www.flickr.com
|
Add a Between the Lines Image Badge to your site.
Click Here
A HUGE Thank You to John, Duff, and Dan for giving us Autodesk and AutoCAD. For many of us it not only changed an industry but also changed many lives,
While there was a product named Microcad purchased by Autodesk before AutoCAD, it did not become AutoCAD although some incorrectly thought it did.
Cheers,
Shaan
I have now rolled my 10 year old unofficial AutoCAD History website into this blog for easier maintaining and updates. Check it out on my left sidebar of this blog under the Spotlight Pages section. Much more formatting and illustrations and images will be added. Since there were millions of hits to the old history site I figured it was time to do something more with it and make it easier to maintain.
Cheers,
Shaan
AutoCAD Trivia : In my recent posting For AutoCAD Geeks - Command and System Variables Map and Trivia I mentioned AutoCAD R14.01 was code named Pinetop, and asked what was this reference to, and why?
Nobody wanted to take a guess...
Answer: The codename Pinetop was based on Pinetop Arizona since AutoCAD R14 was code named Sedona.
Just for fun here is a quick Google Map I put together for code names that I know that referenced geographic locations. Many different industries use code names for unreleased or in progress projects and that is definitely true in the software industry. Autodesk has been using code names of products for 25+ years as in some cases the products name is not even finalized. There is no real scientific method nor is there a designated code name person. The code name is usually the result of a product manager and sometimes they are themes like ski resorts, cars, beers, movies, movie characters, Greek mythology, places, and cities. Currently with over 100 active beta and research projects at http://myfeedback.autodesk.com there are so many code names I cannot remember them all and have to refer to my cheat spreadsheet to know what is what and who.
A question in a private myfeedback.autodesk.com discussion forum (we have over 90 projects ongoing during this busiest of season for betas, sign up) I had a question that reminded me about a great resource I helped start but had not looked at in a awhile. It is the Command and System Variable Map for AutoCAD. Impress fellow CAD geeks with the knowledge and if you can try to memorize all the commands...no no no!
I can remember coming up with the list when I first started with Autodesk 10 years ago fresh out of the mechanical designers world to the software industry which was a cultural shock and also during R14.01 code named "Pinetop" and it was like a speeding train passing and me reaching out and grabbing hold of it. I thought naively that there would be a be all end all list of Commands and System Variables, surely there was a master list with a chronological history of new, removed and changed commands. Well there wasn't and so I set out in the wee hours over the course of a month or two and came up with a AutoCAD R12 to AutoCAD R14 Map in a spreadsheet showing Commands and System Variables in a red, green and yellow color scheme indicating removed, added and changed. In its first year which was 1998 it was being downloaded tens of thousands of times and authors and teachers were always asking to use it which of course is why I created it.
After a few years I met a guy Lee Ambrosius who had more energy than me and new AutoCAD inside and out and so I gave him the data and the Map lives on and much more robust and improved from a database thanks to Lee's excellent efforts. Now since late in 2007 Lee too works at Autodesk and works the long hours with little spare time but he has to find another energetic person to keep the Map going or keep doing it himself. ;-)
AutoCAD Command Map AutoCAD R12 to AutoCAD 2008: Command Reference
AutoCAD System Variables Map AutoCAD R12 to AutoCAD 2008: System Variables
AutoCAD Trivia : How many officially documented AutoCAD commands and System Variables "sysvars" when I started the Maps for AutoCAD R12?
Answer: In AutoCAD R12 there were 875 documented Commands and 757 System Variables. There are some Commands and System Variables that were not documented on purpose as they were for internal use only and never intended or supported to be used otherwise. Also there are a couple that may only be in the UI. The count water can get muddied that's for sure but this is the official Autodesk documented numbers.
AutoCAD Trivia : How many documented Commands and System Variables for AutoCAD 2008?
Answer: In AutoCAD 2008 there were 876 documented Commands and 767 System Variables. Yes only one new Command since AutoCAD R12, OK not really as there were many old retired Commands and many new that took their places like ASCTEXT which was retired and remapped in AutoCAD R13 to MTEXT not too mention the changed Command count.
