Thick-client CAD software such as Autodesk Fusion 360, must be installed on the user’s machine, with additional features made available from the cloud.

Without an internet connection, the features available are limited to a bare minimum, or none at all. Typical consumer PCs, mobile tablets and smartphones can host the client app, but they need a good internet connection to run the app. A small program-the absolute minimum required to operate the product-is installed on the user’s machine, but most of the functions are delivered remotely over the web. Thin-client CAD, or app-style CAD software works much like a smartphone app. It can be accessed anywhere, using any device, provided it connects to the web. Browser-based CAD tends to come with cloud storage, which allows users to upload and manage their project files online. Therefore, its performance depends more on the internet connection than the horsepower of the user’s own hardware. It’s architected from the start to run from a browser, much like Facebook or a Google Doc.

It’s designed to be used on a personal machine it’s not typically accessible from the web.īrowser-based CAD software, such as PTC’s Onshape, needs no installation. Its performance is determined by the CPU and GPU horsepower and the memory footprint of the hosting hardware. It has to be fully installed on the user’s hardware, most likely a workstation. Desktop CAD software is the established norm it still remains the preferred option for many CAD users.

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