October
28, 2003
Issue
#360
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O N T E N T S - - - - - - Is RaceCAD a Clone of Alibre Design? - Alibre's Actions - Q&A: Interview with RaceCAD - What Others Say - - - - - - Donate - - - Write - - - (ADVERTISMENT) Updated and Expanded for AutoCAD 2004! Tailoring AutoCAD 2004 is the first book for AutoCAD 2004. Download as a 204-page e-book in PDF format (US$24.95) or on CD ($29.95). Covers all areas of customization, from changing the user interface to writing toolbar macros and LISP routines. Click here to sample preview pages and place your order.
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Bentley Pumps PDF Bentley Systems is working with Adobe to optimize PDF (portable document format) for 2D CAD drawings. And Adobe says it is talking with unnamed AEC, mechanical, and GIS vendors to join in. One firm rumored to be in talks is SolidWorks, who already figured out how to optimize 3D drawings, renderings, and animations in their self-contained eDrawings format. uStn users can expect integrated PDF creation in MicroStation v8.5, due to ship by March, 2004. As well, ProjectWise server software will display and print PDF documents. In a telephone interview with Bentley and Adobe, I asked if MicroStation would ever read PDF files. The short answer, "Not now." The longer answer implied MicroStation may one day reference, open, and calibrate PDF documents. Indeed, the entire telephone interview was profound in its vagueness. Monday's press event was more of an opening salvo. But details are being worked on, and some will be forthcoming in early December. Details like:
This move potentially isolates Autodesk and its competing DWF (design Web format). It's difficult for me to understand the firm's aggressive anti-PDF campaign (since replaced by "DWFit"), and the puzzling "Design is not a Circus" slogan <http://www.autodesk.com/dwf>. Autodesk did Adobe's homework by pointing out shortcomings to PDF: DWF files are faster, smaller, smarter, and cheaper -- usually, but not always. (I don't use DWF or PDF for CAD, so I really don't care one way or the other, but I gotta say that the Acrobat Pro 6 reader loads painfully slowly, making me pine for the good ol' v5.) With results in hand, Adobe went to find a CAD partner, saying, Help us make PDF better for CAD. I asked Bentley if Autodesk approached them over DWF. The denial was worded narrowly enough for me to guess that some sort of communication had taken place. In any case, Bentley says it has no interest in DWF. Bentley vp A. B. Cleveland is quoted as proclaiming, "Our users are asking for broader and fewer standards... Does AEC need another format? With this announcement, the answer is ‘No.’" Well, I doubt that all 100% of MicroStation users are asking for _fewer_ standards. Still, the integration of a CAD-friendly dialect of PDF is a good thing for end-users, but a disaster for third-party developers, firms like CADzation, Bluebeam, Layton Graphics, and Integrated Environmental Services. A version of Adobe's one-button PDF creation software updated for AutoCAD 2004 is due by the end of November. www.adobe.com:80/products/acrobatpro
GIS Connect Haestad Methods I don't normally cover GIS (mapping), but Haestad Method's press release caught my attention: their new software allows AutoCAD to read and edit ESRI data. The idea is that GIS software is better at querying data, but CAD is better at editing data, running AutoLISP routines, and the like. The software was developed after an AutoCAD-using client needed to provide project data in ESRI format. They didn't want to switch their operators from AutoCAD to ESRI, and so asked Haestad to write a data link. Every time changes are made in AutoCAD, a live connection ensures the changes are recorded in the ESRI database, and vice versa. (ESRI checks the data to make sure it is valid.) I asked chief developer Scott Devoe why ESRI and Autodesk would be happy with his new software. He admitted he was more worried about ESRI's reaction, but both companies were pleased to hear about GIS Connect. He thinks that ESRI is happy because it keeps customers from purchasing Autodesk's Map software, and Autodesk is happy because it allows AutoCAD shops to keep their software, too. GIS Connect differs from Map in that it is specific to ESRI data sources. - - - The pricing starts at US$495, but you also need a license of ArcGIS v8.x and AutoCAD 200x. More info from www.haestad.com/software/gisconnect/default.asp Adena Schutzberg's in-depth review is available at www.gismonitor.com/news/newsletter/archive/101603.php#CAD
Is RaceCAD Design a Clone of Alibre Design? Alibre and others say, "Yes," but RaceCAD says, "No." From what I have seen, though, the weight of evidence seems on Alibre's side. In addition to Alibre, the OpenDWG Alliance, D-Cubed, and Spatial Technologies claim the software contains unlicensed code. At issue is the perceived reliability of Russian programmers; can they be trusted by American software vendors? It is important for the Russian government to take action -- if it is willing, or able. RaceCAD v1.01 was launched April 26, 2003 at its Russian-language Web site <racecad.nm.ru>. During the summer, the CAD software was hosted at three mirror sites. In early October, anonymous messages announced the English version on English-language CAD forums, including cadcamforum.net, cadalog.com, and industrycommunity.com. (There were no responses to the messages, ironically