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lekside44 (m)
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AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design) software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting, developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. Initially released in late 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, and notably the IBM PC. Most CAD software at the time ran on graphics terminals connected to mainframe computers or mini-computers.
In earlier releases, AutoCAD used primitive entities — such as lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and text — as the foundation for more complex objects. Since the mid-1990s, AutoCAD has supported custom objects through its C++ API. Modern AutoCAD includes a full set of basic solid modeling and 3D tools. With the release of AutoCAD 2007 came improved 3D modeling functionality, which meant better navigation when working in 3D. Moreover, it became easier to edit 3D models. The mental ray engine was included in rendering, it was now possible to do quality renderings. AutoCAD 2010 introduced parametric functionality and mesh modeling.
AutoCAD supports a number of application programming interfaces (APIs) for customization and automation. These include AutoLISP, Visual LISP, VBA, .NET and ObjectARX. ObjectARX is a C++ class library, which was also the base for products extending AutoCAD functionality to specific fields, to create products such as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil 3D, or third-party AutoCAD-based applications.
AutoCAD's native file format, DWG, and to a lesser extent, its interchange file format, DXF, have become de facto standards for CAD data interoperability. AutoCAD in recent years has included support for DWF, a format developed and promoted by Autodesk for publishing CAD data. In 2006, Autodesk estimated the number of active DWG files to be in excess of one billion. In the past, Autodesk has estimated the total number of DWG files in existence to be more than three billion.
AutoCAD currently runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows desktop operating systems. Versions for Unix and Mac OS were released in the 1980s and 1990s, but these were later dropped. AutoCAD can run on an emulator or compatibility layer like VMware Workstation or Wine, albeit subject to various performance issues that can often arise when working with 3D objects or large drawings.
Version history
Official name version release date of release comments
AutoCAD Version 1.0 1.0 1 1982, December AutoCAD Version 1.2 1.2 2 1983, April AutoCAD Version 1.3 1.3 3 1983, August AutoCAD Version 1.4 1.4 4 1983, October AutoCAD Version 2.0 2.0 5 1984, October AutoCAD Version 2.1 2.1 6 1985, May AutoCAD Version 2.5 2.5 7 1986, June AutoCAD Version 2.6 2.6 8 1987, April last version to run without a math co-processor AutoCAD Release 9 N/A 9 1987, September AutoCAD Release 10 N/A 10 1988, October AutoCAD Release 11 N/A 11 1990, October AutoCAD Release 12 N/A 12 1992, June last release for Apple Macintosh AutoCAD Release 13 N/A 13 1994, November last release for Unix, MS-DOS and Windows 3.11 AutoCAD Release 14 N/A 14 1997, February AutoCAD 2000 15.0 15 1999, March AutoCAD 2000i 15.1 16 2000, July AutoCAD 2002 15.6 17 2001, June AutoCAD 2004 16.0 18 2003, March AutoCAD 2005 16.1 19 2004, March AutoCAD 2006 16.2 20 2005, March AutoCAD 2007 17.0 21 2006, March AutoCAD 2008 17.1 22 2007, March first release available for the x86-64 windows version of XP and Vista AutoCAD 2009 17.2 23 2008, March AutoCAD 2010 18.0 24 2009, March 24 introduction of parametrics and two 3D modeling topologies: mesh based and solid modeling
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