Career as a ObjectARX developer?

[Anonymous]

I am a C++ programmer at a cross roads in my career. I love developing
ObjectARX applications, but when I search for opportunities in this area
they seem almost non existant. This seems like a very risky area to focus a
career on because it is so specialized. There just doesn't seem to be much
of a demand for it as compared to other C++ related areas. With the number
of copies of AutoCAD, MDT, ADT, LDT, Inventor, etc... out there, I would
think that there would be more of a demand. Or is it simply because of the
recent downturn? Or is it the perceived cost / benifit of customization?
Any thoughts anybody would have on this or the future demand for CAD
programmers in general would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to decide
on a direction. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We have 4 full time developers here and none of them know ObjectARX.
Lisp and a little VB.
I would think you would need to check with the CAD departments of the larger companies
in your area. You may need to know lisp, VB, the menu and toolbar tricks, as well as
ObjectARX .
We hire people to solve our problems and give us tools to satisfy our needs. If it is done
in Lisp, VB or ARX I don't care. I am learning ARX because I feel we have a need that
only ARX can achieve.
I can now see how knowing Lisp or VB would be a definite must. It would take a lifetime to
create some of our programs all in ARX. The VB code for one of our programs is 500 lines.
that would take for ever in ARX.

I am an electrical engineer, and I learned VB out of need. My industry(medical buildings)
is always looking for a good CAD developer. When we hire a CAD developer the #1 thing
we look for is someone who does not say "it can't be done"
You would be amazed at how often we hear that from our developers. We used to have
6 developers. The 2 that are gone had a real problem with "it can't be done"

We accept that people don't know everything, and a "I will try" or "I will see what I can
do" is
workable.
PS. I would think you could do better in other areas, we don't pay much more then 40-45K
for
our developers. I think that C++ programmers get better pay then that.


"Timothy Dean" wrote in message
news:B8F02FFA146DE637CA4C3AFD07400C18@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am a C++ programmer at a cross roads in my career. I love developing
> ObjectARX applications, but when I search for opportunities in this area
> they seem almost non existant. This seems like a very risky area to focus a
> career on because it is so specialized. There just doesn't seem to be much
> of a demand for it as compared to other C++ related areas. With the number
> of copies of AutoCAD, MDT, ADT, LDT, Inventor, etc... out there, I would
> think that there would be more of a demand. Or is it simply because of the
> recent downturn? Or is it the perceived cost / benifit of customization?
> Any thoughts anybody would have on this or the future demand for CAD
> programmers in general would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to decide
> on a direction. Thanks.
>
>

[Anonymous]

I was just layed off from a company similar to yours that creates shop
drawings for customers. With something like 100 drafters (AutoCAD) across
the company, I think the potential payoff for customization could be quite
large. The company has had some bad experiences with trying to develop
custom solutions and is reluctant to spend any money in this area. It is
very difficult to sell the idea of how it could reduce shop drawing
turnaround times and convince them to spend the money. I wonder if this is
a similar problem with many companies. How do you "sell" the benefit? Are
there better opportunities, in general, working for software companies that
create AutoDesk plugins? It sounds like your company is already committed
to innovating in this area. Are your programmers dedicated full time to
developing software or do they do drafting as well?

I am experienced with AutoLisp as well. Even though I don't know VB, I can
use the same ActiveX automation through C++ as you do with VB. ObjectARX is
definately harder to learn, but in some cases, presents a much simpler
solution. I had one somewhat messy program that I created in AutoLISP at my
last job that was solved much easier with a custom ARX entity. The previous
program added XData to line objects to represent floor and roof joists in a
building. The problem was that the users wanted to be able to break up
those lines for presentation purposes. I now had one, two, or more line
objects representing the same joist. When it came time to count the joists
for the material list, I had to figure out which lines went together to
represent the same joist. With a custom entity created in ObjectARX, it was
simple. I derived from AcDbLine, added the functionality to the object to
break itself up anyway the user wanted, and all the information was
contained in one object. This solution was much easier, although it took a
lot more skill and knowledge. I guess my point is once you learn ARX, there
are cases where it is easier to use for more complicated problems. Anyway,
thanks for the info.

