AutoCAD 

is a CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software

application for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It was developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in
December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, notably the IBM
PC. At that time, most other CAD programs ran on mainframe computers or mini-computers which were
connected to a graphics computer terminal for each user.

Early releases of AutoCAD used primitive entities — lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and text — to construct more
complex objects. Since the mid-1990s, AutoCAD has supported custom objects through its C++ Application
Programming Interface (API). Modern AutoCAD includes a full set of basic solid modeling and 3D tools. With
the release of AutoCAD 2007 came improved 3D modeling, which meant better navigation when working in
3D. Moreover, it became easier to edit 3D models. The mental ray engine was included in rendering, it was now
possible to do quality renderings. AutoCAD 2010 introduced parametric functionality and mesh modeling.

AutoCAD supports a number of APIs for customization and automation. These include AutoLISP, Visual
LISP, VBA, .NET and ObjectARX. ObjectARX is a C++ class library, which was also the base for products
extending AutoCAD functionality to specific fields, to create products such as AutoCAD Architecture,
AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil 3D, or third-party AutoCAD-based applications.

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are available for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean,
Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish,
Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Vietnamese. The extent of localization varies from full translation of
the product to documentation only. The AutoCAD command set is localized as a part of the software
localization.

Computer-aided design is one of the many tools used by engineers and designers and is used in many ways depending on the profession of the
user and the type of software in question.

CAD is also used for the accurate creation of photo simulations that are often required in the preparation of Environmental Impact Reports, in
which computer-aided designs of intended buildings are superimposed into photographs of existing environments to represent what that locale
will be like were the proposed facilities allowed to be built. Potential blockage of view corridors and shadow studies are also frequently analyzed
through the use of CAD.
Originally software for Computer-Aided Design systems was developed with computer languages such as Fortran, but with the advancement

of object-oriented programming methods this has radically changed. Typical modern parametric feature based modeler and freeform

surface systems are built around a number of key C modules with their own APIs. A CAD system can be seen as built up from the interaction of

a graphical user interface (GUI) with NURBS geometry and/or boundary representation (B-rep) data via a geometric modeling kernel. A geometry

constraint engine may also be employed to manage the associative relationships between geometry, such as wireframe geometry in a sketch or

components in an assembly.

Unexpected capabilities of these associative relationships have led to a new form of prototyping called digital prototyping. In contrast to physical

prototypes, which entail manufacturing time in the design.

Today, CAD systems exist for all the major platforms (Windows, Linux, UNIX and Mac OS X); some packages even support multiple platforms.

Right now, no special hardware is required for most CAD software. However, some CAD systems can do graphically and computationally

expensive tasks, so good graphics card, high speed (and possibly multiple) CPUs and large amounts of RAM are recommended.

The human-machine interface is generally via a computer mouse but can also be via a pen and digitizing graphics tablet. Manipulation of the view

of the model on the screen is also sometimes done with the use of a spacemouse/SpaceBall. Some systems also support stereoscopic glasses

for viewing the 3D model.

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 2D and 3D design software for use in architecture,

engineering and building construction, manufacturing, and media and entertainment. Autodesk was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor

of early versions of the company's flagship CAD software product AutoCAD, and twelve others. It is headquartered in San Rafael, California.

Autodesk has arguably become best-known due to its flagship computer-aided design software AutoCAD. In addition to AutoCAD, Autodesk

developsDigital Prototyping solutions[2] to visualize, simulate, and analyze real-world performance using a digital model during the design process.

The company also develops Building Information Modeling software to generate and manage building data using a three-dimensional building

model. Autodesk also provides digital media creation and management software from film and television visual effects, color grading, and editing

to animation, game development, and design visualization. [3]

AutoCAD's native file format, DWG, and to a lesser extent, its interchange file format, DXF, have become de facto standards for CAD

data interoperability. AutoCAD in recent years has included support for DWF, a format developed and promoted by Autodesk for publishing CAD

data. In 2006, Autodesk estimated the number of active DWG files to be in excess of one billion.

