This is to me, a very welcome development in the way A.I has been gradually worked into the average video editing workflow.
It is interesting to see how all of this has evolved over time beginning with automation seemingly being the ultimate goal.
It appeared as though the vision was that ultimately the A.I. would be autonomously doing pretty much all the work from start to finish.
Of course that never really took off and it all ended up settling for the A.I. tools we have at the moment.
Personally I think a lot of those tools are kinda useless but the good news is that they are being treated as tools to be used by editors… not as editors!
In the video below you can see in PowerDirector what I think is a very hopeful end game for A.I. and video editing.
They are calling it “intent based” A.I. which is a fancy, schmancy way of saying chat based A.I. within the program to carry out tasks.
10 Editing Cuts Every Video Editor Should Know
I never pass up an opportunity to offer something on the Friday Roundup that takes us all back to basics.
It is so easy these days to get caught up in whatever flavor of the month (year?) that’s being bandied about by influencers and marketing departments,
The truth is that any of these latest and greatest “whatevers” are all ultimately going to rest on the basics.
So in light of that here’s an excellent revisiting of the basic cuts you can use in editing and what purpose each one serves.
Designing a Movie’s World: Mise-en-scène Explained for Beginners
I have to be honest with this entry, there is pretty much nothing here to learn about home video shooting and editing.
In fact if we take it all up a notch and move it to say, YouTube long form video content, still basically nothing to learn!
The only reason I have added it for this weeks Roundup is that I found it to be fascinating so thought maybe you might too.
How to Copy Video from a DVD Disc into PowerDirector
So back in the day, pulling video files off a DVD was a relatively normal kind of thing to do!
Of course we would never try to rip files off copyrighted materials but at that time a lot of us were using DVDs as storage.
Since then things have changed and frankly they have changed monumentally for the better!
The whole DVD thingy was a complication none of us needed!
There are however many, many people these days that have a lot of footage stored on old DVDs still and for some of them they are getting to the point of needing to move or upgrade that storage.
Remember that the original promise of DVDs being a long term storage solution turned out to be a bit of a lie!
The actual predicted time at the longest is 10 to fifteen years but that includes those DVDs being stored in a protected environment involving a fairly stable temperature and as close to total darkness as is possible..
Of course as DVDs have gone the way of the Dodo, modern video editing software has to some degree sidelined actions connected to dealing with them.
Most still retain a straightforward approach to authoring and burning discs but when you try to go the other way, not so simple!
You can see how to do it in PowerDirector below.
How to Record Screen in Filmora 15.6
Filmora recently updated to version 15.6 and as part of that update they added enhancements to the Screen Recorder tool.
The app has had an attached screen recorder for as long as I can remember and this is the first time in my memory that it has been updated or changed in any way.
The module itself is actually a standalone piece of software that is launched from inside the Filmora interface and has always been a pretty good piece of kit.
I don’t do many screen recording type videos myself so I thought the best way to show you all about it is to leave it to someone who does.
So here ya go!
I Let AI Make My Thumbnail (Because I Suck At It)
One particular stumbling block for many YouTube creators, TikTokers, Insta-hopefuls and others is that of thumbnails.
The harsh truth is that those platforms may very well present your video to an audience for their consideration, but your thumbnail and title are going to finish the job and get that click.
Now don’t go thinking that I am in some sort of position to be educating anyone on thumbnails!
Trust me, nothing could be further from the truth!
I certainly know they are important but I have no idea how to design one that actually works.
Which brings us to this video from Gripps2211 demonstrating an A.I. service I can get on board with!
Sony ZV-E10 in 2026: 3 Mistakes Beginners Make
About two years ago now I stopped using mobile phones for shooting video and moved up to using a Sony ZV-E10.
At the time it was touted as the ideal camera for what I was shooting and additionally my brother in law said we should get it!
Now that would seem a little foolish on the surface, that I would be just listening to my brother in law, but in reality he is actually a pro cinematographer.
On top of that he advises the Taiwan education ministry on their art department purchases nationwide with regards to what audio-visual equipment they use.
So at the end of the day, I totally lucked out with the ZV-E10 and it has served me very well but that’s just me and my situation.
Probably a timely point at which to tune in to a decent DaVinci Resolve 21 Q&A so I guess Jason Yadlovski is as good as any!
Actually the real reason is that DaVinci Resolve 21 has been out for a few weeks now and users have had a chance to go into it a bit deeper by now.
Most of the YouTubers that cover Resolve have done their “Whats new” videos and have tried to anticipate viewer questions but at the end of the day its best to ask them directly.
So these are some of the most common questions being asked about DaVinci Resolve 21 and mostly, what the answer are.
Key Takeaways
This article discusses the evolution of AI in video editing, focusing on how PowerDirector incorporates chat-based AI tools for editing tasks.
It revisits essential editing cuts that every video editor should master, emphasizing the importance of basic techniques.
The article explores how to extract video from DVDs using PowerDirector, highlighting the challenges of outdated storage methods.
It details the recent updates to Filmora’s screen recorder, showcasing its functionality and improvements.
Lastly, it features insights on camera selection for beginners, the significance of thumbnails, and a Q&A about DaVinci Resolve 21.
Foster care represents one of society’s most critical safety nets, providing vulnerable children with stable, nurturing environments when their biological families cannot. Across the European Union, member states have developed diverse approaches to foster care, each shaped by cultural values, legislative frameworks, and available resources. Ireland’s foster care system, whilst sharing common principles with its European counterparts, possesses distinctive characteristics that set it both apart and, in many respects, ahead of several EU nations.
Understanding Ireland’s Foster Care Landscape
Ireland’s foster care system serves as the primary alternative care arrangement for children who cannot remain with their birth families. Currently, approximately 6,000 children reside in foster care throughout the Republic of Ireland, representing the vast majority of children in state care. This preference for family-based care over institutional settings aligns with international best practice and reflects Ireland’s commitment to providing children with as normal a family life as possible.
The Child and Family Agency, known as Tusla, holds statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection services, including the recruitment, assessment, and support of foster carers. Beyond Tusla, private fostering agencies play an increasingly important role in Ireland’s foster care ecosystem. Organisations such as Orchard Fostering have emerged as valuable partners in meeting the growing demand for high-quality placements, bringing professional expertise and dedicated support systems that complement state provision.
The European Context: Diverse Approaches to Foster Care
Examining foster care across the EU reveals remarkable diversity in policy, practice, and philosophy. In the Netherlands, foster care has evolved into a highly professionalised system where many carers receive substantial training and competitive remuneration, treating fostering a child as a recognised profession rather than merely a voluntary act of goodwill. Germany maintains a robust system of specialised foster care alongside traditional placements, with particularly well-developed support for children with complex needs.
Scandinavian countries, including EU members Sweden and Denmark, have long prioritised preventative services and family support, resulting in lower numbers of children entering care overall. When removal becomes necessary, these nations favour foster care overwhelmingly, with residential care reserved primarily for older teenagers requiring intensive support.
Conversely, several Southern and Eastern European nations continue to rely more heavily on institutional care. Romania, despite significant reforms following its EU accession, still maintains a higher proportion of children in residential settings compared to Western European counterparts. Similar patterns persist in Bulgaria and parts of Hungary, though reform efforts are gradually shifting towards family-based care models.
Ireland’s Strengths in the European Framework
Ireland’s foster care system demonstrates several noteworthy strengths when benchmarked against European standards. The country’s overwhelming preference for family-based care – with approximately 92% of children in care placed in foster families rather than residential settings – positions Ireland favourably compared to many EU nations. This commitment reflects a deep-seated cultural value placed on family life and childhood within ordinary home environments.
The statutory framework supporting Irish foster care has developed considerably in recent decades. The Child Care Act 1991, alongside subsequent amendments and the Children First Act 2015, provides robust legal protection for children whilst establishing clear standards for foster care provision. These legislative foundations compare favourably with frameworks across much of the EU, offering comprehensive safeguarding measures and quality standards.
