Important Update: Compatibility Changes in Next Release
Automesher Application and Automapki Application are two popular plugins that provide advanced meshing and mapping features for CAD users. They are compatible with various DWG editors, such as AutoCAD, BricsCAD, and ZWCAD. However, starting from the next release, these applications will no longer support BricsCAD versions below V18, ZWCAD versions predating 2018, and AutoCAD versions prior to 2010. This means that users of these older versions will not be able to use our applications on their systems.
Users Update theirs CAD Software
One of the primary factors driving this decision is the significant migration of CAD users to newer platforms. The majority of the user base has already transitioned to the latest versions of AutoCAD, BricsCAD, and ZWCAD. These newer versions offer several advantages:
- Enhanced Features: Newer versions come with advanced features that improve your design capabilities.
- Performance Improvements: Updated software generally offers better performance and stability.
- Security Updates: Critical security updates are regularly rolled out in newer versions, keeping your system safe from vulnerabilities.
Another critical consideration behind this move is the optimization of installer size. Including unnecessary versions in the installer not only bloats the package size but also wastes the user's system resources for no reason.
Compatibility between BRX, ZRX, and ARX Libraries
Supporting older CAD platforms is also technically challenging due to the compatibility issues of the BRX and ZRX libraries, which are used to create plugins for BricsCAD and ZWCAD respectively, with the ARX library, which is used for AutoCAD. The older versions of BRX and ZRX were not fully compliant with the ARX specification. This required us to maintain separate solutions for each platform, increasing:
- Development Time: Maintaining multiple solutions is time-consuming.
- Development Costs: Supporting older libraries increases the overall cost of development.
- Risk of Errors: Maintaining separate codebases increases the risk of bugs and errors.
Delivering Cutting-Edge CAD Solutions
In conclusion, the discontinuation of support for older versions represents a strategic decision aimed at providing high-quality, cutting-edge solutions in the ever-evolving field of CAD technology. With the majority of users already migrated to newer DWG platforms, the decision aligns with the industry trends and best practices. Furthermore we encourage everyone who is still using the older versions of CAD platforms to upgrade to the latest ones, in order to enjoy the full benefits and features.