Let’s get Started with Unity…

Well let me tell you this won’t be the end all be all… This is just the beginning of a series of Journal log styled entries about basics of unity… It’s meant for people just beginning their journey, though the uncharted avenues of unity in search of a way to vent feelings through code and creations… To let your imagination run wild… And marvel at what you discover along the way…

Let’s get rid of the boring bits, shall we…

1. Setting up unity

• Download Unity Hub, if you want a more specific version try the Archives.

• The Hub provides access and management for different unity projects, versions and licenses. Once downloaded let’s install an unity version… Go to Installs and hit ADD

• Up next is selecting Versions a Modules… Select the version and modules you would like and put it on download. Modules are the deployment platforms you might need. So Unity releases versions every quarter yearly which corresponds to the year and the quarter, so for “Unity 2019.2.11f1”, 2019.2 is the major version. Every 4th quarter they release an LTS version i.e. a Long Term Support version which is maintained and updated by Unity… the 11f1, is the minor version (11) and patch number (f1). Remember the LTS versions are most stable. If you are working on a live project it’s advisable to fix a LTS version and work on the specific version across the team.

• Let’s Add a new Project… The dropdown by the New button lets you select the version of unity you wanna use for the project if you have multiple versions.

• Let’s create a new Project… But what’s all these templates you might ask… Well if you must know…

• 3D template configures the basic Project settings for 3D apps that use Unity’s built-in Rendering Pipeline (RP)…
• 2D templates just configures Project settings for 2D apps, including Texture (Image) Import, SpritePacker, Scene View, Lighting, and Orthographic camera.
• 3D with Extras configures Project settings for 3D apps that use Unity’s built-in renderer and post-processing features. This Project type includes the new post-processing stack, several Presets to jump-start development, and example content.
• High-Definition RP (HDRP) Configures Project settings for Projects that use high-end platforms that support Shader Model 5.0 (DX11 and above). This template is built using the Scriptable Render Pipeline (SRP), a modern rendering pipeline that includes advanced material types and a configurable hybrid tile/cluster deferred/forward lighting architecture. This Template also includes the new post-processing stack, several Presets to jump start development, and example content.
• Light-Weight RP (LWRP) configures Project settings for Projects where performance is a primary consideration and projects that use a primarily baked lighting solution. This template is built using the Scriptable Render Pipeline (SRP). This Template also includes the new post-processing stack, several Presets to jump start development, and example content. Using the Lightweight pipeline decreases the draw call count on your project, providing a solution for lower-end hardware.
• VR Light-Weight RP Configures Project settings for Projects where performance is a primary consideration for Virtual Reality Projects that use a primarily baked lighting solution. This template is built using the Scriptable Render Pipeline (SRP) as well. To use this Project, you need a device. Ensure that you have the correct SDKs for the device for which you are developing before you use this Template.

Quite a lot of exposition for day one I guess… Trust me… we will shift gears pretty soon… ;)

On to the next >