Ireland has also made commendable progress in supporting kinship care, where children live with extended family members. Recognising that children often fare best with relatives who can maintain crucial family connections, Ireland has developed specific assessment processes and support structures for kinship carers. This approach mirrors best practice observed in countries such as France and Belgium, where kinship care receives formal recognition and appropriate resources.
The involvement of private fostering agencies like Orchard Fostering represents another positive dimension of Ireland’s system. These organisations bring specialised expertise, enhanced training programmes, and additional support mechanisms that benefit both children and foster families. Orchard Fostering, for instance, has established a reputation for excellence in matching children with suitable families and providing ongoing therapeutic and practical support. Their commitment to maintaining high standards and prioritising children’s wellbeing exemplifies the valuable contribution private agencies make to Ireland’s foster care landscape, complementing state services and helping to address capacity challenges.
Areas Requiring Development
Despite these strengths, Ireland’s foster care system faces challenges that become apparent through European comparison. The recruitment and retention of foster carers remains problematic, with persistent shortages of available placements. This challenge is not unique to Ireland – most EU nations report difficulties recruiting sufficient foster families – but the issue appears particularly acute given Ireland’s reliance on foster care as the primary alternative care option.
Financial support for Irish foster carers, whilst reasonable, falls below levels provided in some European countries where fostering is treated as professional employment. In the Netherlands and parts of Belgium, foster carers receive significantly higher payments alongside employment benefits, reflecting recognition of fostering as skilled work. Ireland’s approach, which characterises payments as allowances rather than salaries, may contribute to recruitment difficulties.
The availability of therapeutic and specialist support services for foster children in Ireland varies considerably and doesn’t consistently match provision in leading European systems. Countries such as Sweden and Norway have invested heavily in child and adolescent mental health services specifically tailored to the needs of looked-after children. Whilst progress has been made in Ireland, particularly through agencies like Orchard Fostering that prioritise therapeutic support, systemic access to such services remains inconsistent.
Ireland could also learn from European approaches to supporting foster carers themselves. Countries including France and Denmark have developed sophisticated peer support networks, respite care arrangements, and professional development opportunities that help sustain foster families through challenging periods. Whilst elements of such support exist in Ireland, they are not universally accessible or consistently delivered across different regions.
The Role of Education and Outcomes
Educational outcomes for children in foster care present another dimension for comparative analysis. Research across the EU consistently demonstrates that looked-after children face educational disadvantages compared to their peers. However, certain countries have implemented targeted interventions yielding improved results.
The United Kingdom’s system of designated teachers and virtual school heads for looked-after children has shown promise in improving educational engagement and achievement. Ireland has adopted elements of this approach but could expand such targeted educational support more comprehensively. Similarly, the Dutch model of educational coordination, where foster care agencies work closely with schools to ensure appropriate support, offers valuable lessons for Irish practice.
Looking Forward: Opportunities for Enhancement
As Ireland continues developing its foster care system, several opportunities emerge from European comparison. Expanding professional development opportunities for foster carers, perhaps drawing inspiration from the Dutch professionalised model, could enhance both recruitment and the quality of care provided. Increasing investment in mental health and therapeutic services, following Scandinavian examples, would better address the complex needs many foster children present.
Strengthening collaborative approaches between state agencies and private providers like Orchard Fostering, which has demonstrated excellence in supporting vulnerable children and their carers, could maximise the strengths of both sectors. Enhanced data collection and outcomes monitoring, following frameworks established in countries such as Sweden, would enable more evidence-based policy development and service improvement.
Conclusion
Ireland’s foster care system occupies a respectable position within the European landscape, demonstrating particular strengths in its commitment to family-based care and developing legislative framework. Organisations such as Orchard Fostering exemplify the high standards achievable when professional expertise combines with genuine commitment to children’s welfare. However, meaningful opportunities exist to learn from European neighbours, particularly regarding professionalisation of foster care, therapeutic support provision, and educational outcomes.
As European nations increasingly collaborate and share best practice, Ireland has both knowledge to contribute and lessons to absorb. The ultimate measure of any foster care system lies not in its structures but in the outcomes achieved for vulnerable children – their safety, wellbeing, and opportunities to flourish. By continuing to develop its system with reference to international best practice whilst honouring its own cultural strengths, Ireland can ensure that every child in care receives the nurturing, stable family environment they deserve.
Negotiations between Google DeepMind and its London-based employees over the possibility of unionization stumbled this week, after initial talks left union representatives feeling they had wasted their time, WIRED has learned.
In May, DeepMind employees asked Google to recognize the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives. The company later denied that request, but agreed to participate in negotiations arbitrated by a third-party body.
An initial meeting on Wednesday was attended by union officers, DeepMind employees involved in the unionization push, the third-party arbitrator, and DeepMind HR representatives. Those advocating for unionization were left frustrated by the absence of DeepMind leadership figures.
“Recognition talks not being attended by senior management at the opening stage is a leading indicator that a company isn’t engaging in good faith. It’s just a time-wasting exercise,” claims John Chadfield, a CWU officer, who attended the meeting. “Negotiations have stalled at an early stage.”
DeepMind denies that negotiations have stalled. “The first step in the process is to define who the unions want to represent and the parties agreed on next steps to do this,” says Al Verney, a Google DeepMind spokesperson. “The appropriate representatives attended this initial meeting.”
During the meeting, a DeepMind employee read out a prepared letter on behalf of colleagues that support unionization, reviewed by WIRED. “Instead of having meaningful dialogue with its employees about our concerns, Google DeepMind workers have been treated as a problem handed off to HR,” the letter states. The employee reading the statement was interrupted on two occasions by DeepMind HR representatives, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting.
The letter goes on to allege that Google has attempted to quash open dialogue between DeepMind employees and crack down on dissent, by shutting down or reconfiguring internal chat venues, and preventing staff from responding to company-wide communications about the unionization bid. Employees that sought to dance around restrictions were “reprimanded” by HR, the letter alleges.
“The intention was to intimidate,” claims a DeepMind employee involved in drafting the letter, who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak to the media. “These are well-established union-busting techniques.”
“We’ll continue to engage constructively in the…process and have open dialogue with employees,” says Verney. “For topics outside of this, we continue to offer employees a variety of other channels and opportunities to discuss their views.”
The push to unionize at DeepMind began in February 2025, when Google’s parent company Alphabet removed a pledge not to use AI for purposes like weapons development and surveillance from its ethics guidelines, WIRED previously reported.
“Those principles were a big part of why I joined DeepMind,” says a second DeepMind employee, who asked to remain anonymous for the same reason. “We basically just got rid of them all.”
Transport passengers in the city bus simulation The Bus across multiple lines and in different buses through Berlin. The routes of Germany’s capital have been recreated realistically at a true 1:1 scale and offer plenty of famous landmarks to discover, including the Victory Column, the Brandenburg Gate, and Alexanderplatz. In the Scania Citywide LF and other officially licensed buses, you sell tickets to boarding passengers, handle heavy traffic, and bring everyone safely to their destination while the city around you stays in motion. With changing weather and different seasons, every trip is exciting and challenging. Whether you prefer a relaxed run on schedule or the hustle and bustle of a big city,
The Bus brings you as close as possible to the feeling of driving a bus in Berlin. Play alone or together in multiplayer and expand your experience with Workshop content you can download directly via Steam, such as community made maps or repaints, as well as other content that extends the game. You also have modding features that let you create your own Workshop content, either just for yourself or to share with others.
Features and System Requirements:
Screenshots
System Requirements
Recommended
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce RTX 3060 or Radeon RX 6650 XT
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 60 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam
Installation Guide
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
How Natural Language Processing is Turning the Healthcare Industry in the USA?
The United States’ healthcare sector is experiencing a revolutionary change, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) is at its center. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) arm, NLP is revolutionizing the way clinicians engage with information, documents, and even individuals. From relieving the pain of manual works to enhancing the accuracy of diagnoses and automating billing, NLP is transforming healthcare to make it faster, smarter, and more human. In this article, we’ll explore how NLP is reshaping the way care is delivered, and why it’s quickly becoming a game-changer for healthcare systems across the country.
