20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
Most CAD managers underestimate the significance of Autodesk crash data found in Customer Error Reports (CERs). Regularly analyzing these files reveals underlying issues affecting user environments, often overlooked by support tickets. Cer data can identify patterns leading to crashes and help implement fixes, thereby reducing user frustration and improving productivity.
A new open-source toolkit, That Open Engine 3.4.0, addresses long-standing issues in BIM workflows by offering an integrated 2D technical drawing system. It enables users to generate, annotate, and export plans directly from BIM models in a browser without relying on external CAD tools. This innovative solution eliminates licensing barriers, making it accessible for all.
My son Jake recently passed his Civil Engineering PE exam, a significant milestone for engineers. Despite being his harshest critic in school, he consistently excelled academically. This achievement marks the culmination of years of hard work, internships, and overcoming self-doubt. I am incredibly proud of him and eager for his future endeavors.
AutoCAD 2027, released on March 25, 2026, emphasizes AI-assisted workflows, featuring the Autodesk Assistant for enhanced user interaction with DWG files. Key updates include multi-user DWG editing, a Geometry Cleanup tool, improved layout tab switching, and significant upgrades in Civil 3D, especially in drainage tools, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.
Updated 9/6/2026: The PowerShell scripts in this post have been rewritten and tested end to end. The original versions captured the decoder with 2>&1, which fails silently in any PowerShell script that sets $ErrorActionPreference = ‘Stop’: the decoder’s stderr output…
Mike Riddle wrote a CAD program in his spare time and became one of the most important — and most contested — figures in AutoCAD’s origin story. Here is the complete account, including the parts he would tell differently than Autodesk would.
Wednesday, April 1st not an April fools joke). Four astronauts strap into the Orion spacecraft, sit on top of the most powerful rocket NASA has ever flown, and head toward the Moon. The first time humans have traveled beyond Earth…
The Accidental Empire
How a band of UNIVAC hackers, a borrowed plotter, and five long-shot bets became one of the most influential software companies ever built. The oral history Autodesk never officially told. Here are the Oral History of many early Autodesk founders and those in its early history.
A simple tip from Robin Capper can significantly improve Civil 3D and AutoCAD performance: dock the command line to the bottom of the screen. This change reduces cursor lag and instability by minimizing processing competition on the CPU and streamlining window management, potentially leading to a smoother user experience.
The offer period for unique Autodesk memorabilia, including early CAD manuals and hardware, runs from March 23 to April 5. Interested buyers must email their preferred items, offers, and intentions for use. Authentic stories carry weight in selection, as tangible items are primarily memorabilia from Autodesk's early days.
One of the simplest and most effective things you can do to maintain a stable, high-performing CAD workstation is to reboot regularly and keep your machine current with IT and hardware updates. AutoCAD, Civil 3D and other CAD applications accumulate…
AI tools are increasingly prevalent across various fields, yet many users lack proficiency. Anthropic has launched a valuable free training portal for its Claude AI models, offering structured courses for all skill levels. Completing courses grants certificates, enhancing users' AI literacy, which is vital for effective collaboration and skill development in technology and design industries.