Timothy Dean

"Mike Daugird" wrote in message
news:ADC8E0B9B5063DAD2BA487E7ADFDCFF5@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> We have 4 full time developers here and none of them know ObjectARX.
> Lisp and a little VB.
> I would think you would need to check with the CAD departments of the
larger companies
> in your area. You may need to know lisp, VB, the menu and toolbar
tricks, as well as
> ObjectARX .
> We hire people to solve our problems and give us tools to satisfy our
needs. If it is done
> in Lisp, VB or ARX I don't care. I am learning ARX because I feel we have
a need that
> only ARX can achieve.
> I can now see how knowing Lisp or VB would be a definite must. It would
take a lifetime to
> create some of our programs all in ARX. The VB code for one of our
programs is 500 lines.
> that would take for ever in ARX.
>
> I am an electrical engineer, and I learned VB out of need. My
industry(medical buildings)
> is always looking for a good CAD developer. When we hire a CAD developer
the #1 thing
> we look for is someone who does not say "it can't be done"
> You would be amazed at how often we hear that from our developers. We used
to have
> 6 developers. The 2 that are gone had a real problem with "it can't be
done"
>
> We accept that people don't know everything, and a "I will try" or "I will
see what I can
> do" is
> workable.
> PS. I would think you could do better in other areas, we don't pay much
more then 40-45K
> for
> our developers. I think that C++ programmers get better pay then that.
>
>
> "Timothy Dean" wrote in message
> news:B8F02FFA146DE637CA4C3AFD07400C18@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I am a C++ programmer at a cross roads in my career. I love developing
> > ObjectARX applications, but when I search for opportunities in this area
> > they seem almost non existant. This seems like a very risky area to
focus a
> > career on because it is so specialized. There just doesn't seem to be m
uch
> > of a demand for it as compared to other C++ related areas. With the
number
> > of copies of AutoCAD, MDT, ADT, LDT, Inventor, etc... out there, I would
> > think that there would be more of a demand. Or is it simply because of
the
> > recent downturn? Or is it the perceived cost / benifit of
customization?
> > Any thoughts anybody would have on this or the future demand for CAD
> > programmers in general would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to
decide
> > on a direction. Thanks.
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

I think that as an ObjectARX developer you would be in a great position to
get a job...with the right company however and provided you are willing to
relocate. ObjectARX like you said IS very specialized and is not
necessarily embraced with open arms by engineers and architects.

My experience is that these type companies (I work for one) are looking for
quick solutions to their automation needs. The idea of bringing in a C/C++
programmer to do their automation work seems overkill to them. The problem
I see is that they are typically uninformed about the capabilities of
ObjectARX and thus turn to VBA and Lisp for help. Another reason is the
salary. There are hundreds if not thousands of people who call themselves
programmers because they wrote a "Hello World" application in VBA and
deservingly so do not get paid all that much.

I would recommend looking into companies that focus on the development of
AutoCAD add-ons like Rebis, Eagle Point, Cyco, etc. These companies rely on
the use of ObjectARX to develop their products and thus are always looking
for talent in the field and will compensate you accordingly. You will
though have do demonsrate your talent beyond a "Hello World" though. 🙂

I am a project manager at my office but have been developing AutoCAD add-ons
for our office for 7 years now. I first started with AutoLISP and then
migrated to ADS and finally to ObjectARX. I know use both ObjectARX and
DelphiARX for my division; the other divisions hired VB/VBA programmers.


"Timothy Dean" wrote in message
news:B8F02FFA146DE637CA4C3AFD07400C18@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am a C++ programmer at a cross roads in my career. I love developing
> ObjectARX applications, but when I search for opportunities in this area
> they seem almost non existant. This seems like a very risky area to focus
a
> career on because it is so specialized. There just doesn't seem to be
much
> of a demand for it as compared to other C++ related areas. With the
number
> of copies of AutoCAD, MDT, ADT, LDT, Inventor, etc... out there, I would
> think that there would be more of a demand. Or is it simply because of
the
> recent downturn? Or is it the perceived cost / benifit of customization?
> Any thoughts anybody would have on this or the future demand for CAD
> programmers in general would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to
decide
> on a direction. Thanks.
>
>

[Anonymous]

I had the same questions in my mind when I was offered job at a company
which developed FMIS software and a lot of fmis consulting.

But I really diversified like after we created our software in ARX, I took
the initiative and offered to my boss to develop some internet based server
programs which will feed this info over the web.

Suddenly we became a ASP from a consulting company. We started hosting
client dwf files on our systems. We also let client query the data over the
internet. Finally we started editing data over the internet.

So my advise is treat ARX like any other API like win32 sdk / mfc. Always be
in the look out for new stuff to add weight to your resume.

General trend right now in the industry is people are standardising on 2
languages c# for .Net and Java for J2EE. VB programmer will eventually
disappear. C/C++ will only be useful for pure play software companies like
Autodesk/Microsoft. Most of the communication is done on XML. Web services
are in play too.