I will be turning my AutoCAD History site into a nice new blog when I get a chance so that it is all indexed nicely and can be searched, indexed and maintained more easily. Shaan's Unofficial AutoCAD History Site I am also considering localized language version of the commands as well and perhaps someday vertical products but that all depends on time. Maybe a wiki someday to manage it in the public domain so people can add, edit or update it for a single list that everyone agrees on.
AutoCAD Trivia : I mentioned AutoCAD R14.01 was code named Pinetop, what was this reference to and why?
Answer: post your answer to this blog post. :-)
Cheers,
Shaan
For those that did not see it at AU or in their mailbox I was placed on the cover of the current November 2007 AUGIWorld Magazine with an interview about Autodesk\AutoCAD history over the past 25 years in the issue. Some AU attendees even came and got the issue autographed although I am not sure if they were just having fun and goofing.
You can read the issue online in electronic format at the following link.
AUGI World electronic November 2007 Issue
Cheers,
Shaan
I have created a Flickr group for people to place their photos taken during Autodesk University 2007 in Las Vegas November 27th to the 31st 2007. Flickr is a free photo sharing site where you can upload,share, geotag your photos on a map, and add titles and descriptions to the photos. Spread the word!
Flickr Group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/au2007/
This Flickr Group is for sharing photos taken during the Autodesk University 2007 held in Las Vegas November 27th to the 31st 2007. Please tag your photos with "Autodesk University 2007" and if possible geotag them on a map. Also describe who is in the photo and please keep them PG rated. ;-)
Past Autodesk University photos are also available to view but I am still working on titling and adding descriptions..
See you at AU and Flickr
Shaan
http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/
Flickr Gallery http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/
Stop by and meet the Autodesk MyFeedback Team if attending Autodesk University 2007 in Las Vegas. We will have booth #900. We will have a great deal of Autodesk 25 year memorabilia as well as holding a clay modeling competition which I am tentatively calling 3 names currently "What you create in Vegas, stays in Vegas", " Weapons of Mass Construction", or "Shape the Future of Autodesk Products", with the last name most likely the tagline. Since modeling clay, playdough, or silly putty is no longer allowed on airlines checked or unchecked we want people to return the clay as a sculpture to our booth for review, study, discussion, and photos. We will give some prizes instead of you getting overly searched by the airport security personnel upon departure. While this is in Vegas, this competition is G rated folks.
Now the answer to who was the mystery person in the photo with me in my post on 10/13/07 "Who is the masked person with me?". Jimmy Bergmark in the comments wins as it was indeed the legendary Mr. John Walker the founder of Autodesk and now the owner of popular website http://www.fourmilab.ch/.
It was an absolute pleasure to meet the founder of Autodesk this summer while I was traveling in Switzerland this summer. He was so very friendly and has a memory like no other person I have met before. It was a CAD Geeks dream come true. I made sure to tell John how much of an impact he made on many of us who started on AutoCAD. I will reveal more details on this exciting visit in the future in this 25th anniversary of Autodesk.
Shaan Hurley & John Walker
Cheers,
Shaan
I just released a new updated 25 Year AutoCAD Timeline image in celebration that this is the 25th Anniversary of Autodesk and AutoCAD. http://lp.adskhost.com/index.php/1391.html
Cheers,
Shaan
And preferably with a digitizer. Why, well I am planning on setting this up at Autodesk University for people to run early versions of AutoCAD and see what it was like and how far it has came in 25 years. If you have a old 286/386 with DOS and works please contact me to discuss at shaan@autodesk.com. One of those old 386 laptops would be great as well but it would have to allow a 5 1/2" floppy. :-)
Jimmy Bergmark is definitely an AutoCAD Guru. When I first met Jimmy online years ago I often wondered if he slept as I could email him at any time of the day and he would reply in about 30 minutes from Sweden. I envisioned he had some sort of email alarm that would awaken him.
I love one his quotes "if AutoCAD hadn’t evolving in this good way I don’t think I still used it as much as I do"
Thanks for mentioning the http://myfeedback.autodesk.com where others can help shape the future of Autodesk products. It wont be much longer and we will be launching the MyFeedback Community 2.0.
Read the good interview of Jimmy by Franco Folini of NOVEDGE.
