There’s a lot of software to install, so hopefully this won’t take too long. Sometimes there are a lot of options, so it’s best to double check with the book to make sure you don’t miss something.
If you haven’t already, download Unity 3D from https://store.unity.com/
This will present a menu of options. Pick the free version on the following page then select the Download button, Unity Hub, for your operating system.
Unity Hub is a helper app that lists the latest builds of Unity. The list includes beta releases as well as different versions of Unity. Depending on your download speed, this might take a while to finish downloading.
It is worth getting the latest version, as many features and options are always added with every new update.
Once the Unity Hub has finished installing, it’s time to install Unity from the Unity Hub. When the Hub opens it will ask if you would like to sign into an existing account or if you’d like to create a new Unity ID. A third option exists if you’re not connected to the internet. Follow any steps necessary to log into the Unity Hub. There’s no fee required to install Unity, just a valid email address.
The License management panel will ask what version of Unity you will be using; select Unity Personal unless you’ve purchased a license. You’ll be prompted with a dialog where you’ll need to promise you are not using Unity in a professional capacity. You’re allowed to download Unity once the personal license is activated. Under the Installs tab, you’ll see options for “On My Machine,” “Official Releases,” and “Beta Releases.”
Teams often settle on a specific version of Unity for compatibility. Some custom tools or plug-ins are targeted to a specific version of the Editor. So, upgrading the Editor may also mean upgrading plug-ins and fixing bugs between versions. To avoid forcing users to upgrade, Unity continues to support past versions of the Editor for developers who can’t upgrade easily.
As a newcomer, you’ll want all the latest features and that means picking the most recent version from the list of official releases. Aside from the Editor itself, you’ll want to install the Dev tools: Microsoft Visual Studio Community as well as the official documentation. Be patient, we’re just getting started.
If you’re on OSX you’ll see the following:
To continue, allow the various installation pop-ups and agree to additional license agreements. Eventually, you’ll see a progress bar replace the download button and the Unity Installation is officially underway. After the installation of the Unity Editor, the Visual Studio Install will automatically launch.
2.2.1 Visual Studio Installation
Visual Studio Installer opens on its own. When it’s complete, the Unity 3D installer pops back to the front. With Visual Studio Community you’ll also be able to write and build applications outside of Unity 3D! Visual Studio is not just an editor for Unity 3D alone. You’ll be able to create practically any app from scratch for Windows, Android, and much more!
If your machine has problems with the installation, you’ll be able to select one of the installations from the Hub and try again. There’s also an “Add Component” option to try re-installing Visual Studio from the Hub as well.
Once the installation is complete, start Unity 3D. If your splash screen looks different from the one below it’s only because a newer version has been released and they updated the splash screen image. Don’t worry, it’s just cosmetic.
2.2.2 Unity Version Numbering
You might be wondering why there are so many different versions of Unity to download. The company keeps past versions around for various reasons. The latest version of Unity in the Official Releases list is going to be the recommended version. Older versions don’t all support the same version of C# and the .NET framework, so some example code shown in this book might not work in older versions of Unity.
The Unity versions are numbered by year followed by a major and minor update version. You’ll also see either a letter “a,” “b,” or “f” in the last part of the minor version number. This represents either an alpha, beta, or final release. Some versions are suffixed as LTS for Long Term Support; these are versions that are known to be the most stable.
Major updates often include engine changes that could interfere with custom plugins or may require some C# code changes between major versions. Minor updates usually don’t include engine changes, but fix behaviors that might not have been working as expected by some users.
Alpha releases mean that the version is a work in progress or feature incomplete. Not all Alpha releases are available through the Hub. Unity often releases previews in their forums. Beta releases mean that the features require more testing before final release. Unity relies testing by their users to fully vet the functionality of their Editor before final release.
Final release updates mean bug fixes have been integrated, but no new features have been added. A new LTS version is released when most of the known bugs have been fixed. Of course, nothing is perfect, so as new bugs are found and fixed a new LTS version will be updated and released.
For the best experience it’s a good idea to use the latest LTS version from the Official Releases list. Though for the most current features the newest final release in the Official Releases list is also safe. For all the coolest bleeding-edge tech, go for the Beta Releases. Upgrade notes and release notes accompany each release. In some cases, old features are removed as new ones take their place. In 2018, the MonoDevelop tool that used to be included is no longer supported as well as old programming features like Javascript and Boo support.
