Why is fusion cloud based?

sjeffff · ‎10-28-2018

I now use Fusion 360 for a few months now and I really like it a lot. I just like to know what the real reason is, everything needs to be in the cloud. Especially since it is so badly designed. No proper filesystem, but this weird project system instead and no methods to store project files in existing ordering structures. Rendering in the cloud is a big plus. But there is obviously no necessity to keep whole projects in the cloud just for this feature.

I suppose that Autodesk uses our cloud stored projects in order to do some data mining with it, cause the software is free (for educational use at least). So my question is, why is Fusion 360 cloud based. If the only argument is to make sharing easier for us as users I'd like to open the discussion on this topic since everyone I know. Who knows Fusion360 shares the same perspective on the cloud integration.

lichtzeichenanlage · ‎10-28-2018

To be honest, I don't understand users complaining about this. Nobody is forced to use the software and yes, I know that some projects have legal restrictions that might not fit to the type of software. But than just don't pick it.

IMHO Fusion 360 doesn't uses the cloud as a marketing term like other companies are doing it. File storage is not really "cloudy". Otherwise each f*****g FTP-server is a cloud server ;-). IMHO the major reason to call this product cloud enabled is cloud services that are doing the heavy calculations like

parts of the simulations
generativ designs

sjeffff · ‎10-28-2018

When I talk about the cloud, I am primarily talking about the way the files are stored. It is designed to look like a normal file storage system, but it isn't. You can not move files to the root directory for instance. Since there is no such thing as a root directory.

I have not created this topic to bash on the cloud integration. I just like to know why it is, how it is. Cause it doesn't benefit me in the way they think it benefits me. Cause they advertise the cloud integration as one of it's best features. While to me it is one of it's biggest flaws. Therefor I'd like to know why this dependency on the cloud is such a big deal in order to understand why there can not be offline storage.

TheCADWhisperer · ‎10-28-2018

@sjeffff wrote:
....to understand why there can not be offline storage.

Autodesk Inventor Professional is not “cloud-based”, but of course you can still use cloud based collaboration tools with Inventor.

Students can get access to Inventor for free from http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity

so students have a choice.

lichtzeichenanlage · ‎10-28-2018

First, I would think that they've written the software for you.
Yes the file manager is crap. But moving things to the root of the data panel is just not possible, because the root is the project folder. This might be a misunderstanding on your side.
For you cloud integration is just files. That's IMHO is one of the biggest misunderstandings.
For sure there can be an offline storage. It's just nothing they want to do. It might be a business decision and I can see pros and cons for it.

If you don't want a cloud based product, don't choose one... right?

@sjeffff wrote:
Cause it doesn't benefit me in the way they think it benefits me.

TrippyLighting · ‎10-28-2018

@lichtzeichenanlage wrote:

Yes the file manager is crap.

That about sums it up for me. That is E.X.A.C.T.L.Y what I think about Fusion 360 file management.

Ive been able to do more sophisticated stuff with Norton Commander in MSDOS 25+ years ago.

But we do have generative design 😕

lichtzeichenanlage · ‎10-28-2018

But because of the data panel / A360 interface, not because it's cloud based, right?

@TrippyLighting wrote:
@lichtzeichenanlage wrote:
Yes the file manager is crap.
That about sums it up for me. That is E.X.A.C.T.L.Y what I think about Fusion 360 file management.
Ive been able to do more sophisticated stuff with Norton Commander in MSDOS 25+ years ago.

But we do have generative design 😕

TrippyLighting · ‎10-29-2018

Correct, NOT because it is cloud based.

With the new "derive" feature we now even have a another great tool at hand to create complexity just to find that the data panel and A360 tools to manage complexity diminish the value of it.

SEIZMICdesign · ‎12-17-2018

From my perspective one of the big reasons to have a "cloud"-centric CAD program is the fact that you can log in on any machine, anywhere and have access to your stuff. Then as you and others mentioned, there are the benefits of the massive processing power that comes along with the "cloud" servers when it comes to rendering, generative modeling, sharing, analysis & more. I'd say that's quite a few decent reasons to have a CAD app cloud based.

I have no doubt there is some data mining going on as well, and I'm not completely thrilled with everything moving to a must-be-internet-connected platform. I'm one of the Mac users who's app will become a digital doorstop after the Jan update, but that's Tech for ya. Now I've got to either upgrade or get a new (to me) workstation.

