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Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

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Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#41

Post by galfarragem »

r2dnb wrote: post #39
galfarragem wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Architectural offices that still use cad, prefer ZWCAD, that is literally a Chinese copy of Autocad (with the same UI and even Lisp scripting) that you can buy for 10% of price. AutoCAD as a software is nearly done: Autocad 2017 is just a chromy version of Autocad 2007 despite their R&D efforts. IMHO their product is nowadays REVIT (3DMax has fierce competition and is a lost battle). REVIT is a product that is still…

>Architectural offices that still use cad Out of curiosity, what is the modern alternative to CAD used by architectural offices ?

BIM (Revit, Archicad and others. Even Sketchup is a BIM software nowadays).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#42

Post by dragonwriter »

galfarragem wrote: post #41
r2dnb wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Architectural offices that still use cad Out of curiosity, what is the modern alternative to CAD used by architectural offices ?

BIM (Revit, Archicad and others. Even Sketchup is a BIM software nowadays). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling

Isn't BIM an extension to rather than alternative to CAD?

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#43

Post by VLM »

bhouston wrote: post #28
leon_sbt wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was a heavy user of Solidworks. I switched over to Fusion 360. In my experience, I found Fusion 360 to be a better experience. The ability to do parametric modeling, surfacing, CNC toolpaths,PDM data storage, "cloud" FEA solving. Everything just works. I don't need to manage licensees from multiple vendors. Set up runboxes for simulations. Manage my own PDM server (PITA).Or re-learn 3rd party vendor specific UI/ter…

What do you think of the re-imagining of Solidworks that is https://onshape.com ? Have you tried it?

I've used it. It works great on FreeBSD and Chromebooks and the android app works. So far, I've never had the slightest problem with it. There's a good printed book titled "Getting started with onshape" that's not too out of date.

The irony of single price / single product marketing is I can only afford to use it for free for home woodworking projects. The commercial use license is far too expensive for occasional casual use at work.

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#44

Post by ComputerGuru »

yuchi wrote: post #9

Can a single damn news source stop using metaphors in their titles?… I infer there’s a huge lay off here…

It’s not a metaphor, it’s a figure of speech. “Axe” and “slash” are synonyms for “lay off” in American English.

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#45

Post by teddyh »

chli wrote: post #36
bhouston wrote: post #32

Much of the layoffs tend to happen in North America and Europe and the hiring is in China I understand at Autodesk. I do not have numbers to back that up though, but it is my understanding.

As part of this restructuring they are closing the European HQ in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, that's ~230 jobs. [1] We have our offices next door and I feel sorry for them. [1] https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/software-shock_autodes...

Hmm. The original founder of Autodesk still lives in Neuchâtel, Switzerland: https://www.fourmilab.ch/

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#46

Post by galfarragem »

dragonwriter wrote: post #42
galfarragem wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

BIM (Revit, Archicad and others. Even Sketchup is a BIM software nowadays). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling

Isn't BIM an extension to rather than alternative to CAD?

In practice not so. The design process is different: in CAD you draw 2D like you would draw by hand. In BIM you don't draw, you build a 3D model. That model will contain all the data about your building (materials, dimensions, etc) and you can analyse it on realtime. With a traditional CAD system (BIM is still CAD - Computer aided design) all data must be gathered manually.

Despite BIM existing for a long time, hardware requirements and unpolished software didn't allow it to become a true alternative to traditional CAD until recently (10y ago?) when it become good enough.

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#47

Post by aaronarduino »

leon_sbt wrote: post #30
bhouston wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you think of the re-imagining of Solidworks that is https://onshape.com ? Have you tried it?

I heard about it. I have never tried it. I believe the guy that started Solidworks and sold it to Dassault Systemes is behind it. I'll give OnShape a shot this weekend and report back. I like how they have a free tier for public projects. It lowers the cost of entry dramatically for people just want to "feel" out CAD. I remember when I was little, that I had to visit some sketchy websites to "try" out CAD. It's a gre…

Fusion 360 has a beta website based version that should work on linux.

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#48

Post by wlesieutre »

pzone wrote: post #2

The 2016 layoffs of similar magnitude didn't seem to make a noticeable impact in their software's update cadence. They are a company formed though an old sediment of mergers and acquisitions and I'm not surprised they've built up inefficiencies.

I don't think the update cadence will change, their yearly release numbers are a big marketing point that they're locked into. Press coverage from skipping one wouldn't be good, especially since people feel like that cadence is what they're paying for with the subscriptions.

That said, Autodesk has entire industries locked into subscription pricing with very little real competition. If they wanted to cut costs, they could slow the rate of development and get away with it (at least in the short term). Still yearly releases, but without as much in them. What are you going to do, cancel your AutoCAD and Revit licenses? Good luck working on any architecture projects!

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#49

Post by draw_down »

GFischer wrote: post #37
justonepost wrote: post #29

Lol, I just got an interview offer from Autodesk on Monday via LinkedIn.. Uhh, no thanks.

I've seen that plenty of big companies lay off people with the left hand and continue hiring with the right - usually for different teams on different locations. I'm not as enthusiastic to work in one of those megacorps as I once was, and yes, if they decide to do a layoff round next year you could be affected, but I guess that at the very least you'd have one year of employment there.

Yes, it sounds like GP’s problem is with the left hand, not the right.

And yes, GP could likely get caught up in the next round of layoffs. These seem like reasonable concerns to me. Not sure what your point is.

Re: Software Giant Autodesk to Axe 13% of Global Workforce

#50

Post by [deleted] »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #21
galfarragem wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Architectural offices that still use cad, prefer ZWCAD, that is literally a Chinese copy of Autocad (with the same UI and even Lisp scripting) that you can buy for 10% of price. AutoCAD as a software is nearly done: Autocad 2017 is just a chromy version of Autocad 2007 despite their R&D efforts. IMHO their product is nowadays REVIT (3DMax has fierce competition and is a lost battle). REVIT is a product that is still…

Seems premature. Sales of AutoCAD in 2016 were down, but still $600mm.

[deleted]
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