It seems more and more first time Unity users install alpha and beta builds recently and then running in problems with broken functionality.
Is Unity Technologies promoting these alpha builds over the LTS versions? Is Unity HUB perhaps the cause why new users accidentally download alpha builds? Isn’t there a warning if you download beta/alpha versions via the HUB, that these versions are expected to contain bugs?
Here are a few of these “new user downloaded alpha build and wonders why it doesn’t work”:
They are on the top of the installs list in the Hub and the latest alpha is selected by default. Noobs do not wonder if they should investigate what they are installing.
I’m one of those noobs that downloaded the alpha version only to have version errors show up when I try to run it. As a matter of fact, I haven’t even been able to run Unity yet because of this and it’s been hours…I’m getting pretty discouraged, even after that kick-ass tear-jerking motivational video about being diligent.
So what version should I download? I’m guessing 2019.1.9f1 since it doesn’t have an “a” or “b” in it…
This reminds me of college. The hardest part about it was registering for classes.
Using the LTS releases allows you to concentrate on learning Unity, because you don’t have to deal with so many problems. There are also more Unity tutorials out there for “older” Unity versions.
I am not impressed whats so ever.
Simple case, to change default to 2019 stable, or even 2018.
Just another brick, that Unity doesn’t care about UI. Sorry but worse UI trolls ever.
Where are you with that update? Can we hope we’ll get it before September? Things are becoming dramatic.
2019.1 doesn’t have long term support yet but it works very well and it’s the newest version; it contains features that 2018.4 doesn’t have and could be useful to new users.
Problem with 2019 for new users is, most tutorials are broken. So it is no good for new users. They can equally start from 2017 or earlier, to get basics principles of game making, before even considering using, what is new in 2019.
Maybe if visual scripting will be solid. But so far, I am not putting hope on it.
At least, the Roll a Ball tutorial cannot be broken since it doesn’t require assets; all you need to do it is follow the videos and use spheres and cubes.
I am not talking strictly Unity Learn tutorials, but any.
If that would be the case, we wouldn’t have so many issues with scripts, prefabs etc, from beginners.
That why is so important for them, to use same Unity version, as tutorial, or asset was made.
Beginners are bound to have issues. They will have the same issues if they use the version of Unity they were made with. Making a tutorial requires also some homework, personal research and learning. Add to this that most of the beginners do not pay enough attention to what they are told in the videos; how they write their scripts and so on, and you’ll have a clearer image of the situation.
Not to mention that they install the first version of Unity they see in the Hub, an alpha version…
You are correct. And perhaps even I would install “recommended” Unity version, if I was starting now. How I could know otherwise? Years ago I think that was much clearer. Alpha, nor beta wasn’t primary version to install. Not sure if even was accessible to general public?
But even taking current ridiculous situation with 2019 alpha cases, many tutorials won’t function as expected.
2019 stable is much better, but still. Particles changed and even physics behavior changed, since past few versions.
You getting my point …
I do. but beginners at using Unity can fix the things that do not work in some tutorials. Most of the time, you just need to know how to use the new features and adapt them to the tutorial; you’ll have to learn these new features anyway so why not now at the beginning?
@Charles_Beauchemin I believe it would be useful if the type of release is next to the version. For example “Unity 2018.4.3f1 (Long Term Support)” or “2019.1.9f1 (Tech release)”.
I agree with that, with a link on Long Term Support to a page where explanations are given about the differences between long term support and tech release.
