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Crafter News

360Crafter meetup #1

Thanks to Lucho for the summary.

Overview

This session focused on Ronald’s journey developing an open-source virtual tour platform called 360 Crafter. He shared his background in 360 video, AR/VR, and open-source tools, and discussed the motivations behind creating a platform that addresses limitations in existing commercial solutions. Key themes included user experience design, open-source licensing considerations, branding, and feedback on the roadmap and beta testing strategy.

Key Points

  • He transitioned into 360 video production in 2015 and gradually evolved into creating interactive tours, eventually exploring open-source tools due to frustrations with closed-source platforms and their restrictive policies.
  • The idea for 360 Crafter emerged from a need for an open-source alternative to platforms like 3DVista and Matterport, allowing creators to maintain control over their data and avoid vendor lock-in.
  • Using AI tools, Ronald was able to develop a functional prototype of 360 Crafter within two months, including features like S3 storage integration, workspace and project management, and basic skin customization.
  • He emphasized the importance of intuitive navigation and smooth transitions between panoramas, inspired by Google Street View’s 3D hotspot behavior and smart entry views.
  • User feedback suggested that Ronald should prioritize releasing a simple, stable beta version to allow early adopters to test and break the software before adding more complex features.
  • Ronald expressed concerns about open-source licensing models, particularly around commercial use and ensuring that large companies cannot exploit the software without contributing back.
  • He is exploring a custom license inspired by the Sustainable Use License used by platforms like n8n, which allows open-source use but restricts rebranding and resale without permission.
  • Branding and custom domain support were identified as key features for professional users who want to present tours under their own domain rather than a default subdomain.
  • The group encouraged Ronald to focus on execution and not get bogged down by licensing or legal complexities early on, suggesting he seek legal support later as the project matures.