Okay, so here we are in Leiden, The Netherlands for the ODA's first annual conference. I've got Randall Newton typing at high speed on his Mac to the left of me, and Deelip Menezes across the aisle in the hotel conference room.
We're listening to ODA CTO Niel Peterson outlinning all of the software the ODA produces, along with their capabilities. This is no longer *just* the DWGdirect people. For instance, allit takes to add ACIS to your CAD software is to get a license from Spatial; the ODA has done all the work getting its libraries working with ACIS solids modeling -- including creation, rendering, and editing 3D solid models.
But not just ACIS. They also handle rendering of Parasolid data in DGN files and have a lightweight 3D facet modeler.
Mr Peterson's history is pretty interesting, as he is candid on the ODA's triumph's and disappointments -- like the member who last week finally updated from 6-year-old DWG code to the latest code
The Platform
To begin the first day of this 3-day conference, ODA president Arnold van der Weide announced that the Open Design Alliance will no longer talk about "libraries." From now on, the term is "the platform."
Too grandious? Not when you sit through Mr Peterson's presentation and all the software available from the ODA. Next format to be supported: PDF.
The organization has 2,000 members, and this quarter grew 10% over a year ago.
(I'll have more in next week's upFront.eZine.)
Q&A
Mr Menezes asked where the ODA sees itself in 5 years time.
Answer: The ODA hopes for 10% annual growth. It also hopes that Autodesk stops seeing ODA as a threat, but instead as a partner -- especially since the ODA has its DWG platform working in the Mac.
I asked what was meant by the ODA's aim: "To develop a platform for technical graphic applications," because "technical software is pretty broad, and could include diagramming software like Visio-- "and PhotoShop," added Mr Newton.
Answer: "Yes." The ODA feels it can do much more than just CAD software, and that a Visio-like program is possible.
Commentary
We'll see. I recall when Visio decided they were going to be dominant in technical graphics, and then crashed'n burned in its first attempt to go beyond diagramming -- recall IntelliCAD? Even Autodesk had a similar plan in the mid-1990s, branching out to PowerPoint-like software, Chaos software, clip art, etc, all handled by the now-defunct Autodesk Retail Products division in Bothell Washington.
OTOH, those missteps resulted in significant impacts on the CAD industry. Out of Visio's "mistake" in buying IntelliCAD came the ODA and ITC (IntelliCAD Techncial Consortium).
Time for lunch; talk to you later.
PS: Next year's conference will be in Florida.
(Disclosure: The ODA provided me with transportation, accomodation, some meals, and a plaque in recognition of upFront.eZine's 600th issue.)
"It (ODA)also hopes that Autodesk stops seeing ODA as a threat, but instead as a partner --"
The rumour I heard from "usually reliable sources" was that when the ODA was formed, it was the "Open DWG Alliance". Autodesk was one of the first in line to join. They were willing to open up the DWG format, providing all other ODA members also opened up their proprietary formats.
"Oh, no" was the reply. "You don't understand. This is the Open DWG Alliance, not the Open File Format Alliance. We have to keep ours secret".
Autodesk promptly withdrew their offer to join.
Posted by: bf | Apr 27, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Nice rumor. But like many... it's close, but not *quite* true.
When the ODA was formed, Autodesk was invited to join. They weren't interested. They were invited many times over the years, and had no interest whatsoever.
What you're referring to is from a series of conversations I had with Carl Bass, in 2005 or 2006. His offer was, in fact, that Autodesk would gladly join the ODA, and open up DWG, if all other members would open up their formats.
Carl is a smart man. He knows that file format lockout may help him in the 2D CAD/DWG realm, but it kills him in all other realm. Trading DWG for CATIA, Unigraphics, Pro/E, Arc/Info, Microstation, and a bunch of others would be a great deal.
He also knows... that the ODA doesn't have the power to force its several thousand members to open their file formats.
When he suggested this, I asked how I was going to get Microsoft, Oracle, and Adobe (all ODA members) to open their formats -- much less Dassault. (I don't even speak French, and even if I did, they'd laugh me out of the room for asking.)
In short -- it's a red herring.
(I was president of the ODA until late 2006. I would have let Arnold van der Weide, the current president, respond, but he wasn't there at the time. But, so you know, I *don't* speak for the ODA)
And, so far as the comment "It (ODA)also hopes that Autodesk stops seeing ODA as a threat, but instead as a partner" -- that's a pure fantasy.
Economics make the ODA a threat to Autodesk. Further, the ODA's recent forays (e.g. platform software) make it even more of a threat.
Posted by: Evan Yares | Apr 28, 2009 at 10:20 AM