FAQDev Log – System Updates and Upcoming Micro Release Preparations
Readers can view our roadmap here: https://apexengine.com/roadmap and see more details on Phase 2 by clicking on the top header link or going directly to https://apexengine.com/roadmap/phase-2.
AMS Updates and Upgrades
In preparation for upcoming releases, TGS Tech has made significant upgrades to the AMS (Account Management System) to ensure improved performance, security, and content distribution. We want to extend our gratitude to the small community that has been working alongside us in Q1, providing valuable assistance and constructive feedback. Your support has been instrumental in shaping these improvements, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration in the year ahead.
As we step into Q2, we have a lot planned for this quarter. While we would love to accelerate the development of Apex Engine, we recognize that ensuring seamless functionality across all connected systems is just as critical. By prioritizing both development speed and integration quality, we are laying a strong foundation for the next stages of Apex Engine’s growth. Your support has been instrumental in shaping these improvements, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration in the year ahead.
Core Web and Server Ops Changes and Upgrades
In February and March, we continued our upgrades to be prepared ahead of time for continued development. We focused on the following:
- Server Software Upgrades: We have updated our server infrastructure to support better stability, security, and scalability. These upgrades will enhance processing speed and improve system reliability, ensuring that our services remain efficient even as user demand grows.
- CDN Preparations for Content Distribution: With the anticipated increase in content delivery requirements, we have implemented CDN (Content Delivery Network) preparations. This will enable significantly faster loading times for assets and downloads, ensuring a smoother workflow—especially for remote teams and distributed development environments. This will ensure faster access to distributed assets, reduce latency, and enhance the user experience by enabling quicker load times and smoother access to content.
- Security Enhancements: Given the changes in server software, we have also implemented security updates to protect user data and system integrity. These enhancements include updated encryption protocols and improved access management to align with best security practices.
Client-Driven Changes to Key Systems
Based on valuable feedback from client testing, we have introduced several improvements to core systems, ensuring a more seamless and user-friendly experience.
- User Management (Back-End): Enhancements to the back-end architecture of user management provide better performance, reducing latency in user authentication and session management.
- Profile Management (Front-End): We have improved the user interface for profile management, allowing for more intuitive navigation and better accessibility.
- Upgraded Privacy Options for Users: With user privacy being a primary focus, we have expanded privacy controls, allowing users to customize data visibility and security settings more effectively.
- Upgraded Subscription Options: We have restructured subscription management, offering more flexible options for users while streamlining billing and account status updates.
Community Feedback and System Adjustments
As part of our ongoing commitment to collaboration with our clients and community, we have reviewed and made adjustments to several customization and permissions-related systems.
- Custom and Customizing Profile Pages: We have expanded profile customization options, allowing users to personalize their experience with more dynamic layouts and content.
- Customizing Groups: Enhancements to group customization ensure that communities can tailor their spaces to suit their needs more effectively.
- Expanded Group Permissions & Custom Permission Groups: We have added more granular permission controls, enabling greater flexibility in group roles and access management.
- Upload and Download Options: Improvements in file management allow for more seamless uploading and downloading of assets, making collaboration and content sharing easier than before.
Apex Engine Development Progress
Over the past month, we have been focused on several key aspects of Apex Engine’s functionality and security, laying the groundwork for future updates.
- Server-Side Communications Between Security Groups: Enhancing server security by improving communication between security groups, ensuring efficient yet secure data exchange.
- Secure Access Implementation: Strengthening access control mechanisms to ensure only authorized users can interact with sensitive systems.
- CLI Commands: Developing command-line tools to provide developers with better control over system operations.
- New Design for the Animation Editor: A complete redesign of the animation editor is underway to improve workflow efficiency and usability.
- FBX Conversion to .AEO Design and File Size Optimization: Work continues on optimizing FBX to .AEO conversion, focusing on reducing file size without compromising quality.
- Optimization of .AEO for BIM Conversion: Improvements in .AEO format optimization will ensure better integration with Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems.
Apex Design and UI/UX Improvements
Community feedback has played a major role in shaping the design of Apex Engine’s UI, ensuring a seamless and visually cohesive user experience.
- Community Review and Summary of UI Layout & Overall Style: We have conducted reviews of the UI and received valuable feedback, which will be used to refine the user experience further.
- Base Color System for Consistency: Establishing a unified color scheme ensures consistency across all Apex Engine systems.
- Base Icon Styles for Clarity: Standardized iconography improves tool recognition and usability.
- Foundational Work for Multi-System Connectivity: Progress has begun on integrating Apex Engine with multiple connected systems, a key feature planned for Q2.
Planned Q2 and Q3 Developments
Looking ahead, we are preparing for several key initiatives that will further expand our platform and community engagement.
- Community Network (To be Announced in Q2): This initiative will encompass web and server operations, forming the foundation of our community, the AiO platform, and Apex Engine.
- Completing Milestone 5: Apex Dev Ops
- Team & group core functions
- Team group ownership, add/remove members
- Completing Milestone 6: Community Hub
- Profile Customization – User personalization and basic module creation
- User-Created Groups – Enable custom collaboration spaces
- Automated Groups – Based on Apex Cloud and Engine subscriptions
- Milestone 7: Apex Lite Core MVP
- Apex3D and Animation Editor
- Advanced Render engine and basic functionality
- Asset formats system for Lite version
- Advanced physics engine core libraries
- UI/UX Development and tool integration
These steps are necessary for us to reach our last step in Phase 2—Apex Engine Client and Team Access Testing. We hope to be able to get the MVP out within 12 months, if all goes well.
These foundational design and development steps help us build up for our Q2 announcement, setting the stage for planned features and benefits in Q3 and Q4. As we move forward, these improvements will ensure a more powerful, flexible, and user-friendly experience for our clients and community.