An Interview with Jimmy Bergmark, AutoCAD Guru
Cheers,
Shaan
In this year that is the 25th year of AutoCAD and Autodesk, New Zealand based Jon Benstead posted on his http://www.cadit.net blog a about AutoCAD history from a 20+ year AutoCAD veteran/legend/survivor. The story and photos are priceless to those wishing to see and understand the evolution of CAD and AutoCAD. The lettering machine will most likely make many shake with flashbacks or scratch their heads wondering what it is.
Thank you for sharing John.
Can I please share your images in my AutoCAD History images on Flickr or if you have a Flickr account (free btw) you can tag them with AutoCAD History and I will then add them to the group collection links.
And to celebrate you will soon start to see activities and celebrations. launching today is a fun site about the Autodesk AutoCAD 25 years with some information like trivia, timeline, and profiles and comments from some longtime Autodesk customers.
I love the "Legends of AutoCAD" and recognize the names and faces. I swear Rusty Gesner has not aged in the many years I have known him. It is also very nice to see Lucio on the front page. Also shown Jack Foster, Paul Laycock "G'Day Mate", and Carole Hibbard. Each has a podcast file you can play.
I know some of the trivia is fairly simple as I got 15 out of 15 my first try in less than 1 minute. :-)
I am trying to get a 386 with DOS 5.0 perhaps one of those sweet 45 pound laptops from the 1980's to run AutoCAD release 1 or 2 on at Autodesk University this year in celebration of the anniversary.
I started using AutoCAD in R11, when did you start?
Cheers,
Shaan
Autodesk founder John Walker has been busy digging through old slides and photos and scanning them to preserve the history of Autodesk and AutoCAD. It is always a delight to see what he has scanned and posted recently on his website www.fourmilab.ch in the Autodesk File "Autofile".
I have been so very busy with traveling and work projects that I have had very little time for much else. Here are a few things I have not mentioned over the past month.
We plan to provide the best community for product feedback, beta testing, usability, and other projects for customers around the world to shape the future of the Autodesk products they use. More updates in the near future on this update to the existing http://myfeedback.autodesk.com.John Walker the founder of Autodesk has kindly posted some new scanned photos taken at COMDEX 1984 where they were showing AutoCAD release 2 and CAD/camera. This was 2 years following the initial launch of AutoCAD at COMDEX 1982 which changed the direction of the company Autodesk forever.
http://www.fourmilab.ch/autofile/images/tradeshows/comdex_1984/
2007 is the 25th Year Anniversary of Autodesk
Cheers,
Shaan
The Hacker's Diet Online http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet
"How to lose weight and hair through stress and poor nutrition"
Those who know or read the Autodesk founders blog (http://www.fourmilab.ch/fourmilog/archives/2007-07/000862.html) will know the new web based hackers diet program has just been released after two months of beta testing.
John developed this weight loss program back in 1991 and it has really worked for many people but now you can set and track your participation in the hackers diet online. This diet has evolved over many years after John Walker took a different look at ways to lose weight and found a method that worked for him. The diet plan PDF book is a great read even if you are not dieting as it is from a true engineers approach to a problem and treating the body more like a software or process analysis. John is one of the most intelligent and funny people I know. When giving driving instructions, John would prefer to instruct you to take the turn 270 degrees exit out of the roundabout rather than the second exit of a roundabout. :-)
I am in the process myself of losing weight and getting fit and considering a modified hackers diet regime in addition to my current eating healthier and exercising more.
Cheers,
Shaan
Autodesk is celebrating 25 years in 2007 and we want to do it by highlighting those who brought us this far and that is you our customers, resellers, partners, and employees. We are looking for photos, stories from the past 25 years and not just the oldest we need the stories, highlights, and images from the entire 25 years. Please email me at shaan@autodesk.com should you have anything to contribute and also spread the word far and wide as I am trying to get some rewards for contributors of all categories.
Thank You,
Shaan
In light of 2007 being the 25th year anniversary of Autodesk, I am on a quest for all historical photos even box shots, customer stories, memorabilia and such that may be out there around the world. This also includes any historical photos of items designed using Autodesk products over the past 25 years by our customers. Please rummage through the closets and hard drives. Perhaps you have some pictures of the old Sausalito days or even back to the old garage days where it all started. Maybe you have a picture of an Autodesk employee when they did not have gray hair, or back when they had hair. I know some have even over the years tracked Lynn's hair colors and actually had a timeline in PowerPoint presentation at a past Autodesk University. :-)
I am offering up a new black iPod Nano to two people and perhaps many other special rewards in return like a special Autodesk limited edition iPod external speaker set. I would be happy to discuss any photos or memorabilia you might have so we could get copies to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Maybe you would like to be featured for your many years of Autodesk product usage and your designs as that might also be a possibility as we look for ways to celebrate the 25 years around the customer. Maybe you have some great Autodesk or AutoCAD Trivia to share.