In the past, Autodesk has estimated the total number of DWG files in existence to be more than three billion. [3]

Date of
Official Name Release Comments
release

AutoCAD 1982,
1 DWG R1.0 file format introduced.
Version 1.0 December

AutoCAD
2 1983, April DWG R1.2 file format introduced.
Version 1.2

AutoCAD
3 1983, August
Version 1.3

AutoCAD
4 1983, October DWG R1.4 file format introduced.
Version 1.4
AutoCAD
5 1984, October DWG R2.05 file format introduced.
Version 2.0

AutoCAD
6 1985, May DWG R2.1 file format introduced.
Version 2.1

AutoCAD
7 1986, June DWG R2.5 file format introduced.
Version 2.5

AutoCAD
8 1987, April DWG R2.6 file format introduced. Last version to run without a math co-processor.
Version 2.6

AutoCAD 1987,
9 DWG R9 file format introduced.
Release 9 September

AutoCAD
10 1988, October DWG R10 file format introduced.
Release 10

AutoCAD
11 1990, October DWG R11 file format introduced.
Release 11

AutoCAD
12 1992, June DWG R11/R12 file format introduced. Last release for Apple Macintosh.
Release 12

AutoCAD 1994,
13 DWG R13 file format introduced. Last release for Unix, MS-DOS and Windows 3.11.
Release 13 November

AutoCAD 1997,
14 DWG R14 file format introduced.
Release 14 February

15.0

AutoCAD 2000 1999, March DWG 2000 file format introduced.

(API

version)

15.1

AutoCAD 2000i (API 2000, July

version)

15.2

AutoCAD 2002 (API 2001, June

version)

AutoCAD 2004 16.0 2003, March DWG 2004 file format introduced.

(API
 version)

16.1

AutoCAD 2005 (API 2004, March

version)

16.2

AutoCAD 2006 (API 2005, March

version)

17.0

AutoCAD 2007 (API 2006, March DWG 2007 file format introduced.

version)

17.1

AutoCAD 2008 (API 2007, March Annotative Objects introduced. First release for the x86-64 versions of Windows XP and Vista.

version)

17.2

AutoCAD 2009 (API 2008, March Revisions to the user interface including the option of a Microsoft Office 2007-like tabbed ribbon.

version)

18.0

DWG 2010 file format introduced. Parametrics introduced. Mesh 3D solid modeling introduced. Both 32-bit and
(API 2009, March
AutoCAD 2010 64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 are compatible with and supported under Microsoft
24
Windows 7.
version)

AutoCAD 2011 18.1

2010, March
25th release of (API Surface Modeling, Surface Analysis and Object Transparency introduced.
25
AutoCAD version)

AutoCAD for
19.0
Mac

(API 2010, October

Mac Edition
26th release of 15[4]
version)
AutoCAD
Autodesk's first notable product was AutoCAD, a CAD application designed to run on the systems known as "microcomputers" at the time,

including those running the 8-bit CP/M operating system and two of the new 16-bit systems, the Victor 9000 and the IBM Personal

Computer (PC). This CAD tool allowed users to create detailed technical drawings, and was affordable to many smaller design, engineering, and

architecture companies.

Release 2.1 of AutoCAD, released in 1986, included AutoLISP, a built-in Lisp interpreter initially based on XLISP.[4] This opened the door for third

party developers to extend AutoCAD's functionality, to address a wide range of vertical markets - strengthening AutoCAD's market penetration.

Subsequent to AutoCAD Release 12, the company stopped supporting the Unix environment and the Apple Macintosh platform. After AutoCAD

Release 14, first shipped in 1997, Autodesk discontinued development under MS-DOS, and focused exclusively on Microsoft Windows.

AutoCAD has grown to become the most widely used CAD program for 2D non-specialized applications. [5] The native file formats written by

AutoCAD, DXF and DWG, are also widely used for CAD datainteroperability.

