Source: Wikipedia.org

Autodesk's first notable product was AutoCAD, a CAD application designed to run on the systems known as "microcomputers" at the time, including those running the 8-bit CP/M operating system and two of the new 16-bit systems, the Victor 9000 and the IBM Personal Computer (PC). This CAD tool allowed users to create detailed technical drawings, and was affordable to many smaller design, engineering, and architecture companies.

Release 2.1 of AutoCAD, released in 1986, included AutoLisp, a built-in Lisp[6] This opened the door for third party developers interpreter initially based on XLISP. to extend AutoCAD's functionality, to address a wide range of vertical markets - strengthening AutoCAD's market penetration.

Subsequent to AutoCAD Release 12, the company stopped supporting the Unix environment and the Apple Macintosh platform. After AutoCAD Release 14, first shipped in 1997, Autodesk discontinued development under MS-DOS, and focused exclusively on Microsoft Windows.

AutoCAD has grown to become the most widely used CAD program for 2D non-specialized applications.[citation needed] The native file formats written by AutoCAD, DXF and DWG, are also widely used for CAD data interoperability.

In the early 1990s, with the purchase of Softdesk in 1996, Autodesk started to develop specialty versions of AutoCAD, targeted to broad industry segments, including architecture, civil engineering, and manufacturing. Since the late 1990s, the company has added a number of significant non-AutoCAD-based products, including Revit, a parametric building modeling application (acquired in 2002, from Massachusetts-based Revit Technologies for $133 million), and Inventor, an internally developed parametric mechanical design CAD application.

Over the last few years Autodesk has pursued a strategy of acquisitions:

• On January 10, 2006, Autodesk acquired Alias, with its automotive styling and digital content creation applications, for $197 million USD.

• On August 6, 2007, Autodesk announced the acquisition of Skymatter Inc, developer of Mudbox.

• On August 9, 2007, Autodesk Completes Acquisition of NavisWorks, Inc. for a purchase price of $26 million, plus a working capital adjustment. 

• On August 20, 2007, Autodesk announced that it has completed the acquisition of technology and product assets of Opticore AB, based in Gothenburg, Sweden.[10] Opticore is specialized in real time visualisation primarily for the carmakers industry. By this time Autodesk ranks 12th on the list of largest software companies in the world (2007). 

• On August 28, 2007, Autodesk announced the acquisition of California-based PlassoTech, developers of CAE applications. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

• On November 25, 2007, Autodesk announced the intent to acquire Robobat, a France-based developer of structural engineering analysis applications. The acquisition was completed on January 15, 2008.

• On May 1, 2008, Autodesk announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Moldflow Corporation, a leading provider of injection molding simulation software.

• On May 7, 2008, Autodesk announced that it has completed the acquisition of Kynogon SA, the privately held maker of Kynapse artificial intelligence middleware.[16] Paris-based Kynogon specialized in video game middleware and simulation.

• The same day, Autodesk also announced the acquisition of REALVIZ S.A..[17] REALVIZ was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sophia Antipolis, France. REALVIZ's flagship products are "Stitcher" software for the creation of panoramas and 360 degree virtual tours, and "ImageModeler" software to produce 3D models from photographs.

• On June 26, 2008, a press release announced the acquisition of Square One Research and its flagship product, Ecotect.

• On October 23, 2008, Autodesk announced the acquisition on Avid's Softimage, Co. business, developers of 3D application Softimage (formerly Softimage|XSI), for $35 million USD.

• On December 17, 2008, Autodesk signed a definitive agreement to acquire ALGOR, Inc. for approximately $34 million. 

These numerous acquisitions point to a trend in strategy for Autodesk : buy small- to medium-sized software companies around the world in order to acquire their very specific know-how and to avoid the rise of potential future competitors.[citation needed]

Autodesk's products compete against products from several companies, including MicroStation from Bentley Systems, VectorWorks from Nemetschek, ArchiCAD from Graphisoft, Istram/Ispol from Buhodra Ingeniería, SolidWorks, owned by Dassault Systemes, Solid Edge from Siemens's UGS PLM Software, 12d Model, owned by 12d Solutions, Pro/E from PTC and Silo (software) from Nevercenter.

Autodesk was sued in 2007 by Mr. Timothy Vernor, who alleged that he was entitled to sell on eBay "used" AutoCAD software he had obtained at an office liquidation sale from an Autodesk licensee.[21] A federal district judge in Washington State denied AutoDesk's initial motion to dismiss in early 2008. In February and March 2009, both sides filed motions for summary judgment addressing the issue whether the First Sale Doctrine applies to previously licensed software.  The Court has not yet ruled on those motions.