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Unity Launcher - launch correct Unity versions for each project automatically *Unity Hub Alternative

Discussion in 'Unity Hub' started by mgear, Aug 18, 2017.

  1. mgear

    mgear

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    Check out Unity Launcher Pro, lite weight & fast tool handle projects!
    ** scroll down the thread for more recent info, like handling over 40 recent projects! **

    Features
    - Launch correct Unity version for your recent projects
    - Option to download missing unity version installation or open webpage
    - Display Recent projects list with project version, last modified date
    - Highlight project version with green if correct unity is installed
    - Easily open project folder in explorer
    - List of installed Unity versions, can easily run, explore, view release notes
    - Can be used in commandline `UnityLauncher.exe -projectPath "c:/project/path/"`
    - Can add custom Explorer context menu item to launch folder as a project

    Download & Source
    https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro

    Images
    upload_2023-10-6_12-37-46.png
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2023
    dyupa, EmilCoehl, Novack and 11 others like this.
  2. mgear

    mgear

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    Last edited: Mar 15, 2021
    zyzyx likes this.
  3. Metron

    Metron

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    Thank you for this great tool!
     
  4. mgear

    mgear

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    with the explorer menu extension its easy to open any project from their folder with right click
    (picks the correct version automatically by reading project settings)

    unity-launcher-explorer-menu.gif
     
  5. TonyLi

    TonyLi

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    Thank you for this great tool!

    It makes it so much easier to open the 30+ integration packages that I manage across various Unity versions for the Dialogue System and Love/Hate, plus a dozen or more other projects.
     
  6. Metron

    Metron

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    Got it working today :)
     
  7. Voxel-Busters

    Voxel-Busters

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    Nice mgear!

    Great tool!
     
  8. frankadimcosta

    frankadimcosta

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    WOW !! Thanks a lot !!!
     
  9. daoth90

    daoth90

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    thats great idea, thank you
     
  10. mgear

    mgear

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    lots of new stuff since the first version, like
    - project upgrader (select project, click upgrade, unity version selecter opens)
    - context menu install/uninstall
    - quick shortcut to editor log folder
    - my packages list, meant to be used as a library (so can quickly browse to your folders where unitypackages or resources are, including asset store download folder)

    also in the current version, can also create new project to any folder from explorer,
    unity version selector opens up:
    create-new-project-on-empty-folder.gif
     
  11. Egil-Sandfeld

    Egil-Sandfeld

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    Great little tool!

    Hoping for better and more clean layout :)
     
  12. mgear

    mgear

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    current version works well enough for my use, but feel free to draw some sketch here what you have in mind, always looking for ideas.
     
  13. mgear

    mgear

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    Lots of small updates in the latest builds
    https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncher/releases

    - Resizable window
    - Recent Projects Search Filter
    - Support for 4.x projects
    - Resizable column headers in project list
    - Show list of available Unity updates
    - Project search field: Esc to clear filter
    - Tab orders fixed (to switch between components using keyboard)
    - Dialog to restore crashed backup scene into project when opening next time (info)



    List of available Unity updates, with link to download page
    upload_2018-2-6_20-45-50.png
     
    WillNode and TonyLi like this.
  14. mgear

    mgear

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    Latest Build is now available

    https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncher/releases

    - Now all arguments are passed to launcher when running from commandline (so you can do: unitylauncher.exe -projectPath "c:\my\proj\best" -force-opengl ... ...)
    - You can assign unity startup commandline arguments to any project (see image below with -force-opengl set as an argument)
    - Project Git Branch is displayed (if available)
    - You can hide Arguments and GitBranch columns from settings tab
    - Update checker button in Settings Tab (displays msgbox if update is available)
    - Some other small fixes and updates..

    upload_2018-2-19_18-43-26.png
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 20, 2018
    starikcetin and TonyLi like this.
  15. mgear

    mgear

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  16. mgear

    mgear

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    now with Quick Project - button: 1 click to Create & Open new empty project with selected unity version (no hub is opened)

    Optionally can enable dialog to enter name (or use automatic naming)
    upload_2020-3-4_17-39-13.png
     
  17. mgear

    mgear

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    some recent updates:
    - added quick Unity editor process kill (alt+q or context menu), saves time from opening Task Explorer if unity hangs
    - optional project rename features(F2 to rename project folder)
    - quick button to browse crash logs folder
    - added support for old 32 bit unity versions

    https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/

    upload_2020-7-25_14-29-18.png
     
  18. mgear

    mgear

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    Recent Updates

    View latest build report in Tools-tab
    upload_2020-9-30_23-14-34.png

    StreamerMode option (in Settings tab), Hides project names and folders
    upload_2020-9-30_23-15-22.png
     