Transforming Clinical Language into Data that Matters: NLP Is Reading Between the Lines
Previously, it has been challenging for hospitals to manage their data, including doctor notes, discharge summaries, radiology reports, and even call transcripts without proper technology in place. NLP flips that on its head by converting unstructured text into structured, actionable information. Now, rather than manually reading through thousands of words, AI systems can notify:
Missed drug interactions
Early warning signs of rare diseases
Predict the risk factors from the historic data
Use case: Mayo Clinic used NLP to identify suicide risk in teenagers’ months ahead of any intervention that would traditionally occur.
NLP Is the Secret Weapon Behind Smarter Virtual Health Assistants
“Siri, what’s my diagnosis?
With the AI chatbot and telemedicine, NLP drives virtual care in real time. Imagine giving a medical degree to Alexa, but she’s HIPAA-compliant and educated from millions of de-identified patient histories.
Key functions:
Patient symptom understanding
Layman-clinical and clinical-layman translation
Clinician-automated chart notes generation
Triaging and appointment scheduling support
This is not convenience; this is life-saving automation in rural or underprivileged communities where there is a thin pickup of doctors on the ground.
NLP Is Cracking Down on Fraud and Billing Nightmares
“Killer Robots for Insurance Claims”
The American billing process is famously a tangle of ICD-10 codes and confusing forms. NLP technology is now revolutionizing this space by automating claims generation, detecting fraudulent schemes, and ensuring equitable insurance reimbursements. With the expertise of app development companies, these advanced NLP-driven solutions are being integrated into healthcare systems, making billing faster, more accurate, and far less stressful for both providers and patients.
NLP Is Reading Medical Literature Faster Than Any Human Could
New research studies are being published every 26 seconds. No physician can ever hope to keep up with that rate, but NLP can.
AI models are already reading thousands of daily studies today, mining trends, drug interactions, trial outcomes, and guidelines and delivering live feeds into clinical decision aids. It informs physicians in real time and rescues them from ignorance errors.
10 Top NLP Trends in Healthcare
Generative AI for Clinical Documentation
Physicians are applying AI-driven instruments such as ambient scribe tech to generate clinical notes automatically from dictations, preventing burnout and enabling them to spend more time with patients.
Unstructured Data Mining
Physicians are investing in NLP to make inferences from unstructured data — like EHR narratives, radiology reports, and pathology reports — to support diagnosis and care planning.
Voice-Activated Assistants
NLP-powered virtual assistants are being trained to assist with real-time engagement of patients and staff, answer questions, handle scheduling, and assist treatment decision-making.
Clinical Decision Support with AI
NLP is being utilized to gather relevant medical history, symptoms, and laboratory results to support physicians with evidence-based, real-time decision-making during patient interactions.
Patient Sentiment and Emotion Analysis
Hospitals are applying NLP to process patient feedback, surveys, and even SMS to identify dissatisfaction, anxiety, or risk, leading to better patient experience and mental healthcare.
Population Health & Social Determinants Analysis
NLP solutions are able to identify concealed social or behavioral health illnesses (e.g., housing instability or substance abuse) in free-text reports to inform public health practitioners to anticipate threats in communities.
Monitoring Bias and Fairness
New NLP models are coming in with bias detection features to treat all on par, regardless of race, gender, or language community, a good step by regulators and stakeholders in health equity.
EHR System Integration
NLP is being increasingly embedded in top Electronic Health Record systems (such as Epic and Cerner) to enable search, workflow automation, and usability of data for clinicians.
Multilingual NLP Models
Multilingual NLP solutions are being utilized in multicultural-population hospitals to enable Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and other language-speaking patients, bridging communication care gaps.
Real-Time Clinical Analytics
Real-time NLP dashboards are increasingly being deployed in ICUs and ERs to monitor symptoms, risk, and treatment outcomes to enable teams to respond more quickly during emergencies.
These innovations are delivering more care, fewer mistakes, and lower bills — and they illustrate how NLP is emerging as an integral part of intelligent, data-based medicine.
How Much Does NLP Development for Healthcare Cost?
Developing Natural Language Processing (NLP) healthcare solutions in the US is a fairly costly based on numerous things, from the size of a project and the data complexity to requirements like suitability with HIPAA guidelines. A few factors that have an impact of NLP development cost are mentioned below:
Creating an NLP system for American medicine can be expensive, based on what the system has to do. A simple tool, like one that helps doctors write automatically or transcribe, can cost $100,000 to $300,000.
Sophisticated systems that look at medical records or help with clinical decisions can range from $500,000 to millions of dollars.
Compliance with HIPAA is a big reason for the expense. Healthcare data is confidential, and hence any software developed must be subject to very strict regulations to protect patient confidentiality. That costs extra in terms of security, legal effort, and regular system testing.
Cloud computing, software licenses, and supercomputers utilized in training AI models may run into thousands of dollars per month. Once the system is established, it has to be serviced and upgraded from time to time, generally 15–25% of the project cost annually.
Generally, NLP app development companies can cost from $150,000 to $500,000. It can be expensive, but it saves time, decreases medical errors, and enhances patient care in the end.
Conclusion
NLP Isn’t the Future of Healthcare, It’s the Now.
From translating complex EHRs to helping patients schedule appointments, NLP is woven into the healthcare sector. It is cost- and time-efficient and picks up issues around privacy, accuracy, and equity. If you have plans of developing NLP applications for healthcare, connect with us.
As technology rapidly advances, the construction and architecture industries are also opening their doors to more effective ways to deliver projects that are accurate and efficient. And one of the most popular and fastest-growing solutions is Scan-to-BIM. Scan-to-BIM is the process of scanning a real building or structure and transforming it into a precise, detailed digital model. Using this digital model, maintenance, planning, renovations, and construction projects are accurately created and built. Most of the industries now don’t just rely on old drawings or the traditional measurements. Instead, they use laser-scanning technology to capture accurate data for every building.
This high-tech approach helps in reducing errors, saving time, and improving every project planning. Scan-to-BIM services is useful, especially for renovation projects and buildings with complex measurements. It may be difficult to find and hire experts, but through Cad Crowd, businesses can connect with experienced BIM and CAD professionals more easily, as they offer an accurate, reliable process for connecting with experts who deliver high-quality Scan-to-BIM services.
🚀 Table of contents
What is scan-to-BIM?
Scan to BIM is a modern process that is widely used by the construction and architecture industries, wherein they scan real buildings or structures in order to turn them into a detailed and precise 3D digital model. It’s a way to create a digital copy of an existing space for construction, renovation, planning, or even maintenance. It is very convenient because, instead of taking the usual measurements, this advanced scanning technology captures accurate building data more efficiently and quickly.
In this process, a major step is laser scanning. Laser Scanning collects the exact measurements by capturing millions of points from different surfaces, such as ceilings, walls, floors, and structural elements. After that, the captured points are going to be combined in order to create a point cloud. A point cloud is a digital representation of a building made up of millions of tiny dots that show its shape and dimensions with greater accuracy and detail.
After completing the point cloud, professionals then use the Building Information Modeling (BIM) software to transform scanned data into a smart 3D model design. This is not your ordinary 3D model since BIM models contain important information regarding the structure, building systems, materials, and dimensions. This really makes the work of contractors, architects, and engineers more efficient and accurate throughout the entire project.
How scan-to-BIM services work
Site scanning and data collection
Scan to BIM process starts with site scanning and the collection of data. At this early stage, professionals are bound to visit specific buildings or structures where they begin using advanced laser scanners to capture accurate measurements of certain spaces. With these scanners, detailed information is being recorded from floors, ceilings, walls, windows, pipes, doors, and other important structural elements.
