ArchiCAD is dying

[Bruce]

I know that's a controversial subject line, but I believe it's true. Not because I want it to be, but because Autodesk is an advancing monster; ArchiCAD firms are switching to Revit, and Revit-based firms are buying ArchiCAD firms...and switching them to Revit.

ArchiCAD is a great program, but if it keeps going the way it is, I fear it will gradually dwindle until it's finally gone. On a level playing field, it comes out more or less even with Revit (I have done a detailed analysis that has been vetted by Revit experts) - but it's not a level playing field.

In my opinion, Graphisoft needs to do a handful of things to even the odds (yes, I will compare to Revit, as that's the main competition):

1. Rebrand & revamp the UI: CAD is an obsolete term. Even though ArchiCAD was BIM way before the term was even coined, I think the "CAD" in the name does it a disservice. Also, the user interface is old and tired. Should it go to the ribbon? No way. Should it be brought into the 21st century? Absolutely - there are plenty of excellent examples out there. Blender, a free 3D program, is undergoing its second UI redesign in about 5 years. If Blender can do it, Graphisoft can.

2. Introduce type-based elements. At the moment, pretty much everything is instance based. If you place 100 doors 900mm wide throughout the project, you have to select and change every single instance (this is an example, so please don't tell me the workarounds - that misses the point). Essentially, this is extending the attributes database to other objects. This makes project-wide changes so much more consistent, with no fear of missing an element.

3. Easier creation of parametric custom content: A beginner user in Revit can create a basic parametric object by using geometry and dimensions. It is intuitive and accessible. This does have its limits, but GDL is completely inaccessible to any but the advanced user with a programming mind...something architects and drafties generally don't have - otherwise they'd be programmers. A mix of the two would be extremely powerful - maybe an interface similar to Visual Basic, or Grasshopper? Not only for 3D elements, but also for 2D labels.

4. Better labelling & keynote tools: At the moment it's one label per element per view. What if I want to tag more than the ID? What about material, thickness, height etc. Revit is excellent in this regard, and also in the ability to create your label format as specific as you please. Key notes are also critical.

These are only four key improvements that I think are critical. There are many others that I could list, but this post is already too long. I say the above not to criticise ArchiCAD, but to try and help (misguided however it may be).

I could be wrong - I would be happy to be wrong...but the Autodesk monster is advancing...

These changes should be done the Graphisoft way: not to match what Revit does, but to equal and better it.

[stefan]

datarchitect wrote:
The University teaching that many people pray is good whatever drives the acceptance of the software is the Market.

My personal experience from teaching 100+ students ArchiCAD each year: the majority don't care. Some of them stick with ArchiCAD, some go to Revit, but many still fall back on AutoCAD + SketchUp or VectorWorks, because that is what the design studio teachers are using mainly and what Belgian architectural offices seem to demand, still.

[Eduardo Rolon]

stefan wrote:
…
My personal experience from teaching 100+ students ArchiCAD each year: the majority don't care. Some of them stick with ArchiCAD, some go to Revit, but many still fall back on AutoCAD + SketchUp or VectorWorks, because that is what the design studio teachers are using mainly and what Belgian architectural offices seem to demand, still.

I have the same experience teaching Archicad to students. Forgot to include Illustrator on the list.

[NandoMogollon]

... and you can include Rhino + Grasshopper. which is very, very trendy specially with in the pure-design studios.

[Anonymous]

Archicad supposedly has about 60% market share in Norway.
I think this might be true wherever there are more small and non-cross-disciplinary architects. As soon as firms scale up, other skillsets are involved, like engineers, ventilation planners etc. and then you simply cannot avoid having something Autodesk in your office. If you are a major company with multiple skillsets, Autodesk probably has some huge benefits over ArchiCad, which, let's admit, is made/built for architects.

Our office has recently passed 20 employees but we recently stumbled upon a project that required Revit so now we've bought into Autodesk products again. The project requires us to work closely with a lot of other consultants throughout the process.

Weather you choose archicad or Revit I think has something to do with scale and profile of your office, and also on the projects and your role in them. If you are primarily the one designing the project before it's beeing built, ArchiCad is great. If other players in the project will alter things underway on multiple occasions, some Autodesk software will probably be used anyways. Some also prefer the number-punching workflow of Revit, while others like the WYSIWYG ArchiCad way of working.