Best Of Luck!!

cheers.
jay










"Timothy Dean" wrote in message
news:1A42227EE71B9C23B10011E1749181ED@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I was just layed off from a company similar to yours that creates shop
> drawings for customers. With something like 100 drafters (AutoCAD) across
> the company, I think the potential payoff for customization could be quite
> large. The company has had some bad experiences with trying to develop
> custom solutions and is reluctant to spend any money in this area. It is
> very difficult to sell the idea of how it could reduce shop drawing
> turnaround times and convince them to spend the money. I wonder if this
is
> a similar problem with many companies. How do you "sell" the benefit?
Are
> there better opportunities, in general, working for software companies
that
> create AutoDesk plugins? It sounds like your company is already committed
> to innovating in this area. Are your programmers dedicated full time to
> developing software or do they do drafting as well?
>
> I am experienced with AutoLisp as well. Even though I don't know VB, I
can
> use the same ActiveX automation through C++ as you do with VB. ObjectARX
is
> definately harder to learn, but in some cases, presents a much simpler
> solution. I had one somewhat messy program that I created in AutoLISP at
my
> last job that was solved much easier with a custom ARX entity. The
previous
> program added XData to line objects to represent floor and roof joists in
a
> building. The problem was that the users wanted to be able to break up
> those lines for presentation purposes. I now had one, two, or more line
> objects representing the same joist. When it came time to count the
joists
> for the material list, I had to figure out which lines went together to
> represent the same joist. With a custom entity created in ObjectARX, it
was
> simple. I derived from AcDbLine, added the functionality to the object to
> break itself up anyway the user wanted, and all the information was
> contained in one object. This solution was much easier, although it took
a
> lot more skill and knowledge. I guess my point is once you learn ARX,
there
> are cases where it is easier to use for more complicated problems.
Anyway,
> thanks for the info.
>
> Timothy Dean
>
> "Mike Daugird" wrote in message
> news:ADC8E0B9B5063DAD2BA487E7ADFDCFF5@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > We have 4 full time developers here and none of them know ObjectARX.
> > Lisp and a little VB.
> > I would think you would need to check with the CAD departments of the
> larger companies
> > in your area. You may need to know lisp, VB, the menu and toolbar
> tricks, as well as
> > ObjectARX .
> > We hire people to solve our problems and give us tools to satisfy our
> needs. If it is done
> > in Lisp, VB or ARX I don't care. I am learning ARX because I feel we
have
> a need that
> > only ARX can achieve.
> > I can now see how knowing Lisp or VB would be a definite must. It would
> take a lifetime to
> > create some of our programs all in ARX. The VB code for one of our
> programs is 500 lines.
> > that would take for ever in ARX.
> >
> > I am an electrical engineer, and I learned VB out of need. My
> industry(medical buildings)
> > is always looking for a good CAD developer. When we hire a CAD
developer
> the #1 thing
> > we look for is someone who does not say "it can't be done"
> > You would be amazed at how often we hear that from our developers. We
used
> to have
> > 6 developers. The 2 that are gone had a real problem with "it can't be
> done"
> >
> > We accept that people don't know everything, and a "I will try" or "I
will
> see what I can
> > do" is
> > workable.
> > PS. I would think you could do better in other areas, we don't pay much
> more then 40-45K
> > for
> > our developers. I think that C++ programmers get better pay then that.
> >
> >
> > "Timothy Dean" wrote in message
> > news:B8F02FFA146DE637CA4C3AFD07400C18@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > I am a C++ programmer at a cross roads in my career. I love
developing
> > > ObjectARX applications, but when I search for opportunities in this
area
> > > they seem almost non existant. This seems like a very risky area to
> focus a
> > > career on because it is so specialized. There just doesn't seem to be
m
> uch
> > > of a demand for it as compared to other C++ related areas. With the
> number
> > > of copies of AutoCAD, MDT, ADT, LDT, Inventor, etc... out there, I
would
> > > think that there would be more of a demand. Or is it simply because
of
> the
> > > recent downturn? Or is it the perceived cost / benifit of
> customization?
> > > Any thoughts anybody would have on this or the future demand for CAD
> > > programmers in general would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to
> decide
> > > on a direction. Thanks.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

> migrated to ADS and finally to ObjectARX. I know use both ObjectARX and
> DelphiARX for my division; the other divisions hired VB/VBA programmers.

What is DelphiARX?? this is the first I've heard of this...sounds
interesting!

[Anonymous]

Visit http://www.hirate.com/software/indexe.html for more information. You
can download some apps I've developed with DelphiARX at www.nethugo.com

If you are a Delphi programmer and don't have time to do the C/C++ thing,
you'll appreciate what DelphiARX has to offer. Like anything else, it has
its limitations and support is also limited so use wisely.

