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Autodesk Embracing Open Source

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the fun-with-snowball-effects dept.

Seba writes to tell us that Autodesk appears to be embracing open source with the recent donation of their web mapping technology to the open source community. From the article: "A snapshot of the MapServer Enterprise source code is available today through the new MapServer Foundation, an independent non- profit organization with the mission of supporting and promoting open source web mapping. The foundation's charter members include MapServer Technical Steering Committee members, the University of Minnesota MapServer Project, the DM Solutions Group, and Autodesk."

2 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. From the mouth of Autodesk... by cutecub · · Score: 4, Interesting

    KQED FM's Forum program had Marcia Sterling, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Autodesk on their program recently.

    The discussion covered Intellectual Property in information technology.

    I'd be willing to bet, based on Marcia's responses during the discussion, that Autodesk is definately NOT embracing open source.

    Also represented on the program was the EFF and Stanford Law School.

    Link to Nov 21 Forum broadcast

    -S

  2. Re:Title is completely wrong by optimus2861 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "It will take some time, but an Open Source alternative could be derived"

    I wish you were right, but I just don't see how. I don't believe the intersection of AutoCAD power users (primarily engineers and architects) and Open Source coders capable of writing an AutoCAD-like application (top-notch developers) is anywhere near large enough to take this on. There is virtually no "home user" base for AutoCAD, and developers who aren't also power users are going to have little appreciation for the kinds of things that an AutoCAD replacement would have to do. This isn't something you can hack together in a few months and start getting those engineers & architects switching to. It's got to be top-notch, polished, have all the needed features right away, and near-flawless cross-compatibility before any of the pros will even give it a look. And if you don't have the pros, you don't have anybody.

    As an engineer who does some AutoCAD work, I have to say I really think Autodesk's domination in the CAD field is even more than Microsoft's in either operating systems or office suites.