  19. mgear

    mgear

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    new time saving feature:
    - Starts web server for selected project, and opens browser automatically with the webgl build (launches unity's own SimpleWebServer.exe)
     
  20. mgear

    mgear

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    now comes with easy target platform selection (and current platform is clearly visible, unlike in Hub)
    unitylauncherpro_platform.gif
     
    zyzyx and BenniKo like this.
  21. mgear

    mgear

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  22. tng2903

    tng2903

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    Wow, just learn of this amazing tool today. Amazing work bro. Cleaner, faster and more feature than the official one. This project deserve more love
     
    mgear likes this.
  23. sebastienp_unity

    sebastienp_unity

    Unity Technologies

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    Good job McGear. I am a unity developer and I would like to use your tool to map my multiple builds of multiple versions of unity in the Launcher. I tried adding the folder where my builds are located but it cannot find those. I suppose you are checking for unity.exe under an Editor folder?

    When building unity from sources, the execs is put in a folder with the following pattern:
    <UnityRepo>\build\WindowsEditor\x64\Release\Unity.exe.

    Could you make your registration process for new paths containing unity.exe more flexible? or add a file picker so I could register my own unity.exe regardless of path?

    Keep up the good work!
     
  24. mgear

    mgear

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    Thanks!

    Yeah, that should be simple - currently scan happens over here,
    https://github.com/unitycoder/Unity...UnityLauncherPro/GetUnityInstallations.cs#L17

    so i guess could just add extra path check there for that build path, if regular editor/ is missing.

    * also note that there is limitation: cannot have 2 identical versions in the list, it will skip them.
    ** actually the editor/ path might be hardcoded in other parts too, but will see
     
  25. mgear

    mgear

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    Made a quick test, seems to work, just to confirm, if your folder going to look something like this:

    lets say you have added D:\program files\ as the installation parent folders list,
    then inside that, you have repo root, and under that is the build?
    upload_2021-10-10_14-19-54.png
     
  26. KSZLAGK

    KSZLAGK

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    Awh! Almost what i was looking for, if only this could have some download assist with it. But overall its great!
    Also how did you managed to make that exe file so small? >w>
     
  27. mgear

    mgear

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    Do you mean unity installer, without opening in browser?

    Its plain xaml+c# (wpf) so no extra libraries to add size.
     
  28. mgear

    mgear

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    new build is out https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/releases
    - upgrade window: selects preferred unity version, if no version info on the project (no projectsettings/ data)
    - support "c1" version code for chinese builds
    - editors tab: context menu, copy editor path (i use the path for installing new version on top of the old..)
    - last modified date is now taken from project folder (like unity hub does)
    - load/save rearranged recent projects header columns in preferences
    - show project count for each unity editor version (from those recent projects)
    - build report: file format column, double click opens Explorer to that file folder and search filter
    - add human friendly last modified project dates, and custom timestamp format option
    - autorun as minimized option
    - unity source folder support, scans for \build\WindowsEditor\x64\Release\
    - refresh recent project item, when unity is closed
    - add logcat custom arguments textbox
    - if you try to launch already running project again, then Unity windows is brought forward (instead letting unity display error that this project is already open)
    - fix download in browser links (unity removed direct download assistant links from archive)
    - add context menu for editors: download linux modules
    - other small fixes/adjustments

    upload_2022-1-2_19-51-30.png
    displays how many projects you have on specific unity version (only from the recent projects list)

    --

    upload_2022-1-2_19-54-1.png
    build report: file format column (to sort by format) and search filter

    --

    upload_2022-1-2_20-2-37.png
    for recent projects: added human friendly last modified date option (like unity hub) and custom date format option
     
    eses and firstuser like this.
  29. mgear

    mgear

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    New build is out: https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/releases
    - Added: Project title rename option (can set displayed project name to custom, instead of using project folder name)
    - Added: Option to take project title from player settings: ProductName field
    - Fixed null ref if had rename enabled, and pressed F2 when recent list was not focused



    To set custom project name override:
    - Enable Project title rename (F2) upload_2022-2-12_15-20-43.png
    - Then select project from recent list, press F2, enter new name
    - Custom name is saved into ProjectSettings/ProjectName.txt
    - When project list is loaded, If ProjectSettings/ProjectName.txt exists, project title is taken from that file

    ping @Jes28 if you are interested to test out this custom project name feature? (i saw you requested it from hub there)
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2022
    JesOb and eses like this.
  30. eses

    eses

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    I really like this.

