Hew v0.7.0

Hew v0.7.0 - Shared Library and Nested Components

This release adds a personal shared library, finally lets component definitions nest, and fixes how SketchUp groups import.

Shared Library for Reusable Parts

Some parts - components, materials/textures, and even models - are so useful that you want to use them in multiple models. The Hew Library now gives you a way to save off those parts for later reuse.

These parts live as ordinary .hew files in a regular folder (Settings ▸ Folders or Home/Hew Library) that makes backing up and syncing easy. Once added, you can choose to Insert the part into your current model or you can open up the part on its own for editing. The Hew desktop apps see the Library as a native window while the web build gets an in-app browser.

Nested Component Definitions

This was a big missing feature that is now there. Nearly every complex component will be made up of several parts - often/frequently other components or groups or groups of components. Prior versions of Hew treated those as just groups and good luck editing them. This release now unlocks component's full power and now you can nest to your heart's content and even edit them in-place. And when you're done, remember to add it to the Library since such a masterpiece must be shared with other models!

SketchUp Imports Recognize Groups/Components

The base openskp library already recognized the difference between "groups" and "components" but Hew didn't honor that and, as a result, SketchUp groups (even nested groups) showed up as plain objects and components were essentially componentized plain objects. No more! Now on a SketchUp 2017 import, a simple non-nested group will become a Hew Object, but a nested group will be a Hew Group, and any kind of component will be a Hew Component.

Toolchain Updates

This release also tightens up the toolchain a bit. Every important dep in the project build is now pinned to an exact version and Renovate performs daily audits to ensure that everything stays up to date and on top of security fixes and bug fixes.

Downloads

The download page picks the right build
for your system, or grab a file directly:

Platform	x64 / Intel	ARM64 / Apple Silicon
macOS — disk image	universal .dmg	universal .dmg
Windows — installer	.exe	.exe
Linux — AppImage	.AppImage	.AppImage
Linux — Debian/Ubuntu	.deb	.deb
Linux — Fedora/openSUSE	.rpm	.rpm
Web — self-hosting tarball	.tar.gz	.tar.gz

• The macOS disk image is signed and notarized; one universal app
  covers Apple Silicon and Intel.
• Windows installers are not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may
  warn on first run — choose More info, then Run anyway.
• On Linux, mark the AppImage executable (chmod +x) before
  first run, or install the .deb/.rpm.
• Desktop builds update themselves; latest.json and the
  .sig assets serve that built-in updater and are not meant
  for manual download.
• Or skip installing entirely: Hew runs in the browser at
  app.hew3d.com.