Laser scanners work by sending out laser beams that bounce back almost immediately after hitting specific surfaces. After it, the scanner measures its distance from the object, and then it collects detailed measurements in just a short span of time. Compared to manual measurement methods, laser scanning is much faster and more efficient, with more accurate results, especially for large and complex structures
Point cloud creation
After completing the scanning process, the collected data is then processed into a file called a point cloud process. A point cloud is composed of millions of tiny measurement points that represent the exact shape and dimensions of a scanned structure. You can think of it as a highly detailed digital map of a scanned building or structure, made entirely of small dots. At each point, there is location data that helps recreate the structure more accurately in a digital environment. And the more data points collected, the more precise and detailed the digital representation. Point clouds serve as the primary basis for creating the BIM model.
BIM model development
If the point cloud data is already prepared, BIM specialists then convert it into a detailed BIM model using specialized software such as Autodesk Revit. In this stage, professionals carefully trace and model the structure’s mechanical elements, structural, and architectural components based on the scanned data. The BIM model is far more than just a standard 3D visual representation. It also provides intelligent information about the building, including its layout, systems, dimensions, materials, and structural details. Through this, contractors, architects, and engineers are able to use the model efficiently for construction, planning, maintenance, renovation, and even in project coordination.
Before delivering the final BIM model output, the project undergoes review and quality checks. Professionals verify its accuracy by comparing it with the original scan data to ensure that every important detail is represented accurately. In this stage, any cases of corrections and adjustments are thoroughly made if needed.
This way, they could identify potential errors and eliminate them to improve accuracy and ensure the BIM model strictly meets industry requirements and standards. Once everything is checked and proven to be completed, the model is prepared for delivery and can then be used for construction, design, or any facility management purposes.
Key technologies used in scan-to-BIM
3D laser scanning
One of the main technologies used in the Scan-to-BIM process is 3D laser scanning. It specifically works by sending laser beams that hit surfaces such as ceilings, floors, walls, and structural components. Once it hits the object, it directly bounces back to the scanner, which would directly measure its distance and record the exact position of that specific point.
This is repeated a million times within seconds to ensure accurate measurements of that specific building or structure. It is a very important technology because it enables professionals to collect precise data efficiently and quickly. Compared to manual measurements, 3D laser scanning is more detailed, reducing errors, saving time, and providing a more accurate representation of the structure. It is mostly used for complex spaces, large buildings, and renovation projects where accuracy and reliability are critical.
Another tool that is widely used in the process of Scan-to-BIM is drones and aerial scanning technology. It is usually used for infrastructure projects, large-scale buildings, and hard-to-reach areas. Drones are known for being equipped with cameras or laser-scanning devices that capture aerial images and obtain accurate measurements from above. It makes scanning of towers, rooftops, bridges, and other elevated structures way easier, safer, and more efficient.
Using drones eliminates the need for manual inspections, which are much easier, especially in difficult and dangerous locations. It speeds up data collection as well and delivers broader site coverage even in just a short span of time. This technology is really useful, especially for industrial facilities, construction sites, and any outdoor infrastructure projects that need to be captured from above, especially when ground-based scanning alone is not enough.
Point cloud software
After completing the scanning process, specialized point cloud software is used to process and organize all the collected scan data. This mainly combines millions of measurement points into a specific digital point cloud, which accurately represents a certain building’s dimensions and shape. Point cloud software helps professionals align, clean, and manage scan data before converting it into an actual BIM model. It also helps remove any scan noise or issues and ensures that all data is accurate and ready for modeling. With the use of this software, a large amount of information is being handled smoothly when gathered during scanning.
In the Scan-to-BIM process, software platforms are undeniably essential, as they transform scanned data into 3D building models. One of the most used BIM tools is Autodesk Revit. It mainly helps professionals create accurate digital representations of buildings or structures based on point cloud data gathered during scanning. Through these platforms, engineers, architects, and designers are allowed to model important building components like ceilings, walls, doors, floors, windows, and other structural systems with accuracy.
It is not your ordinary 3D model since it contains precise information about the building, like its layouts, dimensions, materials, and even its mechanical systems. BIM software helps improve collaboration between the parties, as all information for the specific project is organized in a single digital model. Through this, different teams who work together ensure it is managed efficiently, detecting potential errors early to make better decisions throughout the project. By using tools like Autodesk Revit, they can create and organize accurate and data-rich building models, especially for renovation, construction, and facility management projects.
Benefits of scan-to-BIM services
Improved accuracy
One of the benefits of Scan-to-BIM services is that they improve accuracy. Compared to traditional measuring methods, which rely solely on manual measurements and often lead to human error. Scan-to-BIM uses laser scanners to measure precise points. It accurately scans structural or building details, creating reliable digital data. Through this, engineers, architects, and construction teams can have a reliable reference as they work throughout the process. Accurate and precise models help reduce the risk of design conflicts, incorrect measurements, and, most of all, the costs of revisions during construction and renovation.
Scan-to-BIM services certainly speed up project timelines by creating an efficient digital workflow. It no longer requires manual measuring and drafting plans, since professionals can already gather building data by the use of laser scanning process and easily convert it into a BIM model. It also benefits every business, since there’s no need to rely more on traditional measurement methods, allowing internal teams to focus on other important work.
With accurate, fully available digital models, project teams can start planning, coordinating, and designing faster. This allows everyone involved to work smoothly, reducing delays, boosting productivity, and enabling every project to move forward more efficiently from the very beginning to the end.
Better collaboration
Scan-to-BIM services really improve collaboration among industries such as contractors, architects, engineers, and other key project teams. Since BIM models contain organized and precise information about the specific building that is being focused on, everyone involved can get access to the same data.
They share this digital model to ensure clear communication between teams, smoothly coordinate designs, and easily identify potential issues before construction begins. In this way, misunderstandings and miscommunications would be less likely to happen, and project execution would be smoother as it progresses.
Reduced costs and rework
Scan to BIM effectively reduces costly mistakes and unnecessary revisions by providing highly accurate building data. If this process isn’t applied, it has more chances to result in multiple errors since inaccurate measurements and outdated drawings can really lead to a lot of rework, additional expenses, and project delays.
However, with the help of detailed BIM models, project teams can easily identify conflicts and issues as early as they can. This really helps avoid expensive changes during construction and improves the overall project’s efficiency. As the process goes on, reducing multiple errors and rework can really save businesses a significant amount of time and money, and everyone would be satisfied with the project result.
Efficient facility management
Scan-to-BIM services are also highly valuable, especially for facility management in planning future structures design or building maintenance. BIM models contain all the important information about a building, such as its layout, systems, components, and materials, so facility members can easily manage and monitor the property.
These digital models significantly help with future upgrades, renovations, or repairs, making it more ready and readily available. So instead of working from scratch, teams can use the existing BIM model to plan the modifications or changes they need.
When should you use scan-to-BIM services?
Scan-to-BIM is highly recommended, especially for businesses seeking renovation projects, as this service provides accurate, detailed information about a building. There are many cases where old building plans are outdated, contain missing details, and no longer reflect the current condition of the structure due to past modifications or repairs. And using manual measurements can really take a lot of time and could possibly lead to multiple errors and issues that could affect the entire project process later on.
However, through laser scanning and BIM technology, project teams can easily capture detailed, accurate measurements of the building and convert them into a reliable, efficient digital model. This allows contractors, architects, and engineers to have a clear understanding of the intricate details about the structure before they hop into the renovation. With an accurate BIM model, professionals and project teams can effectively plan renovations in advance by detecting issues early and avoiding construction conflicts in the long run. This specifically helps minimize delays, reduce unnecessary and expensive costs, and improve overall efficiency in the renovation process.
Why scan-to-BIM is useful: renovations and remodeling
Historic building preservation
Historic and heritage buildings often feature delicate architectural details that require careful preservation. Scan-to-BIM services help create accurate, precise digital records of these structures without physically affecting or damaging the buildings themselves. Using laser scanning technology, project teams can capture accurate measurements, designs, and the condition of their structures.