    A question:

    I've setup Unity Launcher Pro to use "Allow single instance only".

    Is there some way to make it so, if I double click Unity Launcher Pro icon on Windows desktop, the instance that is already open (but buried in system tray) would pop on screen?

    Now it seems like (at least for me) nothing happens when icon is clicked. And then I go see tray and see than I have one instance already open.
     
  31. mgear

    mgear

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    eses likes this.
  32. mgear

    mgear

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    Update! * https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro

    Main new features:
    - Option to search from project path string also (idea taken from @Peter77 's Hub-thread)
    - Quick project dialog, shortcut keys for F2=Focus project name field, F3=Select next platform, F4=Select next template (to be able to create new project without mouse moves/clicks)
    - Quick new project dialog, added platform selection (keeps last selected as default)
    - Added simple color theme editor
    - Changed: Loads themes from application/Themes/ folder now (instead of root)
    - Added: Editor's tab, context menu to download modules for selected unity version (webgl, ios, android)

    Images:
    New in the settings tab: (moved adb args here also)
    upload_2022-3-22_21-37-4.png

    Theme Editor in settings tab (press pencil to edit)
    upload_2022-3-22_21-41-30.png
    Simple color editor for all template colors (real-time preview in main window)
    upload_2022-3-22_21-42-0.png

    Easy to create your favorite themes
    upload_2022-3-22_21-43-11.png

    upload_2022-3-22_21-44-14.png
     
    Peter77 and eses like this.
  33. eses

    eses

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    Thanks for the update!

    I know it is free, and this is a minor issue - but could it be possible to make those theme editor fields to be input fields? Now it seems that only option to edit color is to use sliders (or edit text file). It would be nice if one could paste values into RGB/hex fields :)

    BTW - I really like that inverted color gray/bright custom theme, main reason I use LauncherPro instead of Hub!
     
  34. mgear

    mgear

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    yes certainly, and will keep improving theme editor bit by bit (color picker could be really useful to take colors from images, or direct paste html colors from clipboard/photoshop/unity etc)

    also forgot to add browse dialog to pick themes, now need to type that filename.
     
    eses likes this.
  35. KarlKarl2000

    KarlKarl2000

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    wow stumbled across this app after getting fed up with Unity Hub 3 auto updating in the background and nagging me to install it.

    This is a breath of fresh air.. Thank you so much for this :eek::oops:
     
  36. mgear

    mgear

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    Next version is coming soon, few new big features:
    - Keep history of more than 40 recent projects! upload_2022-8-14_14-55-19.png
    - Custom project init script: (executes editor script on the new project, to do initial setup automatically, like generating common folders or anything that c# editor script can do..) https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/wiki/Initialize-Project-Script
    - Context menu: Create desktop shortcut for project (so can launch Unity editor into that project quickly)
    - Context menu: Batch build Android, iOS (also menu for: install & run latest APK in device)

    Currently available from dev branch, later will merge and add build:
    https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/tree/dev
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2022
    eses likes this.
  37. mgear

    mgear

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    Pre-release build is now available, with those features mentioned above!
    https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/releases

    Been testing the +40 recent projects, currently have 74 in the list and still works fine. *there is also remove item in context menu to remove random test projects.
     
  38. mgear

    mgear

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    screenshot of the older Rename - feature:
    - Sets custom project Title (F2 to rename), but doesn't rename actual folder
    - Custom name is saved into ProjectSettings/ProjectName.txt
    - If you set name as "", it resets back to default folder name
    - This is optional feature in the settings, upload_2022-9-29_18-41-54.png
    pro-rename.gif

    /ping @Sailendu if you are on windows, can try this one?
     
    Sailendu likes this.
  39. Sailendu

    Sailendu

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    Thanks for letting me know about this, but I am on Mac.
     
  40. Novack

    Novack

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    So far great experience. Thanks for sharing shuch a great work!

    Any hints on how to prevent Unity Editor to launch the Unity Hub along with it?
     
  41. mgear

    mgear

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    do mean when hub starts in the background and adds hub icon in system icon tray ?

    i remember reading this with native hub,
    https://twitter.com/lpfonseca/status/1573332619257090053
    haven't actually tested what would happen if uninstall hub on pc.. (where to handle login and license then?)
     
  42. Novack

    Novack

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    Yes, that. The Hub is launched along the Editor, and sitting on the traybar. Basically performance, memory and time consumed by something I dont use.

    I tried to bypass the Hub by manually launching Unity editor from the command line as indicated here, but that seems to work no more.

    I'd like to keep the hub installed as an option, just not to launch it when I dont want to. So frustrating they spoonfeed us like this.
     
