also just as perplexing, if these are the kind of developers who are leaving the firm and taking these kinds of good ideas (and development skills) and initiative with them, then what the hell is going on with what's left over at GS?
How are future subscribers supposed to have any confidence in the wise or responsible investment of their money into the development of the program, when this is the kind of talent that's either being stifled or is walking out the door?
I don't like any of this (the circumstances, I mean).
I applaud the skill and effort it took to create this along with the initiative, but I've always had mixed feelings about third party addons in that while it's nice to have them as an option to plug in holes that the core program doesn't, on the flip side, are they really a benefit when their presence seems to actively encourage laziness and reticence on the part of Graphisoft to do any of the meaningful improvements the program clearly lacks and needs?
And how much worse is the situation made when these addons are made by people who either could/should be working at Graphisoft, or worse still, .....did,.....and yet now aren't because you can't do this kind of stuff while working within Graphisoft?
We do know one thing now though.
Graphisoft is not likely to invest in (the improvement of) any of the areas addressed by these addons simply on the basis of their mere existence as a solution (...but one or ones that exist at YOUR cost since you have pay extra to get them above what you're paying for your ArchiCAD license).
This to me, is more disturbing.
Still looking?