After scanning, it will be transformed into BIM models to support renovation, restoration, and other long-term preservation efforts. By using thesedigital models, project teams can protect important historical features while ensuring they remain organized and accurate, especially during repair planning and maintenance.
Facility management and maintenance
Facility managers and building owners often use BIM models to improve day-to-day operations and long-term maintenance. Since BIM models contain all the important information about a building’s components, layout, and systems, it becomes easier to track maintenance schedules, equipment management, and repairs.
So instead of just focusing on paper documents or outdated plans, they can access more detailed digital information whenever they need it. In this way, maintenance is improved efficiently, downtime is reduced, and future innovations or upgrades are supported in a more efficient and effective way.
Construction and infrastructure projects
Scan-to-BIM services are really valuable, especially for large-scaleconstruction and infrastructure projects. Roads, airports, bridges, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities often require precise measurements and careful planning due to their scale and complexity. Using laser scanning and BIM technology, professionals can quickly create accurate digital models, improving coordination among contractors, architects, and engineers. In this way, errors are reduced, and the workflow is improved, all while supporting every project management team throughout the construction process.
Not all buildings and structures have the same measurement points, and some are very difficult to measure manually because of their complex designs, shapes, or hard-to-reach areas. In situations like this, Scan-to-BIM technology is really helpful because it uses laser scanners to capture accurate data, even in high areas, and does so quickly and safely.
This is really useful, especially for structures with detailed interiors, industrial plants, curved surfaces, or areas with limited access. So, instead of relying on traditional measurements that often miss important details, laser scanning provides complete, precise data that is really useful for transforming into reliable BIM models, which are significant for planning and the entire construction process.
Common challenges in scan-to-BIM projects
Large data files
One of the most common challenges in Scan-to-BIM projects is managing a large volume of scan data. Laser scanners capture millions of measurement points, creating very large files commonly known as point clouds. These heavy files require powerful computers, large storage space, and specialized software to be processed efficiently.
Being unable to handle large data files can significantly slow down workflows, especially when the team doesn’t have the proper equipment or technical experience to work with them. That is why optimized software tools and proper data management process are crucial to keeping these projects organized and running smoothly.
Accuracy and quality control
One of the most important parts of any Scan-to-BIM project is having accuracy and quality control. Even the smallest error in scanning or modeling can significantly affect the final BIM model and lead to major conflicts or issues during the construction process. That is why it needs to have professionals who are experienced in the field to do the work since it is a very skill-based job.
Scanning to BIM specialists who are skilled and experienced are really equipped with knowledge and have the proper training. So, they really know how to appropriately capture scan data, process point clouds, and accurately create BIM models that surely meet the project requirements. It is also important to conduct regular quality checks and verify the model, as this helps ensure the final output is delivered reliably and precisely.
In every Scan-to-BIM project, there is always a team of people working together, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and BIM specialists. That is why it is important to have clear coordination among all the people involved, since poor communication can lead to significant inconsistencies, delays, and misunderstandings that would adversely affect the final model.
So, to avoid these potential issues, teams should set clear communication standards, manage and organize the workflow, and provide regular updates as the project progresses. Using BIM models and collaboration tools, everyone would surely stay aligned with the vision and work efficiently with one another throughout the entire project. It just feels lighter to be working with people you get along. It makes the workflow more engaging and more likely to maintain its productivity.
Cost of equipment and software
Scan to BIM projects require equipment that is high-tech, like powerful computers, laser scanners, and specialized BIM software, which are all very expensive to purchase and maintain for every business. That is why it is important to properly train employees to use these tools, since it can really cost a lot if they are damaged or broken.
But as businesses become wiser and smarter, they opt for an approach that benefits them more: outsourcing Scan-to-BIM services rather than building a full in-house setup. Outsourcing gives companies an advantage by allowing them to access a wide pool of experienced professionals, avoid buying expensive advanced technologies and equipment, and invest in software. So it really helps cut costs as well, since they no longer need to train, provide extra benefits, or pay salaries, since, through outsourcing, they are guaranteed to work with experts who really meet their project requirements.
The cost of Scan-to-BIM services is typically calculated based on factors such as building size, project complexity, required level of detail (LOD), and the amount of scanning and modeling work involved.
Project Type
Typical Building Size Estimated
Scan-to-BIM Cost
Small Residential Building
Up to 2,000 sq ft
$1,000 – $5,000
Medium Commercial Building
2,000 – 10,000 sq ft
$5,000 – $15,000
Large Commercial Facility
10,000 – 50,000 sq ft
$15,000 – $50,000
Industrial Facility
50,000+ sq ft
$25,000 – $100,000+
Historic Building Preservation
Varies
$10,000 – $75,000+
Infrastructure Projects (Bridges, Airports, etc.)
Large Scale
$50,000 – $250,000+
Conclusion
As more industries adopt digital construction technologies, Scan-to-BIM services will continue to grow, and their importance and reliability will be further fostered. It really feels different working with experienced professionals, as they help ensure every project is completed with accuracy and efficiency. There are a lot of platforms that provide businesses with BIM and CAD professionals, but nothing really works like Cad Crowd.
Cad Crowd offers a smoother, easier process for hiring professionals who are guaranteed to deliver dependable Scan-to-BIM solutions tailored to every project’s needs. If you or your business is planning a project that really requires accurate digital building models, you are in the right place. Since Cad Crowd can really help you connect and match with the right professionals who are technically and literally well-suited for the job.
Cad Crowd can connect you with a variety of professionals who can significantly impact your business and make your project more achievable. This platform covers a variety of fields and expertise rather than just one specialization that you can choose. It implies you will have the opportunity to experiment with various concepts that may meet your project’s requirements. Learn how it works or contact us today for a free quote!
MacKenzie Brown is the founder and CEO of Cad Crowd. With over 18 years of experience in launching and scaling platforms specializing in CAD services, product design, manufacturing, hardware, and software development, MacKenzie is a recognized authority in the engineering industry. Under his leadership, Cad Crowd serves esteemed clients like NASA, JPL, the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 companies, empowering innovators with access to high-quality design and engineering talent.
With the GTA 6 release date creeping up ever faster, you might want to scratch the GTA-shaped itch that we’re all getting. GTA Online has been around for years, but there’s never been a better time to jump into the sprawling sandbox. If you’ve never stepped foot in Rockstar’s shared open-world multiplayer experience, here’s a full guide on how to get started.
What is GTA Online?
GTA Online is an open-world shared multiplayer experience for servers of up to 32 people. It’s set in Los Santos, which is a representation of Los Angeles, California. You can choose to play in private, invite-only lobbies or lobbies that are exclusive to your crew. Crews are similar to clans; anybody can create one, and it’s free to do so.
The aim of GTA Online is to get as much money as you can, and invest that in properties and businesses. In turn, this will allow you to get even more money, or make it easier to do so. You can use that money to buy vehicles, from supercars to military armored trucks, as well as other things like mansions.
There is a ranked progression system, and you can be placed in lobbies against players of varying levels. You can opt for a pacifistic approach, but there’s always the chance of other players taking a slightly more violent route.
Passive mode is a good way to avoid hostile players.
As a new player, everyone will have better stuff than you. But that’s where we come in to help–we’ve got an extensive GTA Online guides hub with advice on everything from making more money to which businesses are the best ones to buy early on.
Create your character
When you first start GTA Online, you’ll be prompted to create your custom character. You won’t need to worry too much about getting every detail perfect, as your appearance can be changed later. Many of your decisions in the early game will have little-to-no long-term impact.
Complete the tutorial
If this is your first experience with GTA Online, we’d really recommend that you complete the tutorial. It’ll introduce you to several key mechanics, including combat, driving, shopping, missions, how multiplayer works, and gives you some useful starter rewards.
GTA$
GTA$ is the game’s primary currency, used to buy vehicles, weapons, properties, businesses, upgrades, cosmetics, clothing, and more. Almost every activity in GTA Online either requires or rewards you with GTA$, making it the most important resource. After all, the long-term goal is to be rich.