  43. mgear

    mgear

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    snowmobeetle and Novack like this.
  44. Mythique

    Mythique

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    Highly recommend this tool. One person did more than the Unity Hub team.

    Better performance, and more functionalities.
     
    snowmobeetle likes this.
  45. snowmobeetle

    snowmobeetle

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    This is amazing - thank you! I have been PLAUGED by issues since I upgraded to the new style unity hub.

    I went scorched earth - removed everything unity from my system - and installed my 3 unity versions I need without hub at all.

    I did a manual command-line license activation with unity's instructions and web tool, and this launcher works great to manage it all!

    My main issue is not being able to download asset store assets in-editor - for now I'm using my second pc to download assets. Will experiment with a 2018 unity version that doesn't need hub for the purpose.

    It feels so f'n good to be free of unity hub on my dev system. So many problems are gone! <3




    ---My issues and rant unrelated to me freeing myself of hub----

    Recently I have had like half of my project load or creation attempts just lag out, and when they do work they're constantly hanging and slow without any reason. I'm going to be doing more programming now, and I can't afford to spend 10-30 minutes just trying to create a new project or - gasp - change windows from unity to chrome then back...

    I'm disappointed by the seemingly flippant responses from unity staff on threads complaining about Unity Hub. Many serious and valid issues are caused by it, with few solutions or workarounds for many situations. It's one thing for a game to release an alpha build of something and have users test it - it's a completely other thing for Unity to release something like the Unity Hub and make it a vital part of everyone's workflow without it being properly tested, performant, or configurable. At the very least they should separate the essential aspects (license management, user authentication) into a different tool and make the ghastly hub itself optional. Also, their argument for moving redundant code to hub from the versions is ridiculous. It can't be that much code to handle licensing and user authentication.
     
    Novack likes this.
  46. mgear

    mgear

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    adding some method to fetch your assets is certainly something i want to have also in this launcher (or as separate editor script if easier there). Just need to research how the login system works.

    and same here, still mainly using 2019.4 these days, it is so much faster to iterate - compared to any versions after that.
     
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  47. snowmobeetle

    snowmobeetle

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    Good to know - I wish the current XR framework worked on that version. I'll definitely try to use 2019 where I can!

    I installed a version Unity 2018 and I'm using it as my asset downloading tool - asset store website in the editor! lol. Working well.

    For ease of access, I created a symbolic link to the asset folder for when I want to import the downloaded asset packages to my other editors.

    mklink /J "c:\U3DAssets" "C:\Users\Randy\AppData\Roaming\Unity\Asset Store-5.x"

    upload_2022-10-27_13-35-49.png
    upload_2022-10-27_13-36-4.png
     
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  48. mgear

    mgear

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  49. snowmobeetle

    snowmobeetle

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    Good to know about steamVR as well! I do need to be working with the current XR stuff, but if I run into issues I'll keep that in mind for personal projects for sure.

    I poked around windows - I definitely couldn't find anywhere that the asset storage folder is located (registry, programdata, user profile, program files, etc.) - But here's a working solution for windows to change the default location for older versions (confirmed working in 2018 by me just now)

    (for mac the process will be very similar, but creating a symlink - you'll have to google it as macs make me want to become a carpenter instead of a programmer)
    https://www.nagarelab.com/en/3811#:~:text=If you have not closed,Unity” to the desired location.

    I've now moved the asset folder over to a secondary drive, which is really nice. I'm planning on dedicating a sata ssd to just assets - I'll bet that will be a good compromise of import speed and getting it off my primary nice ssd.

    My steps were to move the contents of the Asset Store-5.x folder to my desired location folder I created (H:\AssetStoreDownloadsUnity in my case), delete the original Asset Store-5.x folder, then run this command in an admin command prompt: mklink /j "C:\Users\Randy\AppData\Roaming\Unity\Asset Store-5.x" "H:\_AssetStoreDownloadsUnity"
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2022
  50. mgear

    mgear

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    one more pre-release : https://github.com/unitycoder/UnityLauncherPro/releases/tag/1.0.39

    Main new things (since last pre-release)
    - Fix: If had different Monitor DPI on 2nd screen, window size was wrong
    - Unity updates: quick filters for LTS/Alpha/Beta
    upload_2022-11-8_18-32-37.png
    - New Project dialog also displays LTS/Alpha/Beta info now
    upload_2022-11-8_18-33-46.png
    - Initial Build indicator (red if commandline build is running, green when finished) also commandline build log is now saved to build parent folder (previously no log output)
    upload_2022-11-8_18-35-17.png
     
    Novack likes this.