Hugo


"Jon Rizzo" wrote in message
news:5A6641A6A9CA61F2C30A942B88F3FAA7@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > migrated to ADS and finally to ObjectARX. I know use both ObjectARX and
> > DelphiARX for my division; the other divisions hired VB/VBA programmers.
>
> What is DelphiARX?? this is the first I've heard of this...sounds
> interesting!
>
>

[Anonymous]

I have a little different experience with the phrase "it can't be done." I
say it only after exhausting all the possibilities. And then, after I say
it, something in my being goes into overdrive, and then a workable idea will
frequently surface within 24 hours, sometimes waking me up in the night. I
hate that, because I can't record it on my time card. 😃 I mainly do
AutoLISP, with some VBA, but I peek into this newsgroup occasionally because
I want to eventually understand ObjectARX as well.

"Mike Daugird" wrote in message
news:ADC8E0B9B5063DAD2BA487E7ADFDCFF5@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> We have 4 full time developers here and none of them know ObjectARX.
> Lisp and a little VB.
> I would think you would need to check with the CAD departments of the
larger companies
> in your area. You may need to know lisp, VB, the menu and toolbar
tricks, as well as
> ObjectARX .
> We hire people to solve our problems and give us tools to satisfy our
needs. If it is done
> in Lisp, VB or ARX I don't care. I am learning ARX because I feel we have
a need that
> only ARX can achieve.
> I can now see how knowing Lisp or VB would be a definite must. It would
take a lifetime to
> create some of our programs all in ARX. The VB code for one of our
programs is 500 lines.
> that would take for ever in ARX.
>
> I am an electrical engineer, and I learned VB out of need. My
industry(medical buildings)
> is always looking for a good CAD developer. When we hire a CAD developer
the #1 thing
> we look for is someone who does not say "it can't be done"
> You would be amazed at how often we hear that from our developers. We used
to have
> 6 developers. The 2 that are gone had a real problem with "it can't be
done"
>
> We accept that people don't know everything, and a "I will try" or "I will
see what I can
> do" is
> workable.
> PS. I would think you could do better in other areas, we don't pay much
more then 40-45K
> for
> our developers. I think that C++ programmers get better pay then that.
>
>
> "Timothy Dean" wrote in message
> news:B8F02FFA146DE637CA4C3AFD07400C18@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I am a C++ programmer at a cross roads in my career. I love developing
> > ObjectARX applications, but when I search for opportunities in this area
> > they seem almost non existant. This seems like a very risky area to
focus a
> > career on because it is so specialized. There just doesn't seem to be
much
> > of a demand for it as compared to other C++ related areas. With the
number
> > of copies of AutoCAD, MDT, ADT, LDT, Inventor, etc... out there, I would
> > think that there would be more of a demand. Or is it simply because of
the
> > recent downturn? Or is it the perceived cost / benifit of
customization?
> > Any thoughts anybody would have on this or the future demand for CAD
> > programmers in general would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to
decide
> > on a direction. Thanks.
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that this happens to...


"Randy Richardson" wrote in message
news:3AB46C51F2E2F0C20A2072A5BF1D7C28@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I have a little different experience with the phrase "it can't be done."
I
> say it only after exhausting all the possibilities. And then, after I say
> it, something in my being goes into overdrive, and then a workable idea
will
> frequently surface within 24 hours, sometimes waking me up in the night.
I
> hate that, because I can't record it on my time card. 😃 I mainly do
> AutoLISP, with some VBA, but I peek into this newsgroup occasionally
because
> I want to eventually understand ObjectARX as well.

[Anonymous]

And now, thanks to you, I can say the same.


"Jon Rizzo" wrote in message
news:B2EB5C5750C5D8D72786B27FB0EF18C1@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I'm glad I'm not the only one that this happens to...
>
>
> "Randy Richardson" wrote in message
> news:3AB46C51F2E2F0C20A2072A5BF1D7C28@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I have a little different experience with the phrase "it can't be done."
> I
> > say it only after exhausting all the possibilities. And then, after I
say
> > it, something in my being goes into overdrive, and then a workable idea
> will
> > frequently surface within 24 hours, sometimes waking me up in the night.
> I
> > hate that, because I can't record it on my time card. 😃 I mainly do
> > AutoLISP, with some VBA, but I peek into this newsgroup occasionally
> because
> > I want to eventually understand ObjectARX as well.
>
>

[HengYi_Smile]

What are u dong now?😀

[tim.dean2NN7N]

I ended up going into mobile software development and development of a high performance data synchronization platform.  I write mobile apps and am working on tools to automate the development of mobile apps that synchronize data into the cloud.  I am still very interested in writing custom software for Autodesk products, just haven't seen many clients looking for this kind of work.