Models Library for Unity

Editor tools for browsing, versioning, submitting, and importing 3D models from a shared repository.

Package: com.models-library · Display name: Models Library · Version: 1.0.1

Features

• Browse models with search, tags, grid/list views, favorites, and recent
• Import into the project with GUID preservation and install-status badges
• Detect updates via SemVer and changelog entries
• Submit new models or new versions (name prefilling, drafts, preview images)
• Notes, bulk operations, batch upload, analytics, and 3D preview
• File-system repository (supported) and HTTP repository (experimental)
• Hidden install manifests (.modelLibrary.meta.json)

Requirements

• Unity 6000.2 or later (developed/tested on 6000.2.6f2)
• .NET Standard 2.1
• Unity Editor only (no runtime / player dependencies)
• Disk space for the local model cache
• Network access only if using the HTTP repository

Install

Package Manager (Git URL)

1. Window > Package Manager
2. + → Add package from git URL...
3. Enter:

https://github.com/PierreGac/Unity-ModelsLibrary.git?path=Assets/ModelLibrary

Pin a tag or branch with #v1.0.1 or #main if needed.

Package Manager (local)

1. Clone the repository
2. + → Add package from disk...
3. Select Assets/ModelLibrary/package.json

Manual copy

Copy Assets/ModelLibrary into your project's Assets folder.

After install

1. Open Tools > Model Library
2. Complete the first-run wizard (identity, repository type/root)
3. Browse or submit models

Settings live in the main window (not separate Unity menus). Secondary views (Help, shortcuts, analytics, batch upload, error log, profiler) are also opened from there.

Quick start

1. Open Tools > Model Library

2. Configure repository (File System path/UNC, or HTTP base URL) and your name/role

3. Browse / import — search or filter, open a model, use Import

4. Submit — select assets in the Project window, then:

   • Assets > Model Library > Submit Model, or
   • the Submit action inside the Model Library window

Default import destination is Assets/Models/<ModelName>/ (overridable per model).

Configuration

Setting	Where	Notes
Repository kind / root	ModelLibrarySettings asset	Created at Assets/ModelLibrary/Resources/ModelLibrarySettings.asset
Local cache	Same settings asset	Default: Library/ModelLibraryCache
User name / role	EditorPrefs	Set in the wizard or settings UI

Roles: Developer, Artist, Admin. These only gate Editor UI. They are not a security boundary—any real authorization must be enforced by your shared folder ACLs or HTTP server.

File System is the tested workflow. HTTP implements IModelRepository but needs more validation in production.

Workflows

Import

Open a model from the browser → Import to Project. Installed models show an Installed badge; newer repo versions show Update Available.

Update

Open details for a model with an update → Update. GUIDs are preserved where possible; resolve conflicts carefully (prefer Keep when Unity prompts).

Submit new / update existing

1. Select FBX/OBJ (and related materials/textures) in the Project window
2. Assets > Model Library > Submit Model
3. Choose New or Update Existing, fill SemVer, description, tags, optional images
4. Updates require a changelog summary

Other asset context actions:

• Assets > Model Library > Open in Model Library
• Assets > Model Library > Check for Updates
• Assets > Model Library > View Details

Notes and metadata

From Model Details: add notes; Artists/Admins can edit description/tags and manage versions (UI-gated).

Repository layout

<repository-root>/
  models_index.json
  <modelId>/
    <version>/
      model.json
      payload/          # mesh, materials, textures, …
      images/           # preview images

After import, each install folder gets a hidden manifest:

• .modelLibrary.meta.json (current)
• modelLibrary.meta.json (legacy, still detected)

Extending

Implement IModelRepository for custom storage backends:

Task<ModelIndex> LoadIndexAsync();
Task SaveIndexAsync(ModelIndex index);
Task<ModelMeta> LoadMetaAsync(string modelId, string version);
Task SaveMetaAsync(string modelId, string version, ModelMeta meta);
// plus file/directory helpers, DeleteVersionAsync, DeleteModelAsync

See Editor/Infrastructure/Repository/ for the File System and HTTP implementations.

Known limitations

• HTTP repository is experimental; prefer a shared folder / UNC for team use
• Roles are client-side UI gating only
• GUID conflicts on import are common; use Keep when you need to preserve references
• Cache folders can leave access-denied or stale entries after VCS discard / version delete / 3D preview before import — delete the affected cache folder under Library/ModelLibraryCache and retry
• Submitting models without usable assets is not fully blocked yet

Contributing

Install pre-commit hooks so commits enforce .editorconfig (and staged C# style via dotnet format):

pip install pre-commit
python -m pre_commit install

On Windows, prefer python -m pre_commit … if pre-commit is not on your PATH (common with pip --user).

See CONTRIBUTING.md for setup, hook details, and coding standards.

License and links

• LICENSE (MIT)
• CHANGELOG.md
• Issues: https://github.com/PierreGac/Unity-ModelsLibrary/issues