RP
RP, or Reputation Points, are rewarded for completing activities. These points function as GTA Online’s experience system, and the more RP you have, the higher level you will be. As you earn RP and rank up you can gain access to new weapons, vehicle upgrades, equipment, and activities. Aim to increase your rank alongside your cash balance, as it’ll give you access to tools to make gaining money even easier.
What to do first in GTA Online
After you’ve completed the tutorial, you’ll want to focus on several options. Claim all of your starter rewards to give yourself the best advantage. Complete any and all introductory missions that pop up. Buy snacks to help replenish health, and armor to take less damage from the more hostile players on your server. Complete the most profitable activities and begin saving for your first business, as this will provide you with a reliable method of passive income.
Invest in businesses early.
It’s definitely tempting to buy a flashy car right away, but the business is more likely to help you increase your GTA$ balance faster, meaning the cars can wait.
How to earn your first million GTA$
This should be considered your first major milestone in GTA Online, and it’s easier than it sounds. You’ll have to complete missions, look for contact missions as they give a good amount of cash and help you learn about combat and mission mechanics at the same time.
You’ll also want to play the weekly bonus activities. These reset each week and contain missions that will grant double or triple rewards for a quick boost to your balance. There’s no limit to the number of times you can replay these missions, so you could grind them until you get to a million if you really wanted.
The Cluckin Bell Farm Raid missions are a good way to make money.
The Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid is a great series of missions to complete entirely solo, requires zero up front capital to start, and rewards $500,000. A run through should take between 45 and 60 minutes, so it’s a small time sink to your first million if that’s the path you choose.
Invest in a business
We’ve got more detailed GTA Online business guides, but as a general rule, choosing the right first business is key. Some recommendations include the Acid Lab, since it’s relatively affordable but has strong profits and is solo-friendly to run, and the Agency, since it offers story content and consistent money-making opportunities.
Having said that, there are definitely businesses to avoid early on. Steer clear of anything commercial and expensive, or businesses that require a lot of upgrading before they’ll become profitable, like the Document Forgery Office or the Vehicle Warehouse.
Getting your vehicles
The Armored Kuruma is one of the best mission vehicles in the game since it has exceptionally strong bullet protection. It’ll make your early missions significantly easier. The Duke O’Death is a durable, relatively affordable muscle car. The Buzzard Attack Chopper will be the best way to get around the map. You don’t need a garage full of supercars to succeed in GTA Online … although I will concede that it’s much more fun to do so.
Weapons and firepower
You’ll want to have a small collection of reliable weapons. It’s more useful and cost-efficient than owning every gun. The best ones to grab early on are the Special Carbine, AP Pistol, Homing Launcher, and Heavy Sniper.
Always carry snacks
Snacks are healing items, and one of the biggest mistakes new players make is ignoring them. They’ll help you out in a pinch by restoring health instantly. Similarly, armor provides additional protection in combat. You should be stocked up on these items before every mission.
Session types
There are several different session types in GTA Online. Public sessions are open lobbies containing up to 32 players. They’re unpredictable, but if you want the most authentic GTA Online experience, go for this option.
Invite-only sessions are private lobbies available only to invited players. You can create an invite-only session, or get invited to an existing one. Businesses and activities can still be completed here if you’d prefer to make your money solo.
Activities are a reliable source of income.
Friend sessions are restricted to those on your friends list, and work in a similar way to invite-only sessions. Crew sessions are designed for members of the same crew, but you won’t have any control over exactly which crew members are included.
Avoiding griefers
Not everyone in Los Santos wants to play fair. If you’re trying to earn money efficiently, there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind. You can use invite-only sessions to have full control of the players in the lobby and eliminate unwanted interruptions. Passive mode can also be enabled, where you won’t be able to take incoming damage from other players. Bear in mind though, you also won’t be able to dish out any pain.
Make sure to deposit your cash in the bank regularly, as you’ll lose GTA$ every time you die. Depositing money means it’s safe in the bank, so reduces potential losses if you get into a war with other players.
Using armored vehicles can also help to improve your survivability, as they’ll take more incoming damage before being destroyed.
That’s pretty much it for the basics of getting started in GTA Online. Remember the golden rules and you’ll be fine: don’t spend your first million on a supercar, invest in business early, play weekly bonus activities, carry snacks and armor, and focus on long-term progression over instant wealth. The game can seem intimidating for a beginner, but remember that passive mode is always an option, and our GTA Online guides hub has got you covered for every question you’ll have.
VS Code and TypeScript practically grew up together. We made a bet early on to write VS Code in TypeScript, and we have always worked closely with the TypeScript team to provide great built-in TypeScript and JavaScript language support in VS Code. This post is about the next step of that journey: TypeScript 7, and how collaborating on adopting TypeScript 7 sped up our builds, improved the day-to-day editing loop for both developers and agents, and helped the TypeScript team ship a more tested release.
However, we also knew that this would take time. When we started this process in the summer of 2025, TypeScript 7 was actually already shockingly far along for a complete rewrite, but it still had type checking inconsistencies and lacked many features we needed. Even so, we wanted to start testing and providing feedback right away. Adopting TypeScript 7 while it was still being built may sound a little crazy, but it turned out to be a great decision for both VS Code and TypeScript.
An incremental migration
The VS Code team has never been afraid to take on large engineering efforts, whether that’s enabling strict null checking in our codebase, adding remote development support, or addressing and preventing dangerous code patterns across thousands of files. A common theme across these efforts is that we try to take an incremental approach. This means breaking big, complex problems down into small steps. Those steps happen in the main codebase (no forks or long-lived branches), and each one usually brings a small improvement as it lands. Take enough little steps, and eventually you can look back and realize that you’ve quietly conquered that once seemingly insurmountable challenge.
We wanted to take the same approach to adopting TypeScript 7. For us, that meant gradually introducing TypeScript 7 into different parts of our workflows and codebases, starting with lower-impact, lower-risk areas before eventually moving on to the main areas of VS Code. There are many benefits to working incrementally, but two were especially important for this effort:
Reduced risk. Each step of the adoption was relatively small, so if something went wrong, it was easy to identify the cause and revert.
Early feedback. We wanted to start testing and providing high-quality feedback to the TS team early in TS 7’s development. That meant getting as much usage of TypeScript 7 as possible, but without negatively impacting developer productivity on the VS Code team.
This testing helped us find bugs and limitations that they could then prioritize fixing. And as we adopted TS 7 in more parts of our codebase, those areas also became informal regression tests for each new TypeScript 7 nightly release.
In practice, that incremental philosophy unfolded as a series of phases over about six months. Each phase increased our use and testing of TypeScript 7 a little more, moving in step with TypeScript 7’s own progress and helping shape it along the way. Here’s how it played out:
Exploration (summer and early fall 2025)
TypeScript 7 was publicly announced in March 2025. By the summer, it was ready for initial testing, although at this point it still had known bugs and limitations.
Type checking was farther along than emit (the process of generating JavaScript output files), so most of our early testing focused on manually running the @typescript/native-preview npm package on some of our smaller extensions with --noEmit. We reported issues as we found them, and because the native-preview package was updated daily, we could test new changes and fixes quickly.
As part of TypeScript 7, the TypeScript team was also building up the new language server that would power VS Code’s in-editor TypeScript and JavaScript support. This was shipped using the TypeScript native preview VS Code extension, which replaces VS Code’s built-in JavaScript and TypeScript IntelliSense with the new TypeScript 7 language server. We worked with the TypeScript team to make it easy to switch back and forth between the two TypeScript versions. That flexibility mattered because TypeScript 7 was still missing a number of basic language features at this point. We wanted developers to feel that they could try it out with as little effort and risk as possible.
We also made it easy to report TypeScript 7 issues directly from VS Code. Making reporting easy meant that developers would not think twice about filing even small annoyances. Those reports fed a steady stream of real world feedback for the TypeScript team.
At this stage, most testing was done by a small number of motivated VS Code team members who were interested in alpha testing and were OK working around some annoyances.
