AI Cloned Adobe. Is CAD Next? Not So Fast.
AI cloned Adobe and NVIDIA open-sourced a geometry kernel. That doesn't mean a free AutoCAD or SolidWorks is weeks away. A plea for patience, skepticism, and real competition.
Between the Lines Blog
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
Between the Lines Blog
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
Tag AutoCAD
Announcing My Free Autodesk CER Viewer for Windows
Shaan's CER Viewer 1.0 helps users analyze crash reports from Autodesk products by reading XML and binary .pb files. It's a free, portable tool that requires no installation or internet connection. The viewer organizes crash data for easy comparison and includes features for batch analysis and anonymization, making troubleshooting efficient.
AU 2026: Four Days, 64 Hours, and One Very Long Nap
A day-by-day look at AU 2026 in Las Vegas - product team meetings, keynotes, a crashed live demo, my standing-room-only session on AI and the CAD manager role, Rebelution at Brooklyn Bowl, and the 36-hour crash afterward.
The Autodesk Release History and Codename List Is Updated Through 2027
I updated my AutoCAD Release History and Autodesk Product Codenames page, covering versions from AutoCAD 1.0 in 1982 to 2027. The new entries include AutoCAD 2027 with the codename Xenon. Notably, the Civil 3D 2027 codename remains unconfirmed, while AutoCAD 2027 continues using the AC1032 DWG format.
Attend my Autodesk University 2026 Session and Braindates
The session "The Stack Inversion is Real" addresses the evolving role of CAD managers, highlighting how AI transforms workflows. It emphasizes that traditional CAD knowledge is less critical, while decision-making responsibilities grow. The speaker invites participants to discuss crash data and reference loops, fostering a collaborative environment to improve CAD management.
Doh! NVIDIA Driver Leaves acad.exe Running After Close
On Sunday morning, I debugged acad.exe lingering in Task Manager post-shutdown, linked to an NVIDIA driver. Disabling hardware acceleration in AutoCAD/Civil 3D resolved the issue. A clean installation of the driver also fixed the problem, which I confirmed through a newly found knowledge base article on the matter.
Autodesk University 2026 Thrive Guide – Back to Vegas, Back to The Venetian
The Autodesk University 2026 Thrive Guide by Shaan Hurley offers essential tips for attendees preparing for the event in Las Vegas from September 15-17. The guide includes venue highlights, packing suggestions, and advice on networking and session attendance. It emphasizes the importance of hydration, comfortable footwear, and enjoying the local cuisine and attractions.
The Product That Named the Company Never Shipped
Autodesk was founded in 1982 not to create AutoCAD, which emerged later from a product initially called MicroCAD, but to develop various software products. The pivotal moment came at COMDEX when the founders chose to focus solely on AutoCAD after its strong reception, leading to their success in the CAD industry.
The Xref Habit That Follows You Into Civil 3D, and the Curveball Waiting There
The article discusses the differences between the Overlay and Attach methods in AutoCAD and Civil 3D. While Overlay is preferred for managing references, Civil 3D introduces complexities with data shortcuts, creating potential mixed loops that can disrupt project workflows. Users must understand file dependencies to avoid creating loops before referencing drawings.
Podcast Episode: The Accidental Empire – Early Autodesk History
This podcast episode explores Autodesk's unexpected origins, focusing on its evolution from a UNIVAC hacker network to a billion-dollar enterprise. Key themes include the challenges of early software development, strategic decisions that shaped AutoCAD, and the company's growth trajectory. The narrative underscores the significance of primary sources in understanding this tech history.