End-User Development at Scale: Real-World Experience with Product Development for a Large and Engaged User Community

Abstract

Google SketchUp is a 3D modeling tool that anyone can learn to use, and they do so in unprecedented numbers for an application of its type. Its populist position in the often esoteric world of 3D modeling has in no small part been enabled by the shared wants, needs and contributions of a large, vocal and committed user base. Unlike many more insularly built software applications, SketchUp's development team cultivated this community of active user contributors in tandem with the software engineering effort right from the very earliest releases. Initially, this community grew in user forums and was concerned primarily with user-to-user training and troubleshooting. However, in recent years the SketchUp team has been experimenting with deeper end-user development in other areas of our product.