Autodesk
Overview
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational software corporation that makes software services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. Autodesk is best known for its AutoCAD software.
History
Autodesk was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of AutoCAD, the company's flagship computer-aided design software. Its AutoCAD and Revit software is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures.
Products
Autodesk's portfolio of products includes several other popular brands and products. These include Maya, 3ds Max, and Inventor, which are used in the fields of 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software.
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
Maya
Maya is an application used to generate 3D assets for use in film, television, game development and architecture. The software was initially released in the year 1998 by Alias Systems Corporation before being acquired by Autodesk in 2006.
3ds Max
3ds Max is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images. It was developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.
Inventor
Inventor is a computer-aided design application for 3D mechanical design, simulation, visualization, and documentation developed by Autodesk.
Services
In addition to software products, Autodesk also provides cloud-based services. The Autodesk Cloud allows users to store and share designs and access them from any device with an internet connection.
Impact
Autodesk software has been used in many fields, and has made significant contributions to a variety of industries. It has been used in the design of a wide variety of buildings and products, from the New York Freedom Tower to Tesla electric cars.
Criticism
Despite its popularity, Autodesk has faced criticism for its pricing practices, with some users claiming that the company's subscription-based pricing model is too expensive.