Software development often feels like parenting—watching something grow from an idea to an independent entity with its own needs. As we continue evolving, we’re facing interesting challenges, achieving exciting progress, and planning promising steps forward.

The Challenges (The Bad):

Generally speaking about our software development, I’ve noticed a curious shift. There’s less room now for our own ideas—our software has grown up and is dictating its own demands: “I need those pants, I want those shoes, and please not this shirt!” That dictatorship comes directly from you, our professional users, and reflects genuine business logic. Sometimes these requested changes aren’t even noticeable to users, yet they require deep foundational rework, creating the basis for both current and future improvements. For example, our recent migration to Dot.Net 8 platform cost us disproportionally—like a vampire, it “drank” our resources heavily, but it was necessary as we had to follow Autodesk Inventor’s move from Dot.Net 4 to Dot.Net 8. Licensing mechanisms broke, and previously reliable functionalities collapsed. Similarly, our shift towards a subscription model, following Autodesk’s lead, consumed resources by the bucketload, and this invisible “Sisyphean” work isn’t especially satisfying—like cleaning sewers or sweeping sidewalks. Yet, it’s essential.

We’ve also learned the hard way: we thought no one used certain features, so we confidently discarded them to simplify things—only to find out that production stopped for some customers without those features. Lesson learned.

The Progress (The Good):

Nevertheless, we have reasons to be proud in this version. Two highlights stand out:

1. Duplicate Detection & Change Tracking: The duplicates issue is an old headache, a “holy grail” of sorts in woodworking design. Our new function identifies geometrically identical parts, allowing you to produce just one drawing and CNC program instead of multiple. Also, the new change-tracking mechanism clearly identifies exactly which parts have changed after modifications—especially handy in complex designs.
2. Improved Shape Nesting Module: Shape Nesting was never initially planned—there’s plenty of specialized software doing this job superbly. But thanks to encouragement from our dedicated partner Steve Widom, we dived in. Our original algorithm was basic at best, yet surprisingly useful due to its unique interactive adjustment feature. Now, inspired by the open-source project Deep Nest (thanks, MIT students!), we’ve integrated a more sophisticated genetic algorithm. We’re cautiously optimistic and eager to hear your feedback!

Full What’s New list here: https://webinar.woodworkforinventor.com/v16

The Road Ahead (The Future):

What’s next for us?

• Automation and Scripting: Compared to competitors like IMOS, our strength remains unparalleled design freedom—but we lag behind in fully automated manufacturing data preparation. We’re considering scripts that automatically organize your specs, CNC programs, and drawings. Imagine clicking once and enjoying your coffee while the software works.
• Smarter Drawings: Drawings remain essential for production. This version already includes “Smart View,” automating some decisions about drawing projections. Expect further automation that reduces manual intervention significantly.
• CNC & Associative CAM Technology: We’re looking forward to associative CAM tech, where machining processes adapt automatically to geometric changes, preserving your initial setups even after modifications. It’s complex but highly valuable.
• Manufacturing Hive (New Project): We’re excited about our upcoming Manufacturing Hive project—a dedicated hub for aggregating manufacturing orders, drawings, CNC programs, and more, directly connected with Woodwork for Inventor. Stay tuned!
• AI—Of Course: Yes, we’re exploring AI too—but more on that later.

Final Note:

A heartfelt thanks to our passionate user community. Your feedback, suggestions, and even occasional praise (which we read at least three times ) guide us daily.

Saulius Dereškevičius
Product Owner

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