Recent post on the request:
Twenty Five Years of Autodesk, and Request for Your Stories
I am also rebuilding my AutoCAD History Site so stay tuned for a updated version soon.
|
Cheers,
Shaan Hurley
Autodesk, Inc.
shaan@autodesk.com
1982 / 83
Have you been using Autodesk products for a longtime, tell us about what you have designed and done and your experience over the past 25 years with Autodesk products. Maybe you started with AutoCAD 86 or version 2.18 and designed a building and were glad to ditch the pencil, and now use Autodesk Revit. Send them to me at shaan@autodesk.com with the subject line of "25 Years of Autodesk". we would love to hear your story about how you have used Autodesk for many years maybe even 25 years and what it has meant to you and your career.
Cheers,
Shaan
Just got the call yesterday that the AutoCAD 2008 session at the upcoming Autodesk event "Experience the Possibilities" in Chicago is so popular that they have to add another room. So both Heidi Hewett and myself will be taking a room each for the afternoon AutoCAD 2008 session.
I will arrive Monday evening June 4th and present at 1:30 pm Tuesday. I have a flight to San Francisco at 10 pm that night. I will be around the event so chase me down or I may have a few hours in the evening or breakfast if anyone would care to have a chat and discuss life, design, beta testing, geek stuff, AutoCAD, Autodesk Impression, or how to be kicked by a Kangaroo and survive. Just shoot me an email at shaan@autodesk.com if interested.
Since it is the 25th year anniversary for Autodesk and AutoCAD I will have my AutoCAD version 2.18 also running on my laptop if you want to have a look.
"Attend a free Autodesk Live event near you to experience the power of digital prototyping, 2D and 3D technology, and all the efficiencies of our new product line."
Chicago
Date: Tuesday June 5, 2007
Time:8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Address: Map Link
Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 North Michigan
Chicago, Illinois 60611
More Info and to Register: Experience the Possibilities
Just a few highlights and lowlights of last weeks trip to give some presentations in far away but beautiful Hobart Tasmania. It was also the 20th anniversary of Autodesk incorporation in Australia. I spent most of the time working while there but snuck out occasionally to take in the local scenery and food.
Highlights
People! Tasmania had some of the nicest people I have ever met in all of my travels. If you ever needed directions, tips on what to eat or see, what was the best beer, you got a real friendly answer.
Seafood especially the crayfish (we call em lobsters)
Wildlife Kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian Devils, Cockatoos, Jack Jumpers, Echidnas, and platypuses are among some of the unique critters down here.
Food, seriously I have been so very good on my eating and losing weight and hitting the gym weekly but last week I bet I gained 5 pounds.
Wine & Beer, Local Cascade Beer and MooBrew are top notch and the wines from Moorilla winery were unique especially their white sparkling and white pinot.
Lowlights
My trip photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/sets/72157600205956148/
Map of photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/sets/72157600205956148/map/
Tasmania gets two thumbs up for me!
Thanks to the RSS feed of a blog post of Autodesk founder John Walker's blog "Fourmilog: None Dare Call It Reason", 
April 26th is the anniversary when Autodesk began its first day as a real certified corporation by issuing stock to the start-up company founders.
I told someone not too long ago when discussing the 25 year milestone that if I ever get to our Switzerland office, I was going to look up John. Hopefully he could take a minute of his time and I could get to meet the man who started Autodesk. Who knows, maybe I will have to email him and ask if we can at least have a quick phone conversation but what would I ask, so many questions.
Wow, 25 years...So many careers started from the Autodesk founders dedication, innovation, and hard work and continued by the legions of deskers and Autodesk customers all over the world ever since.
John Walker's Post Autodesk: Incorporated twenty-five years ago today
I thought I would share some screen capture
Recent Comments