Anyone who has used a computer application, e.g., AutoCAD, knows that it has a User Interface (UI); however, AutoCAD also has an API (Application Program Interface) that allows tasks to be automated and for the functionality to be extended to other purposes. Much like a desktop application like AutoCAD has an API (Application Program Interface) that allows AutoCAD to be extended, our web services also have APIs that allow them to be extended. This is possible by what we call Autodesk Forge.

Forge is:

• Platform (APIs) and supporting materials (sample code, manuals)
• Community of developers who uses those APIs

We use Forge for our own development, but Forge is intended for our customers and 3^rd party developers to be able to extend our web services. As such we have a regular newsletter that shares information with those developers. As a development partner, here's an example of the kind of information you receive.

Here are the Autodesk Forge platform updates for April 2017

• SCOPES ENFORCEMENT BY MAY 22, 2017

  As part of our continual platform security improvements, we want to remind you that enforcement of the scopes requirement for all access tokens will begin on May 22, 2017. If you have apps created before June 15, 2016, you need to update your code so that any access tokens generated by your app request scopes. Calls without scopes will be rejected after May 22.

  VIEW DOCUMENTATION

• VIEW AND DATA API

  It's been almost a year since we released our Data Management API, Model Derivative API, and Viewer JavaScript library that replaced the View and Data API. Consequently, on July 17, 2017, we will close down the View and Data API. Please migrate your code to Data Management API, Model Derivative API, and Viewer JavaScript library before July 17,  2017, or your application will stop working.

  LEARN MORE

• FORGE DEVCON CALL FOR SPEAKERS IS OPEN

  Forge DevCon call for speakers is open. Are you interested in sharing your experience working with the Forge Platform? Did you creatively use Forge to enhance a project or solve a challenge? If yes, then come join other experts in a leadership role at Forge DevCon. Submit your proposal by May 17!

  LEARN MORE

Here are the API and Software Development Kit changes:

• BIM 360 API

  • NEW - activate services for an existing BIM 360 project
  • NEW - attribute that indicates which services are active for a BIM 360 project

  LEARN MORE

• MODEL DERIVATIVE API

  • NEW - regional storage in US and EMEA

  LEARN MORE

More information:

• CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
• VISIT AUTODESK FORGE

You can see that you get plenty of notification to keep your code current with our latest improvements.

For an overview of the Autodesk Forge process, see "Some like it hot: A little more detail behind the Autodesk Forge API." Are you also using Forge in an interesting way like Houzplan or CAD & Company to address your or customers’ challenges? Do you have any lessons learned from both challenges and/or successes developing with Forge to share with the community? Shoot me a note and tell me more.

Notification is alive in the lab.