AutoCADder

Many users need to edit DWG and DXF files only occasionally and they don't want to learn and install (and buy) large software beasts like AutoCAD. Sometimes such users also use obscure software platforms like Linux or MacOS.

For all these users there is now the "hosted" version of AutoCAD (OK, it is not called like this, yet) - the Autodesk Project Butterfly. Despite it does not support all types of DWG objects yet, its function set has been enhanced recently and there is no limit of what can be added to this web-based software from the standard AutoCAD function set - if Autodesk decides to do this in the future. Butterfly now opens and saves DWG and DXF files on any OS platform, just working happily inside your internet browser.

Of course it is a bit slower than the desktop version of AutoCAD, of course it depends on the internet infrastructure and hosted clouds somewhere in the US. But you don't need to buy anything (yet), to install anything and to take care about upgrades, patches and compatibility issues. An ideal tool for occassional CAD users.

Try yourself at butterfly.autodesk.com.

Labels: AutoCAD, Butterfly, CAD, DWG, DXF