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AutoCAD Software

by Josh Riverside

AutoCAD is one of the most popular computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs, developed and marketed by the AutoDesk, featuring a full range of basic solid modeling and 3D tools.

The first AutoCAD program was created in 1980, by a group of thirteen programmers who met in California to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) system called "automated desk". The automated desk was capable of storing information and was equipped with a multi-computer communication system, a calendar, and an automated system for drawing. The automated desk soon came to be known as AutoCAD (the first version was AutoCAD 1.0 in 1982), which would eventually revolutionize the industry and become the most widely used CAD software in the world.

Basically, AutoCAD is a program for drawing vector graphics that employs primitive and fundamental units such as lines, poly-lines, circles, arcs, and text as the foundation to build blocks and create more complicated entities of group of entities. Its native file formats include DWG and DXF. AutoCAD also supports a number of Application Programming Interfaces (API) such as AutoLISP, Visual LISP, and VBA, for customization and automation; and its license-based API and ARX can be used to extend its functionality to specific fields.

Though AutoCAD versions for Macs and UNIX workstations had been developed, they were later abandoned due to low demand and market acceptance. AutoCAD is now supported exclusively by Microsoft desktop operating systems, and the latest version - AutoCAD 2006 - is only compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 2000 Professional (SP4), running on Pentium III, 800 MHz equivalent processor or higher.

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