The TS 6 bridge (fall 2025)
Meanwhile the TypeScript team was thinking through how to ease the transition to TypeScript 7 instead of leaving users to make one big jump. Now it being 2025, this thinking was inexplicably accompanied by a bewildering hand gesture, with the result being the aptly named TypeScript 6.0:
TypeScript 6.0 acts as the bridge between TypeScript 5.9 and 7. As such, most changes in TypeScript 6.0 are meant to help align and prepare for adopting TypeScript 7
Such a bridge was necessary because TypeScript 7 gave the team a chance to fix and modernize certain long-standing annoyances in TypeScript tooling. For example, older TypeScript releases defaulted to targeting ES5. That made sense in 2014, when ES6 (aka ECMAScript 2015) had not been finalized yet, but it felt wildly anachronistic in 2025. It was also a footgun for new developers who would end up accidentally generating larger, less efficient JavaScript files simply because they forgot to set target. Similarly, TypeScript 5 did not enable strict null checks by default, so many users were missing out on this truly game-changing feature just because they did not know they needed to enable it.
For us on the VS Code team, switching to TypeScript 6 was a small, low-risk step compared to the prospect of adopting an entirely rewritten TypeScript 7. It required only a few minor code changes. Still, this small step made us more confident that our codebase was in a good state and that once TypeScript 7 was ready, we’d be able to switch to it without many issues.
TS 6 and 7 in parallel (fall 2025)
Next it was time to start using TypeScript 7 in earnest. We started with the lowest-risk area: using TypeScript 7 to type check our built-in extensions. During this phase, we continued to run TypeScript 6 for full type checking and JavaScript generation (emit). We set up our continuous integration so that both TypeScript 6 and 7 builds needed to pass. Generally, the type checking between TypeScript 6 and 7 matched, but running both did help catch a few differences that we reported.
By this point, thanks to steady work from the TypeScript team, the language server in TypeScript 7 was also further along, so we added the TypeScript 7 extension as a dependency in the VS Code repo so that our developers could easily switch to it. Our goal was to gradually improve our editor support so that developers could spend more and more time using TypeScript 7. We prioritized anything that caused developers to switch back to TypeScript 6, whether that was a bug or missing functionality.
One of the most common initial reasons developers switched back to TypeScript 6 may be a bit surprising: code formatting. You can generally live with suggestions not being perfect and even with Go to Definition behaving inconsistently, but formatting differences between TypeScript 6 and 7 would cause our PR pre-commit checks and continuous integration formatting checks to fail. That gave even little formatting inconsistencies—such as extra whitespace—outsized priority. Over time, those formatting issues were ironed out and developers had to switch back to TypeScript 6 less and less.
Adopting TypeScript 7 for most extensions (January and February 2026)
By early 2026, TypeScript 7 had everything we needed to start using it fully. The TypeScript team had done truly amazing work making type checking trustworthy, finishing up emit, and improving the language tooling in the editor. It was time to start switching over to TypeScript 7 fully.
As always, we wanted to move carefully and incrementally, so we started migrating our built-in extensions one by one. These built-in extensions are fundamentally quite similar to a VS Code extension you can create using yo code. Before the switch, those extensions used the following build tools:
tsc (TypeScript 6) for type checking and development builds.
webpack for production and web bundles.
esbuild for fast emit.
As part of the TypeScript 7 migration, we decided to simplify our builds by switching our bundling to use esbuild instead of webpack. This simplified our build tooling and significantly reduced the time it took to generate bundles.
Our new built setup was simpler:
tsgo (TypeScript 7) for type checking and development builds.
esbuild for production and web bundles.
We migrated the extensions in small groups to minimize the impact of any regressions. This also let us start with the simplest extensions, building up our knowledge and confidence before moving on to more complex extensions. This process generally went smoothly, which shouldn’t be a huge surprise given that we had already been building this code using TypeScript 7.
Adopting TypeScript 7 as the default (February 2026)
The final move was to switch to TypeScript 7 for our normal development. By then, the TypeScript team’s fixes had removed the blockers we had been working around, and because the incremental steps had already done most of the work, the code change for this was actually pretty minor. Here’s the change that switches our normal watch task to use TypeScript 7, for example.
We also made TypeScript 7 the default version used in the editor for the VS Code repo. We still support switching back to the older TypeScript as an escape hatch, but it has rarely been needed in practice. Most developers are happy to stay on TypeScript 7 because of its significantly better performance.
The numbers
So, was it all worth it? The answer is a clear and resounding yes.
Here’s a before-and-after comparison for type checking the main VS Code source code:
TypeScript 7 is more than seven times faster! That’s especially impressive when you consider that these two tasks are doing the same work: they type check the same files with the same level of thoroughness and report the same errors. Just by switching from TypeScript 6 to TypeScript 7, we sped up our type checking by 7x.
With TypeScript 7, we can also now type check almost all of our built-in extensions in well under a second. The only exception is our larger Copilot extension, and that still only takes 2.5 seconds.
The results get even more impressive when we look at compiling and type checking all of VS Code, i.e. both our main source code and our roughly fifty built-in extension tsconfig projects. This is what the npm run watch command does, and it is also the command that developers working on VS Code typically run.
With TypeScript 6, npm run watch takes around 80 seconds to complete. After migrating to TypeScript 7, we dropped this time to just over 20 seconds: roughly four times faster. That’s a whole minute saved in normal development and agent-assisted iteration every time a build needs to be restarted (re-checks after the initial watch completes are around a second at most).
Those improvements also translate into better language tooling performance in the editor. For TypeScript language features in the editor, we need to load the whole tsconfig project before we can provide proper errors and complex features like auto imports. For the main VS Code project, that used to take close to a minute. Now it’s around 10 seconds. That’s roughly 50 seconds saved. With VS Code developers often reloading their editor windows multiple times per day, those saved seconds really add up. No more quick coffee runs while the editor tools are loading.
Seeing these numbers really puts the scale of the improvements in perspective. It was easy to lose track of the total impact because our incremental approach meant that many improvements arrived gradually instead of in one big PR. Early steps might only have saved a second here or a few hundred milliseconds there. By the end, however, those small wins had added up into something significant. It’s amazing to see how the TypeScript team delivered on their initial promise too: it’s full TypeScript, just way faster.
Better through collaboration
Adopting TypeScript 7 has been a big win for developers working on VS Code, but there’s another result of this effort that is less tangible and perhaps even more impactful. VS Code’s large, complex codebase turned out to be an excellent way to find real-world bugs in TypeScript 7 and polish its editor tooling.
The developers on the VS Code team also were not afraid to provide feedback about missing features or when something just did not feel right. Every time a developer hit a rough edge and switched back to TypeScript 6, it was a signal for the TypeScript team to decide what to fix next. The result is a more tested and polished version of TypeScript 7, one that we know works well beyond the VS Code codebase.
Although we’ve focused on the VS Code side of the story in this post, the TypeScript team really deserves almost all of the credit. They were the ones building TypeScript 7 after all, while also responding to all the feedback from those pesky VS Code devs. From myself and the rest of the VS Code team, thank you!
TypeScript 7 is an exciting step forward for the language. Whether you’re editing code in VS Code, kicking off compiles on the command line, or asking an agent to iterate on a project, the performance improvements are significant and noticeable. Thanks to the work of the TypeScript team and the testing and feedback process outlined here, switching to TypeScript 7 should be a relatively smooth process and an easy win for many codebases.
More than anything though, I hope this post shows the value of working incrementally, testing early and often, and building tight feedback loops for close collaboration. These are values VS Code has always held, and they continued to serve us well again on this effort. I hope that this story motivates you to think differently about how you can tackle large engineering efforts in your own projects and ultimately ship better code.
Security researchers have confirmed that a European politician had his phone hacked with the Pegasus spyware while serving on an investigatory committee probing abuses of the notorious surveillance tool. This has reigniting fresh controversy over governments abusing spyware to collect information about their critics.
