@filipw, yes I think you point out a big problem about assets organisation in Houdini.
I come with softimage background were I was used model (.emdl) file, which is the .max equivalent, where it can save subset of scene (geo + material + anyway inside current selection for example).
Here there is hda which is of course more powerfull but not so easy to manage "simple" asset library of 500+ items.
Also, if you want to share project (for rendering purpose for example, or anyway) you may have to check option to save hda inside hip file. Which is convenient when you use specific production tool (even as indie user !). But imagine if you also have all this 500+ hda inside you're scene, it will became a file way too heavy !
Also if you have to share a simple part of scene for another user, by email for example, how to ? HDA ? and then other user must put it in a referenced hda folder by Houdini in env, then restart H. Not easy.
I also think, but just a personal feeling, that also explain why in all major 3d asset marketplace there isn't any kind of houdini specific asset format with ready materials (for mantra or other third party)
.
In the other side, the positive benefit in houdini is that it can copy paste part of scene from one session to another with an astonishing ease ! If it not replace a physical asset file it give some facility.
@oliver7, you're solution is exactly what H miss, I'll look at it !
Then, and sorry for this long post, is the new solaris library asset is able to save, along geo, materials from third party shader ?