When it comes to scripting and automating tasks in AutoCAD, many users and developers immediately think of popular languages like Python. However, AutoCAD already possesses a powerful, built-in scripting language that has served its community well for decades: AutoLISP. While Python is often heralded for its simplicity and speed of development, AutoLISP shares much of the same strengths—and it has been an integral part of AutoCAD for far longer.
In this post, we’ll explore how AutoLISP has the potential to be AutoCAD’s equivalent to Python and why Autodesk could benefit immensely from giving it a modern revival.
Functional vs. Object-Oriented — The Core Strengths
On the surface, AutoLISP (a dialect of Lisp) differs from Python in that it is primarily a functional language rather than object-oriented. However, these differences do not detract from AutoLISP’s ability to handle complex operations, simplify repetitive tasks, and enable rapid prototyping:
1. Plain Text Files: Both languages can be written in simple, lightweight text files — .lsp for AutoLISP and .py for Python — making them easy to create, modify, and share.
2. Quick Execution: AutoLISP code runs directly within AutoCAD, allowing rapid testing and deployment. Similarly, Python scripts often enjoy fast iteration cycles, making them well suited for prototyping.
3. Rapid Development: AutoLISP’s straightforward syntax (once you get past the parentheses) allows users to automate tasks in minutes. The same is true for Python, whose human-readable syntax encourages quick coding and debugging.
Why AutoLISP Still Shines
Despite its long history, AutoLISP has not been actively developed for years. Many have overlooked its robust capabilities. But consider:
- A Mature Ecosystem: AutoLISP boasts decades of community-driven solutions, tutorials, and documentation. Numerous professionals have built careers on optimizing and automating AutoCAD with AutoLISP.
- Proven Track Record: Large-scale offices and small teams alike have relied on AutoLISP for everything from simple custom commands to elaborate design automation workflows.
- Extendable and Adaptable: If we look at what BricsCAD has done with Lisp — expanding it, speeding it up, and integrating it into modern workflows — there’s no reason Autodesk couldn’t follow a similar path. The language itself has proven nimble enough to adapt.
In short, AutoLISP has the core qualities that make Python such a popular choice for scripting and automation.
A Plea for Revival
AutoLISP’s “golden age” may feel like it was decades ago, but the language is far from obsolete. It has a strong user base and time-tested functions. All it needs is renewed attention from Autodesk. A few focused initiatives could elevate AutoLISP to modern standards:
1. Official Updates: Revisit the AutoLISP core for performance and functionality enhancements, much like other software have done with their embedded scripting languages.
2. Better Integration: Strengthen the integration between AutoLISP and newer AutoCAD functionalities (e.g., model-based design, networking, data extraction, cloud connectivity).
3. Active Support: Offer official training materials, webinars, and community spotlights to remind new and longtime users about the power at their fingertips.
Autodesk already has all the raw ingredients for success: a stable language, a knowledgeable user base, decades of documentation, and a proven track record. It would be a matter of making the commitment to reinvest and modernize AutoLISP.
The Bottom Line
AutoCAD doesn’t need Python because it already has its own “Python” in the form of AutoLISP. This functional, fast, and highly scriptable language has saved countless hours for drafters and engineers worldwide. It’s time to bring it back to the forefront by dedicating resources to updates, integration, and community support.
By doing so, Autodesk would not only preserve an important piece of AutoCAD’s heritage but also empower a new generation of designers, drafters, and programmers to innovate using a language built specifically for AutoCAD’s ecosystem. AutoLISP has all the potential it needs — it just requires a fresh infusion of attention to soar once again.