But what am I going to do? This is my best option. I can't afford SolidWorks, and Blender really isn't ideal for most of what I want to do. And most of the other up-and-coming systems are all cloud based. Sadly, it's either get on board, or get left on the shore.

TrippyLighting · ‎12-17-2018

@SEIZMICdesign wrote:

I'm one of the Mac users who's app will become a digital doorstop after the Jan update, but that's Tech for ya. Now I've got to either upgrade or get a new (to me) workstation.

Depending on how old your Mac is you can still update to macOS Sierra, or even highSierra even if it is not available for download anymore in the app store. I recently helped another user with that. It might extend the life of your Mac for another year or two.

SEIZMICdesign · ‎12-17-2018

@TrippyLighting wrote:
... you can still update to macOS Sierra, or even highSierra...

Don't think I'll be able to do that without putting the 2012 chips in my '09 MacPro, which is my plan A.

daniel_lyall · ‎12-17-2018

You don't need to have the net connected to fusion when you are doing a model at all, you can remove the file from fusion before you put it back online as well, 90 days after the last time it was online.

Your files are on your computer and in the cloud if you want them there.

iotPZF5K · ‎12-18-2018

To me it is one of life's big mysteries. Well, not really, but it is one of the few major annoying areas of F360. Possibly the main one.

People justify the "cloud" by saying it operates transparently, just like everything was local. Well, not for me. Most issues occur when you either start the app itself and it goes off into the cloud to do whatever, or worse, you open (or save) a file and it again often goes off into that great cloud somewhere in the universe. Sometimes never to be seen again until you do a restart.

The other annoying thing is general file management, which others have already mentioned. Being treated like a child when it comes to file manipulation is not my idea of app gratification.

Anonymous · ‎05-17-2019

Nice troll job. That's not what he was talking about. Why bother to post at all if you're unable to understand what people are saying, then be disappointed at people you can't understand? Your post was not helpful or relavent. If you're 10 yrs old, i understand, otherwise, stop, re-read the post, and then don't respond if you don't understand the subject matter. Make sense? Good.

TrippyLighting · ‎05-17-2019

@Anonymous wrote:

Nice troll job.

What a formidable introduction to a new community attacking another very active and helpful user with your first post.

daniel_lyall · ‎05-17-2019

@Anonymous what part did he say that is wrong.

Anonymous · ‎05-17-2019

Sorry, your right. I must have misunderstood the original post about not him not getting along with working with the cloud's file system, and that sharing files and being able to access thwm anywhere doesn't apply to all users. As that isn't necessarily useful for individual users that don't share our projects with others, and only use 1 pc sitting next to their 3d printer. And that it isn't optimal for all of us to not be able to save everything we need localy. And as I like 123d design so much that I am interested in sticking with another Autodesk product, and was doing research, as the initiating post asked interesting points I wanted to read about, the reply from the person that's very active and helpful doesn't address what was said in the original post, and was snarky about the fact that we don't have to use the program, and talking about how thwy don't use the cloud for marketing like others, and how FTP servers aren't the cloud. None of which is in the original post. That doesn't really help. I'm sure Autodesk would love that you 2 are so helpful to users and seem like your trying to get me to not purchase a piece of software from them. So, I guess if you 2 represent the community here, I'll bow out. You win, I won't get anything from Autodesk. You guys are obviously screening customers for them. You win.

daniel_lyall · ‎05-17-2019

@Anonymous Fusion is cloud-enabled you do not have to use that part if you do not want to you can just put fusion online to get updates and that is all.

A lot of people go ape over fusion being cloud-based, when only a few parts are saying cloud-enabled would be more accurate.

The time and date of this post make it very old the online storage has changed a bit since this post and is better than it was at the time of this post.

Going nuts at someone for a comment they made many updates ago is a wast as they might be wrong now And correct at the time they posted.

Anonymous · ‎05-17-2019

I'm so very sorry to complain about the cloud in relation to Fusion360. I don't remember saying anything like that, the original post did. I did however say i was researching the software. Your absolutely right, his post about Autodesk not using the cloud as a marketing tool, and that FTP servers aren't the cloud, and that we don't have to use it were, I'm sure a cortect and relavent reply to tje original post. I'm as sorry as I can be. I give up you win. Let's stop this now, OK?

daniel_lyall · ‎05-17-2019

Dude No need for attacking people who are just trying to inform you of the way it is right now not nearly a year ago, some of what the OP said is incorrect at the time he made the post.