Autodesk: it's not a company -- it's a cult

[Wes Macaulay]

Some of you may be aware of the noise coming from the Revit user community regarding the new release and how many users are frustrated that long-standing wishes were not met, and instead we got a half-baked UI that might work out in the end, but was not asked for.

A widely respected Revit user and implementor (see http://architechure.blogspot.com) who worked for Revit pre and post Autodesk buyout has blogged clearly and humourously about the shortcomings of the new release.

And now he's being pushed out by Autodesk -- he's being told that he can't speak at Autodesk University, the annual educational conference held in Las Vegas. His sessions are a gold mine to Revit users, and he's become a mentor to many of us in our quest to master the software.

But he didn't toe the company line, so he's gone.

Do you folks want to use software from a company that behaves more like a cult than a software vendor?

Regardless of Revit's great features, Autodesk corporate culture is a good reason to stay far, far away from anything with their logo on it.

Just yesterday I spearheaded a session with a Vectorworks user, an ArchiCAD implementor and myself to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. The message: do BIM on whatever program you want. They may not be equal in capability, but it's what you know about YOUR software that makes you productive.

Cheers from the dark side!

[Bob Holtzmann]

Thanks for your open-minded comments on BIM programs, Wes.

I was closely following the "Revit Out There" forum of the AUGI website. And there were some important consumer comments over the new release of Revit 2010, especially over the Ribbon interface. I noticed from your comments that you did not like it much from a functional standpoint. But the comments did not last long, after Autodesk deleted the forum last week.

And it was a inexcusable what happened to Phil Read, for apparently writing comments on the functionality of the Revit ribbon. He had no obligations to Autodesk - he is not a reseller or tester, and he made those comments on his own website. So Autodesk's cancellation of his proposed seminar was a despotic act.

I have been a happy licensed Vectorworks Architect user, and a MiniCad 7 user before that. It is cost effective, and its User License has very reasonable terms, in that it does not terminate if I go bankrupt. Autodesk's User License has a clause which states that "licenses granted hereunder shall terminate without further notice or action by Autodesk if You become bankrupt or insolvent, make an arrangement with Your creditors, or go into liquidation." (from evanyares.com). So Autodesk does not like you if you're down and out.

But the Autodesk resellers are taking over my town, so I will have to buck up and learn some Revit - without entering into any licensed agreement, of course.

[Wes Macaulay]

Autodesk didn't delete the forum -- it's still there. However, only registered users can see these forums: so all those comments are still there.

I AM open-minded about BIM, and I like to see what's happening in the world of VWA. I've enjoyed talking to VW's development team about where BIM is going, and I hope VW finds great success in the BIM arena...

[Bob Holtzmann]

I'm glad Autodesk did not delete the "Revit Out There" forum, but I'm going to miss prying into its wild and wacky comments. :crazy:

I'm planning to work with a few local AIA members on a BIM workshop, and the powers that be already arranged for it to be on the Revit platform. It would be interesting for me to learn about what Revit can do - I'm suspecting the basics work very well (walls, doors, windows, etc.), but its 2D and 3D tools seem simpler than Vw - no converting objects, and the Object Information is brought up with a command, instead of a floating palette.

I might bring my MacBook Pro with VwA over to the workshop to give a demonstration in other BIM solutions.

There is always the option of using the right tool for the job, and Vw Architect does have its strong areas, especially site design.

[Wes Macaulay]

You should log in to AUGI so you won't miss any of the mudslinging as big sticky gobs land on Autodesk's front lawn :grin: There's nothing like your users to keep you honest

The generic modeling tools for Revit are buried in Modeling > Create (in 2009), or Home > Component > Model In-Place.

Revit's UI has typically hidden a lot of the complexity of its capabilities from users, so any given feature is easy to use. What makes Revit more difficult is that there are a lot of features. Plus, building your own door or window is something that takes some practice.

Revit users would love a floating Properties palette.

[Jeffrey W Ouellette]

Bob,

When is the workshop?

I would encourage you to demonstrate VW BIM capabilities, especially using the BIM in Practice demonstration projects. The two current projects cover a lot of ground regarding modeling, database reporting, and drawing creation.

I'll be adding another project very soon. It will be more focused on using VW tools to virtually construct a small project, to a great deal of detail and then using database worksheets to schedule the heck out of it, interactively. Less emphasis on actually drawing, as this can be gleaned from the Alexandria Lofts project, or even your own.

There will also be an IFC component to the project. IFC is another important aspect of BIM. It is the lingua franca of interoperability, an open standard data format vs. a closed, proprietary standard platform. I think more members of the AECOO community need to understand the pitfalls of moving down the "DWG path", again. Users/owners should own their building data, free and clear, not subject to the whims of any particular vendor. I see IFC as a part of the "Holy Grail" for the future of exchanging, storing/archiving, and re-using AEC data, along with PDFs.

Please feel free to contact me offline regarding this demonstration. I think it is important for your peers to understand that BIM doesn't equal Revit. Revit is a BIM tool, but NOT the only one, and may not be the best one for every person/firm or workflow. BIM is BIM, and any technology is only in service to it, a part of it.

[Bob Holtzmann]

Jeffrey,

The BIM workshop, or volunteer group should be getting underway in the next week or so. We will be documenting a recently vacant restaurant landmark. And a certified Revit specialist will unfortunately be running the group. Lately, the St. Louis AIA chapter has been running BIM lecture programs with Revit demonstrations, and no mention of alternative programs.

With the AIA providing all of the free Autodesk promotional advertising, it is no wonder that many professionals think that BIM is Revit. It's sort of a softdrink war over what's stocked in the vending machines. And unfortunately for us in Missouri, the Autodesk resellers locally based here are supplying the softdrinks. It started out as a free package that came with AutoCad, and it seems to be working. HOK went Revit, and so are many other big offices.

Meanwhile, I have recently finished a small commercial addition done in Vw Architect as a BIM, along with a Camera Match rendering for an exterior view.

My understanding is that the IFC exchange program is getting its direction from the GSA for Federal projects, but when I last checked, the guidelines were still in the draft stage. I have in the past noticed that GSA's BIM program recommendations have been intentionally unbiased, which is promising.

I think some independent professionals here and there are discovering Autodesk's evil plot to rule the world, and actually saying, "hey, this other BIM program can do the job!" But the majority of them are blindly following the pack and going over to Revit. But with some evangelizing, I hope to find the opportunity to turn the tide a bit on what is the best tool for the job.

[Wes Macaulay]

There are three things that VW beats Revit on:

a) it's not an Autodesk product, and the people at VW are good folk. I've met them: they're not the freaky cult types like you get at Microsoft or Adesk. It's not VW culture. You would gladly have VW people over for a BBQ: they'd make good neighbours :-)

b) price. It's about half the cost of Revit

c) better modeling, if you need NURBS and all that. Many practices won't need these tools, but they're there and ready to go if and when you need them

What's crazy (and cool) about database-driven BIM is that two people can work in the same detail at same time ("You work on the stuff on the left, and I'll work on the stuff on the right"). The ability to collaborate is huge. I'd love to see that in VW someday: the whole shebang in one file.

Autodesk isn't evil per se. They're just run by people who get waaaayyyy more cash based on sales. Now, it has been written that 'The love of money is the root of many kinds of evil.' So perhaps they are evil after all ;-) They are certainly interested in world domination!