software development using Unit 3D

Hello friends,
I have some questions about what can we do using Unity 3D (not the best praticles, just want to know if it is possible).
I am C#.NET developer and I really want to do a lot of things using Unity 3D (including cooperative 2D/3D games).

1. Can I use Unity 3D to develop softwares with database integration like I do in Windows Forms or ASP.NET ?
2. Can I use Unity 3D to develop CAD software? I want to have a screen where users can create forms using basic shapes like squares, circles, arcs, but the user must have access to select vertices, deform vertices, and a lot of things that CAD do. After this, user will see the creation in a 3D screen. I want to add some metrics quotes to see the size of each side and such stuff

Best Regards,
†GnR† Slash
=]

 

1. You can integrate with databases on a basic level, over a connection. I haven't done this much myself outside of connecting to a remote database setup by our server team. There should be some resources on using different db libraries with Unity, and the constraints on their usage.

For multiplayer games, there's also the new Unet networking framework that is being updated and improved, the company I work for is creating a muliplayer title with it, along with a bevy of client software (games and apps) made in unity.

2. You can, depending on how far you want to go with it. It's possible to dynamically create meshes via the Mesh class. If you need to develop something like a full AutoCAD-like suite, you may be better off writing your own codebase. For simpler stuff, I know people who've used Unity for basic CAD display/editing, and biomedical imaging applications, so it's not constrained to games.

 

Does it need a 60 FPS gameloop and does it need an extensive 3D render pipeline? If not, then stay the hell away from it.

CAD software (and 3D modeling in general) is an interesting case. I'm of the mind that the scene view looks better than Blender's renders (never mind the speed difference). There already are ProCore's tools on the asset store to dip your toes into modeling in Unity, and there was some mention at Unite of using/having the option of lumin outputs and light readings for archviz stuff. At the very least, it should be easier to script up new functionality in Unity than most CAD programs.

 

You need to try blender's cycles render engine. It allows semi-realtime preview of rendering results in viewport (for render preview, press Shift-Z). Results are better than unity's scene view.