enough.) - - - Alibre's Actions In mid-October, a customer alerts Alibre that RaceCAD Design appears identical to Alibre Design, no doubt having seen the English messages posted days earlier. Alibre ceo Paul Grayson decides to take action in a very public way. He contacts the police, the FBI, the news media, Russian software developers, and the Web sites hosting the software. As a result of the article in last Monday's 'upFront.eZine', Alibre receives sufficient information by Tuesday to determine the name of the person behind RaceCAD. He is an former Alibre employee, who had returned to Russia after being fired by Alibre. "He was actually a good programmer, just very unstable," an Alibre spokesman tells me. Alibre examines the RaceCAD v1.02 code to find the Java class release number is 5.1 -- the same release number Alibre was at when the programmer left. While RaceCAD tells me that their software is not collaborative, but Alibre finds that the code contains all the needed collaboration classes. Wednesday, Alibre makes contact with the programmer, who admits to having the code. [To upFront.eZine, however, he continues to deny cloning Alibre; see interview below.] He attempts to settle with Alibre: Let me have the "Russian version of Alibre Design" in return for discontinuing the English version. Alibre doesn't go along with the offer; they want all versions removed from Web sites, and the source code destroyed. Also on Wednesday, Alibre posts ads on Google warning in English and Russian that RaceCAD is illegal. "Do Not download & risk legal action. Alibre Design is the legal product." As well, Alibre hires Joe Greco to perform independent analyses of both CAD programs. The similarities of screen shots, exported STEP data, internal file names, and program structure are posted at http://www.alibre.com/news/mediaroom/racecad . Thursday Alibre sends out a press release detailing further similarities between Alibre and RaceCAD, such as the pixel-for-pixel match for every icon. The press release is repeated by 'PC' magazine and other online publications. Friday, the programmer agrees to stop distributing RaceCAD. Monday, both the Russian and English downloads pages are "404 Not Found" -- unavailable. Grayson laments, "Probably the most we can hope for is to get him indicted for a felony, which would make it impossible for him to leave Russia even for a vacation without fear of being extradited back here for trial." - - - Q&A: Interview with RaceCAD I interviewed by email last week the anonymous person behind RaceCAD. Tellingly, he refused to identify himself, even after three requests. The differences between the story from Alibre and from RaceCAD made me think I was listening to two different conversations. - Monday 20 Oct - upFront.eZine: "Is RaceCAD built from the Alibre source code?" RaceCAD: "No, it's not. It's an independent product, developed in Russia since 1994, and we have a lot of customers. "Alibre uses 'black' PR technology, because they are afraid competition. If someone does similar that they do, it doesn't mean it's their clone. RaceCAD is similar to Alibre [,as Alibre is] similar to SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor, etc. "As we know, Alibre is promoted as collaboration CAD tool, but RaceCAD is not; it's oriented to individual customers. It's not our problem if Alibre loses their customers; it's a problem of Alibre if they failed to make competitive product." - Tuesday 21 Oct - upFront.eZine: "Alibre claims your product is based on source code stolen from the Russian programmers who do work for Alibre." RaceCAD: "Interesting. How can one person steal source code of EVERYTHING? Think about this." upFront.eZine: "Very easily. It happened two years ago to SolidWorks, when a disgruntled employee at an Indian software contractor stole the entire source code. He had access to all of it, because he was employed as a debugger. Read the full story at http://www.upfrontezine.com/upf-307.htm " "As proof, Alibre says that RaceCAD contains a beta release of a subset of ACIS unique to Alibre Design." RaceCAD: "We made this ACIS R10 build specially for Alibre :) Since it's not pure ACIS, but with our kernel-level changes." upFront.eZine: "So you have done contract work for Alibre, and would have access to the source code." RaceCAD: "Do you understand what this sign :) means? We meant that Alibre said that this build was made specially for Alibre, but RaceCAD's ACIS is our custom-build made just for RaceCAD." upFront.eZine: "Reading your Web site, I find it interesting that: (1) you have almost no documentation for a product that you have worked on since 1994 [just two pages, which RaceCAD customers complain about]; and (2) the people behind the product are kept anonymous [another complaint of RaceCAD customers]. Only people with something to hide keep themselves hidden." RaceCAD: "As you know, normally business is done offline in Russia, and Web is secondary thing. Early on, we didn't feel any need to present us online. Recently we decided to try the overseas market. We have a lot of documentation, and if it's not online yet, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. "Early on, our product was called EDS (Engineering Dialog System), but we decided to change the name in order to prevent conflict with the EDS company (Solid Edge)." upFront.eZine: "How are you trying the overseas market? In any case, the overseas market would not be interested in dealing with people who keep themselves hidden."