[KeesW]

Is it? I haven't noticed. Went to an official AC18 launch last week and spoke to Graphisoft's AUS marketing manager about AC's low profile compared to Revit's. Graphisoft can't compete with Autodesk's unlimited marketing budget and is very selective with its advertising. It also relies on the loyalty of its users.

I am not sure that the USA is the yardstick for anything. Our US friends are too easily swayed by massive advertising compaigns, mob-pressure and snake-oil salesmen. If a company is rich, it must be OK right? Users in other countries are perhaps more discerning and selective!

As I understand it, Revit is best for initial designing but too slow for serious documentation of very large projects and many users switch to Autocad for this stage. Archicad can be used for projects of any size and users have no need to change. Like Mac, it is a minority player in a specialised market and serves its users exceptionally well.

[NandoMogollon]

KeesW wrote:
As I understand it, Revit is best for initial designing but too slow for serious documentation of very large projects and many users switch to Autocad for this stage.

I think the first is more a myth than actual fact; initial design could be done anywhere from paper to SketchUp, Rhino/Grasshopper or a BIM tool.
Out of all the factors that can speed up or slow down the design process, Software is just a smaller part. But if we are to isolate the software factor and compare, Revit and ArchiCAD are just as good / fast as the person behind the mouse.

As for Documentation in large scale projects, yes ArchiCAD outperforms Revit mostly in Layout / Sheets organization, the use/ reuse of Section/Elevation/Detail Markers views and for a large portion the Publisher. There is nothing near to the Publisher in Revit.

All in all both are very competitive and have different strengths. If a job doesn't gets done, the last thing I would blame would be the software.

Kind regards

[Anonymous]

Just for confirmation - no one is using Autocad this days to finish documentation. It's all done in Revit. And it actually works really good. I work on two bilion dollar projects right now and all is done in Revit. No Autocad in sight.
I have also noticed that majority of the large architects I work with use Sketchup in the initial phase.
I personally prefer the Archicad's workflow. But there are some things that are easier than in Sketchup than in Archicad.

[ZZTOTH]

arg617 wrote:
I also don't think Graphisoft is doing enough to promote their product - especially in schools. Just take a quick look at the required and elective courses in universities (in the US at least). They all require CAD classes (at least) and some are requiring BIM. Look at the software they use to teach with - all Autodesk.

So, if you're an employer, and notice that all these young people are graduating with a fluency and proficiency at a particular software, would you waste money in training them to use something else if what they use gets the job done? Most of the time employers aren't the ones that are using the software anyway.

Heck - I can't even find a training class.....and I'm in New York City! So how can I be expected to drop this amount of money on software and then essentially be on my own? (Yes, I've tried the training that Graphisoft provides. It's lacking to say the least.)

Dear arg617,

I am the Graphisoft BIM Consultant in the NY area and will be happy to introduce myself if you give me a phone number in a PM. I have ten years of professional experience using ArchiCAD at various firms in NYC and other places worldwide. Our NY regional team has provided custom training/implementation services (template creation) for our user base in the city since September 2013. We also have a full-day training course at the Center for Architecture in Manhattan every other month, in addition to other offerings (a three-hour, feature-based modular training course, for example) and several user groups and other events in and around the city ranging from Philadelphia, PA to New Haven, CT. We also have a great relationship with NJIT in Newark, NJ and go in there at least once per semester. From this we have a growing list of ArchiCAD-savvy young professionals whom we are happy to connect with firms looking for new staff.

I consider it our fault that this information has never reached you but this is a fairly new regional office and it takes a long time to reach out to all of our existing clients.

I am looking forward to working with you,

Zoltan

PS: We also have direct technical staff in most large metro areas throughout the country. I will be happy to make the introductions if anyone needs training outside of the NY metro area.

[Anonymous]

From this we have a growing list of ArchiCAD-savvy young professionals whom we are happy to connect with firms looking for new staff.

I NEED THESE PEOPLE - we're located in Lake Placid, NY
We need employees ~ please send me a list of people to contact or a way to get your our contact info please!

[Aaron Bourgoin]

how about some teleworkers. with spirit and imagination.