In the early 1990s, with the purchase of Softdesk in 1997, Autodesk started to develop specialty versions of AutoCAD, targeted to broad industry

segments, including architecture, civil engineering, andmanufacturing. Since the late 1990s, the company has added a number of significant non-

AutoCAD-based products, including Revit, a parametric building modeling application (acquired in 2002, from Massachusetts-based Revit

Technologies for $133 million), and Inventor, an internally developed parametric mechanical design CAD application.

Over the last few years Autodesk has pursued a strategy of acquisitions:

 On December 18, 2002, Autodesk acquired the assets of truEInnovations, Inc for an undisclosed amount. The assets were used to

create the application Autodesk Vault.

 On January 10, 2006, Autodesk acquired Alias, with its automotive styling and digital content creation applications, for $197 million

USD.[6]

 On August 6, 2007, Autodesk announced the acquisition of Skymatter Inc, developer of Mudbox.[7]

 On August 9, 2007, Autodesk Completes Acquisition of NavisWorks, Inc. for a purchase price of $26 million, plus a working capital

adjustment.[8]

 On August 20, 2007, Autodesk announced that it has completed the acquisition of technology and product assets of Opticore AB,

based in Gothenburg, Sweden.[9] Opticore is specialized in real time visualisation primarily for the carmakers industry.

 On August 28, 2007, Autodesk announced the acquisition of California-based PlassoTech, developers of CAE applications. Terms of

the transaction were not disclosed. [10]

 On November 25, 2007, Autodesk announced the intent to acquire Robobat, a France-based developer of structural

engineering analysis applications. The acquisition was completed on January 15, 2008. [11][12]
 On May 1, 2008, Autodesk announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Moldflow Corporation, a leading provider

of injection molding simulation software.[13]

 On May 7, 2008, Autodesk announced that it has completed the acquisition of Kynogon SA, the privately held maker of Kynapse

artificial intelligence middleware.[14] Paris-based Kynogon specialized in video game middleware and simulation.

 The same day, Autodesk also announced the acquisition of REALVIZ S.A.. [15] REALVIZ was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in

Sophia Antipolis, France. REALVIZ's flagship products are "Stitcher" software for the creation of panoramas and 360 degree virtual tours,

and "ImageModeler" software to produce 3D models from photographs.

 On June 26, 2008, a press release announced the acquisition of Square One Research and its flagship product, Ecotect.[16]

 On October 23, 2008, Autodesk announced the acquisition on Avid's Softimage, Co. business, developers of 3D

application Softimage (formerly Softimage|XSI), for $35 million USD.[17]

 On December 17, 2008, Autodesk signed a definitive agreement to acquire ALGOR, Inc. for approximately $34 million. [18]

These numerous acquisitions point to a trend in strategy for Autodesk : buy small- to medium-sized software companies around the world in order

to acquire their very specific know-how and to avoid the rise of potential future competitors. [citation needed]

In Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc., Autodesk was sued in 2007 by Mr. Timothy Vernor, who alleged that he was entitled to sell on eBay "used" copies of

AutoCAD software he had obtained at an office liquidation sale from an Autodesk licensee. [19] A federal district judge in Washington State denied

Autodesk's initial motion to dismiss in early 2008. In February and March 2009, both sides filed motions for summary judgment addressing the

issue whether the First Sale Doctrine applies to previously licensed software. [20] The Court ruled in Vernor's favor, holding that when the transfer

of software to the purchaser materially resembled a sale (non-recurring price, right to perpetual possession of copy) it was, in fact, a "sale with

restrictions on use"[21] giving rise to a right to resell the copy under the first-sale doctrine. As such, Autodesk could not pursue an action for

copyright infringement against Vernor, who sought to resell used versions of its software on eBay. The decision has been appealed to the United

States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In March 2008 Autodesk was named number 25 on Fast Company's list of "The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies." [2