Hive is a browser-based project-hygiene tool for SideFX Houdini studios and freelancers: scan a Houdini project folder, validate asset naming across HDAs, geo/sim/VDB caches, textures, USD and scripts, check the standard $JOB folder structure, take an HDA inventory with version and orphan detection, run an engine-handoff check for Unreal/Unity, and export audit-ready CSV/PDF reports.

Which browsers does folder scanning need?

Scanning a real Houdini project folder uses the File System Access API, which works in Chrome or Edge. Other browsers fall back to a file picker.

14-day free trial · For SideFX Houdini

Bring order to your Houdini projects.
Scan, validate & hand off.

A browser-based project-hygiene tool for Houdini studios and freelancers: validate asset naming across HDAs and caches, standardise the $JOB folder structure, keep HDAs versioned, and hand off clean to Unreal or Unity. From A$9/mo for solo artists; start with a 14-day free trial, no credit card.

Start free trial See plans

$JOBStructure standardised

Houdini 19.5–20.5Supported

100%In your browser

Hive project dashboard; asset naming, $JOB structure and HDA version health

Features

Everything your Houdini project needs to stay clean

Naming, structure, HDA hygiene and engine handoff; checked the way Houdini studios and freelancers actually work.

Scan a project folder

Point it at a Houdini project folder in your browser (Chrome/Edge) or drag & drop, and it reads your real file tree; no upload, nothing leaves your machine.

Validate asset naming

Audit names across HDAs, geo/sim/VDB caches, textures, USD layers and scripts against your studio convention, with one-click fix suggestions.

Standard $JOB structure

Check the project against the standard $JOB folder layout; geo, render, comp, hda, scripts and more; and flag missing or stray directories.

HDA inventory & versions

Build an inventory of your HDAs/OTLs with version detection; surface duplicate versions, out-of-date definitions and orphaned assets nothing references.

Engine-handoff check

Flag exports; meshes, textures, USD; whose names don't match Unreal or Unity conventions, so what you ship drops into the engine clean.

Audit-ready reports

Export CSV and PDF reports of naming issues, structure gaps and HDA versions; clean documentation for clients, supervisors and handover.

Convention-drivenYour studio's naming rules

Structure-awareStandard $JOB layout

Version hygieneHDA & orphan detection

Handoff-readyClean Unreal/Unity exports

Built for Houdini people

Who Hive is for

From a single freelancer to a busy FX team; keep every project to the same standard.

Houdini TD

Pipeline & HDA hygiene

Enforce the studio naming convention and the standard $JOB structure, and catch duplicate HDA versions and orphans before they reach a shot.

FX Artist

Caches, sims & renders

Keep geo/sim/VDB caches, textures and render outputs named consistently so versions stay clear and nothing gets lost between iterations.

Studio & Freelancer

Clean delivery & handoff

Small and mid VFX & motion studios and solo artists get audit-ready reports and engine-handoff checks for tidy client delivery to Unreal/Unity.

Pricing

Plans for solo artists and studios.

Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial - no credit card required; we only ask for payment when your trial ends. Solo is billed monthly; team plans annually (one month free) or monthly. Cancel anytime, no lock-in.

Solo

1 seat · solo artists

$9/mo

14-day free trial · no card required

Full single-user app
Project-folder scanning & $JOB structure check
Naming validation & HDA version checks
CSV & PDF report export

Studio

Up to 5 seats

$79/mo

$869 billed annually 1 month free

Everything in Solo, plus:
Up to 5 team seats
Engine-handoff checks for Unreal/Unity
Priority support

Enterprise

Up to 20 seats

$199/mo

$2,189 billed annually 1 month free

Everything in Studio, plus:
Up to 20 seats
Onboarding & priority support

All plans start with a 14-day free trial; no credit card; payment is collected only when the trial ends. Prices in AUD: Solo is billed monthly; team plans annual includes one month free, monthly billed each month.

FAQ

Questions, answered

What does Hive do?

Scan a Houdini project folder, validate asset naming across HDAs and caches, check the standard $JOB structure, inventory HDAs with version and orphan detection, run an engine-handoff check and export reports; all in your browser.

Which Houdini versions are supported?

Houdini 19.5 through 20.5. Because it works on your project's folder layout and file names rather than a specific build, it's not tied to one version.

Does it open my .hip files?

No. It doesn't open or read the internals of .hip/.hiplc scenes and it doesn't run inside Houdini. It validates names, the $JOB structure and HDA versioning on disk; never what's inside your scene.

Which browsers do I need?

Scanning a real project folder uses the File System Access API, so it needs Chrome or Edge. Other browsers fall back to a file picker.

Where is my project data stored?

In your browser (localStorage). We never upload the contents of your project; only your account and subscription status, via Supabase and Stripe.

Is there a free trial?

Yes; every plan starts with a 14-day free trial that needs no credit card; we only ask for payment when your trial ends. Solo is A$9/month for one seat; Studio and Enterprise add team seats.

Bring order to your Houdini projects.Scan, validate & hand off.