by PinkPolygon
Thinking about diving into the exciting world of social VR with Hubs? First off, great choice! If you love creating unique 3D spaces, collaborating in virtual reality, and bringing people together in immersive environments, Hubs is a versatile tool for all of the above. And the Beginner’s Guide to Hubs Community Edition is a great way to start setting up your very own Hubs server.
What is Hubs and what can I do with it?
Hubs is an open-source web-based virtual world platform that allows creators of all kinds to build rich and engaging social VR experiences. With Hubs, you can publish virtual spaces where users across the globe can chat, explore, and collaborate in real time… and the creative possibilities are endless!
In my case, I enjoy building virtual worlds that are inspired by my favorite TV shows and movies. Through Hubs, I’ve been able to share and explore those worlds with other fans, creating one-of-a-kind immersive fandom experiences. This has given me a whole new way to interact with other fans while expressing my creativity and getting to work with webXR technologies I love.
Whether you’re a programmer developing social VR games, a 3D artist crafting immersive art galleries, an educator building interactive classrooms, or a community coordinator hosting virtual events, so much is possible using Hubs. And perhaps the most appealing part for developers is that it’s open-source. That means it’s free to use, community-driven, and fully customizable.
WebXR: VR for Everyone
Hubs uses WebXR technology, meaning you can join Hubs spaces from any device with a modern web browser. No app downloads, software installs, logins, expensive consoles or headsets are required (though if you have a VR headset, you can use it). All you need is a Hubs room link and voilà — you’re instantly exploring the immersive 3D web.
Why does open source matter?
Hubs gives 3D creators, educators, and developers full control over their virtual worlds, enabling them to customize and expand the platform to suit their needs. Under the hood, Hubs uses A-Frame, Three.js, and other open-source libraries with similarly robust contributor communities. And the open-source 3D creation suite, Blender, is also fully supported as one of Hubs’ primary creation tools. This ecosystem of open-source love fosters a community of innovation by encouraging creators to collaborate, share platform and tooling improvements, and build on each other’s work.
It also allows some truly unique immersive experiences to emerge, unbounded by proprietary system constraints or licenses. For example, if you’re looking for custom functionality, you don’t have to wait for a busy software development team to build it. If you’re handy with code, you can implement new features on your own or ask a friendly developer from the Hubs community for help.
Most importantly, Hubs’ open-source model empowers all of us to shape the future of the platform – and by extension, the future of the immersive 3D web. How cool is that?
That sounds great, but how do I get started building with Hubs?
While accessing Hubs worlds is as easy as clicking a link, setting up a custom Hubs instance is a bit more technical. This is where the Beginner’s Guide to Hubs Community Edition comes in. It walks you through everything you need to set up your very own Hubs Community Edition (CE) instance. This includes spinning up a server, pointing a web domain at the server, setting up email service for user logins, and uploading the Hubs client code.
Setting up your own server might seem intimidating at first. But don’t worry – it’s fairly straightforward these days, even if you’re not a tech wizard. The guide is for beginners (real beginners) and is super approachable. For instance, if you’ve ever used a recipe or followed IKEA instructions and survived, you’ve got this. And in no time, you’ll have a fully functioning Hubs CE instance to call your own.
How much time does it take to set up?
I recently completed setting up my own Hubs CE instance using the Beginner’s Guide and found it incredibly easy to follow along. From start to finish, I had my Hubs instance up and running within a few hours (including some breaks for tea). Also, I was able to configure my Hubs instance against an existing domain that I own and point a subdomain at it without too much difficulty. When I had questions, the Troubleshooting & FAQ doc came in handy, as did the helpful crew in the Hubs Community Discord.
Once you’ve finished your initial setup, there’s even a What’s Next guide with useful tips and next steps. It covers accessing your Hubs admin panel, customizing room settings, using the Spoke scene editor, uploading 3D assets, and more. The Hubs community has put so much thought and detail into the Beginner’s Guide to give everyone the power and tools to begin building and creating with Hubs.
Does it cost anything to get up and running?
Running your own Hubs CE instance does involve some small setup and maintenance costs. However, the Hubs community has thoughtfully calculated the typical costs and included that information in the Beginner’s Guide. That way, you can make informed decisions and configure your server based on your budget and usage needs. But, if you’d prefer not to shoulder those costs alone, I recommend checking the Hubs Community for potential partnership opportunities. You may be able to find a co-op instance to join or find others who may be interested in starting a new co-op instance with you.
Time to Explore!
In short, if you’re looking for an open-source platform to build and share virtual worlds, it’s time to check out Hubs and its capabilities. Hubs’ open-source flexibility, WebXR accessibility, and vibrant contributor community could make it a great option for your next social VR project.
When you’re ready to spin up your own Hubs instance, head to https://hubsfoundation.org/getting-started for the full step-by-step guide. And if you need more in-depth support, don’t forget to check out the Hubs Community Discord. It’s an incredible resource full of Hubs experts and enthusiasts who can help you bring your Hubs projects to life!
Happy Hubs-ing and I’ll see you in the metaverse! 🦆
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To learn more about Hubs, and to join the Hubs community, visit hubsfoundation.org.