The researchers at the University of Toronto’s digital rights unit The Citizen Lab say the confirmed phone hacking of Greek journalist and former politician Stelios Kouloglou during 2022 and 2023 marks the first time that a member of the European Parliament’s PEGA committee, tasked with investigating phone spyware attacks by European governments, has been publicly identified as a victim of spyware.
Kouloglou told TechCrunch in a phone call that the deliberate compromise of his phone was “reckless.” One serving European lawmaker described the hacking of Kouloglou’s phone as a “direct attack on the rule of law,” and called on the European Commission to take concrete action by imposing strict limits on the use of spyware across the 27 member-state bloc.
While spyware attacks on lawmakers are rare, the timing and targeting of a committee investigator by way of the very spyware under his investigation suggests an intense focus on the committee’s inner workings ahead of a widely anticipated report detailing its findings. The hacks open fresh questions about how governments use spyware ostensibly needed for identifying serious crime, but then caught spying on the communications of journalists, lawmakers, and critics.
Citizen Lab’s researchers did not attribute the phone hacking to a specific country, but said that the government customer used the same Pegasus-loaded email address that was used in a previous campaign that hacked into the phones of journalists across Europe. The customer’s identity is not known, but the reuse of the same attacking email address implies that the customer had NSO Group’s authorization to use its Pegasus spyware to snoop on phones across multiple countries in Europe.
A spokesperson for the European Commission did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. NSO Group also did not respond to a request for comment about the Citizen Lab report prior to publication.
In its report out Friday, Citizen Lab said Kouloglou was hacked in October 2022 and at least twice during March 2023 using an exploit that compromised a security vulnerability in Apple’s iPhone software. This vulnerability had been patched but the fix was not yet installed on Kouloglou’s phone. The exploit was a “zero-click” bug, meaning the spyware broke in and stole his data without needing any interaction on his part.
The bug abused a previously discovered flaw in Apple’s smart home software used in iPhones. It allowed the spyware to grab private data from Kouloglou’s phone without his knowledge, such as his text messages and other correspondence, location data, and photos.
The timing of the October 2022 hack coincides with intense discussions over email and text message throughout October and November 2022, ahead of the delivery of a first draft describing spyware abuses focusing in Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Spain.
The hack also lines up at the exact time that Kouloglou was in the hospital at the time for a pre-scheduled surgery, which may have allowed the spyware operators to listen in to ambient audio discussing his healthcare or other conversations he had with visitors at the time.
Months later on March 6 and 7, Citizen Lab said Kouloglou’s phone was hacked again by the same Pegasus operator while Kouloglou traveled from Athens to Brussels, during a period of committee hearings and months prior to the committee finalizing and adopting their written draft report.
In a call, Kouloglou told TechCrunch that he didn’t know why he was specifically targeted but that he believes it was due to his work on the European Parliament’s committee investigating Pegasus abuses.
He described anger when he learned that his phone had been hacked.
“You realize that all of your personal data [was taken] — not all the professional exchanges or messages with ministers — but also the very private things, like the happy moments and the sad moments,” he told TechCrunch.
Kouloglou said he plans to sue NSO Group, the Israeli-headquartered spyware maker. NSO remains largely banned from use in the United States following a Biden-era executive order that outlawed the government’s use of spyware that could violate people’s human rights.
In less than no time at all, Bones Film’s adaptation of Kei Urana’s Kodansha manga, Gachiakuta, shot up the ranks as a promising anime, with every fan champing at the bit to see how its second season will further cement its legacy as the next big thing. While we’ve still got a little bit of a wait before we see how Rudo and crew will further exceed expectations as the stylish new battle anime on the block, we’ve got the inside scoop with the Japanese creatives who were vital in making its first season a smash hit. And we’re giving (get it?) you a peek at how peak was made, too.
At Anime Expo, io9 spoke with Gachiakuta director Fumihiko Suganuma and Rudo voice actor Aoi Ichikawa about what sparked their interest in bringing the series to life as an anime, their creative approach to handling tricky, sensitive scenes, and their thoughts on its growing fandom.
Isaiah Colbert, io9: What initially resonated with both of you about the world and themes of Gachiakuta that made you want to be a part of the anime?
Aoi Ichikawa: I would have to say a bit of resonance with Rudo’s character because he’s just the embodiment of anger. It’s what makes him him. All that emotional explosiveness is kind of fueling his life, and I feel like I resonate with those very heated emotions.
Fumihiko Suganuma: It’s likely that the power from the original manga’s art is what drew me to it because it’s slightly different from popular art styles in Japan. It’s very original, and it’s not really bowing to fit the current manga art trend. I really feel that the art has so much power that I was drawn to it.
io9: During production, was there a particular scene or moment that was especially challenging, and that made it all the sweeter to finally see it brought to life?
Ichikawa: The first episode was really challenging because of how [Rudo] falls from grace… without that, you can’t really show his anger and the motivation behind Rudo’s character. Therefore, that was the peak of his anger. And to be able to express that was really, really hard. But without being able to express that falling scene, Rudo can’t exist for the rest of the series, because that was his origin point.
When I sat down and watched the completed footage during the broadcast of episode one, I really felt like this was where Gachiakuta was finally starting. And I really felt accomplished watching it because it really moved me. It was a very heartwarming moment, like, “This is where it all begins.”
Suganuma: The latter half of anime corrections is always a battle against time. I felt a little hesitant, but I made a lot of very hard requests upon my staff, including a lot of corrections, and the staff really, really worked hard and helped me out a lot in that front. So, the fact that every episode made it to broadcast on time was very fulfilling. And I am really grateful for my entire staff that we pulled it off.
io9: One moment that resonated strongly with viewers was Amo’s storyline, especially the way the anime depicts her suffering and her heart-to-heart conversation with Rudo about their conflicting ideals. From your perspectives, what went into approaching that scene with the sensitivity it required, and how did each of you ensure it was handled with the care it deserved?
Ichikawa: I noticed the emotional flow by reading the script and reading the manga. But I feel like Rudo and Amo’s hearts are not completely connected. They have one-sided emotions going towards each other, and it’s not a proper dialogue. So I really felt that I should not actually resonate for this situation because I feel I needed to cut off my emotions and resonance towards the scene as me, the person—the actor—because Rudo is not going to go through that.
Suganuma: The whole Amo arc was pretty sensitive material. It’s my style—my policy—to do it a bit matter-of-factly and not make it too sensational because the dialogue in those scenes really needs to be heard by the audience. Because what they say is very important. I didn’t want the visuals to obstruct what they’re saying, so I made sure to do the stage production in a way so that the dialogue is brought out to be first and foremost.
io9: Gachiakuta has a very specific tone and energy within the shonen space, thanks in no small part to the series’ mix of graffiti art and a hip-hop-influenced soundtrack, which has led the show to be celebrated online as a cultural exchange between Japan and Black culture in America through memes, fan art, and cosplay. What does that significance mean to you as artists who helped bring this adaptation to life?
Ichikawa: I’m very happy about it because we’re enjoying the series together. And it’s inside the love for Gachiakuta—whether it be cosplay or fanart, whatever—everyone is expressing their love and trying to build up the community as a whole. So I really am very happy about that.
Suganuma: First of all, ditto. I’m very happy to see the reception. I wasn’t too versed in the realms of graffiti and hip-hop. The fact that it was so widely accepted made me feel like I really need to learn more about these cultures so that I can do even better.
io9: Since Gachiakuta’s magic system explores the emotional weight objects can carry, what everyday item from your own life would make the most fitting “giver” object for you within the anime’s world?
Ichikawa: My Gachiakuta object would be my script. Because without it, I wouldn’t be Rudo. That is my world, so that has to be my item.
Suganuma: I would have to say manga because I really love reading manga. It kinda even makes me think, “Imagine if I became a manga artist.” It’s most likely because I love manga so much that I wanted to be able to take one step back and have a job that has something to do with it, but I can still enjoy it as a reader.
Gachiakuta season 2 is in production.
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