- Wednesday 22 Oct - upFront.eZine: "Have you seen Alibre's Google ad? It comes up when you enter 'racecad'." RaceCAD: "So what? They can do everything they want and spend their money as they want. Or you suggest us to change name? :)" upFront.eZine: "You may need to. 'Race' means fast. But in North America, 'race' also implies prejudice, as in the word 'racist.' There is a German CAD package called FelixCAD. Here in North America, 'Felix' is the name of a cartoon cat, so they changed the name for sales in North America." "The OpenDWG Alliance says your product uses their APIs, but that you are not members of the organization, therefore are using the code illegally. In addition, Spatial is looking into your use of their ACIS libraries, for which they say you have no license to use." RaceCAD: "We never said that we had licenses of that software, but it's another story." upFront.eZine: "Tell me the story. "If you really did develop RaceCAD legally, why do you keep your identity secret?" RaceCAD: "Do we have to disclose it?" upFront.eZine: "Yes."
- Thursday 23 Oct - upFront.eZine: "I understand you are now negotiating with Alibre over the future of RaceCAD." RaceCAD: "No. And one more time, RaceCAD is not the Alibre clone. If you want to tell us something useful go ahead, otherwise you tire us by useless bulls**t."
- Friday 24 Oct - upFront.eZine: "I have Alibre's side of the story, through their emails to me and their press release. I think you might like the chance to present your side." RaceCAD: "OK. Here is an our point, again: RaceCAD is not an Alibre clone. Alibre loses their potential customers; this is why they are going to do everything to fight with RaceCAD. And in this situation US justice will say that they are right (since in such conflicts US companies are always right; it doesn't matter what happened, and it's general US guideline). "But thing is, we are under Russian jurisdiction, and according to Russian laws, we don't do anything illegal. Otherwise, Alibre could easily close our site if we did something illegal,couldn't it? "They talk about that it's illegal, but they failed to refer us to any Russian law we are in violation. Only 'illegal' thing we do, we compete with them, but competition is not prohibited even by US law. "Don't you think that cost of CAD packages are quite expensive? Designers have to pay about 1000 bucks just for nothing. Our mission is to rescue designers, and make this market more competitive -- offer a free alternative to 1000-buck products. [RaceCAD planned to charge US$200 for the English version.] Similar has already happened in other areas, say GIMP / PhotoShop in graphical design. "But monsters like SolidWorks, Autodesk, and Alibre don't want to lose their money. Money: that's the key thing. Not legality, morals, etc. And if Alibre didn't fight with us, someone else would do it. "About the our name. Race came from word racing. Street racing is the hobby of our team." upFront.eZine: "I think customers want products that are reasonable priced. I don't mind paying $1,000 for software that will make me 100x more money. "I have been writing about the CAD industry for 17 years. In that time, I have seen many firms offer CAD for cheap, and then fail. The ideals of Star Trek's cash-less society are myth, because humans are not intrinsically good. "Your reasoning is flawed, because CAD is expensive to develop and support. It has to be $1,000, because any lower price will cause your company to eventually fail financially." RaceCAD: "Sure, since they have to pay money for rewards of bunch of useless managers. You forgot about Think3, who has different sales model. These Russian companies have good product with good prices:
But why do you think they are not in the US market?" [T-Flex is marketed in the US.] upFront.eZine: "The other flaw in your reasoning is that people will not switch CAD packages just to pay a lower price. Again and again, CAD vendors have offered competitive upgrades, which usually fail. Readers of my newsletter indicate that the security of sticking with what they have is important to them for many reasons." RaceCAD: "Exactly. Big companies prefer to buy well known brands, rather than stuff like Alibre or RaceCAD. But for small customers like owner of shops with two machines, price is the main thing." upFront.eZine:"You cannot compete on the basis of price." RaceCAD: "You are not god, future will tell us who was right." - - - What Others Say Evan Yares of the OpenDWG Alliance tells me: "We have determined that RaceCAD includes the copyrighted OpenDWG Alliance software libraries. There is no indication that the people behind RaceCAD are bonafide members of the Alliance, or have any rights to use our libraries." "Like Alibre Design, we use developers based in Russia. A number of other significant CAD developers also do so. It is critical that, when there are problems such as this, the Russian government responds (as the Indian government did in the case with SolidWorks last year) to avoid a loss of confidence and the potential loss of many millions of dollars in foreign trade revenue. "I talked to my developers at SoftDev in St. Petersburg. (They do work for a half-dozen well-known CAD companies.) They are livid. After spending years to develop the trust and confidence to do work for major CAD developers, this person comes along and makes a mess of things." - - - Mike Payne of Spatial tells me, "I would doubt that they made [ACIS] kernel level changes, certainly the version that we delivered to Alibre was the same as to all other customers. And I can tell you that I believe that the appropriate authorities are investigating this theft of Alibre's source code (which we think includes ACIS)."
Sorry! No other regular departments this week due to the length of the feature articles.
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