GitHub vs APPLOAD: Why is our global impact invisible?

[VicoWang]

Hi everyone,

 

Like the vast majority of people in the AEC industry, we are ordinary draftsmen and engineers who sit in front of CAD terminals every single day. Across thousands of drawing offices worldwide, millions of silent professionals get their drawings issued, survive crazy deadlines, and make it home to their families on time because of the incredible, free AutoLISP utilities shared across legendary communities and archives like CADTutor, TheSwamp, Lee Mac Programming, GileCAD, and AfraLISP.

The physical world is quite literally built on the unsung labor of these elite creators.

 

Yet, we noticed a bizarre and unjust technical paradox in the modern software era: A web developer can write a simple script, publish it on GitHub, and instantly get millions of downloads and global acclaim. Meanwhile, the legendary CAD developers who wrote the complex, non-linear algorithms that literally automate the construction of our physical cities often remain hidden from the broader software engineering landscape.

 

While our beloved forums and reference sites have done an incredible, heroic job hosting these tools with thread-specific attachment counters for decades, these invaluable metrics remain scattered across the vast, fragmented sea of historical discussion. We currently lack a unified, global space to aggregate this data and show the software world the true, cumulative scale of AutoLISP’s real-world impact.

 

We think our community's creators deserve to have their collective footprint visible to the world.

 

To give back to the legends who paved our way, we built the Pioneers Index (hosted under the VedaCAD directory). Our starting point is pure, non-commercial community gratitude: to provide a clean, central space where the CAD developers who build our world finally get the recognition and global metrics they deserve.

 

 

We want to make one thing absolutely clear: The Pioneers Index is built entirely on our FREE Tier. The FREE tier is permanently free, designed from day one as our Community Edition. You do not need to buy a PRO subscription, nor do we want you to. The entire ranking and sharing ecosystem is 100% open and free for the community:

 

Claim Your @username: Any developer can sign up for a free community account and secure their unique, permanent creator page (e.g., vedacad.com/@vico ) at zero cost.

 

Dual-Track Sharing (Creators & Curators):
For Creators (Developers): You can publish your individual AutoLISP, FAS, or VLX utilities to generate unique 6-character shortcodes (VCIDs) for instant, manual-free loading.
For Curators (Workflow Architects): Even if you aren't a coder, you can aggregate other creators' public assets into job-oriented toolkits (e.g., steel detailing, structural annotation packs) to generate curated collections (with a B- prefix).
Both individual assets and curated bundles are dynamically ranked on the global Pioneers leaderboard based purely on their natural, cumulative download and installation counts.

 

The B2B Enterprise Footprint Indicator (Enterprise Adoptions): To truly visualize your impact in the professional world, our database tracks a unique metric: Enterprise Adoptions. The leaderboard will display exactly how many companies, design firms, and general contractors have imported your plugin into their workspaces and registered it as an official, locked-in component of their corporate drafting standard.

 

Strict Sovereignty Boundaries: VedaCAD operates purely as a neutral, "As-Is" delivery conduit (Upload as-is, store as-is, download as-is). We will not decompile, modify, or encrypt your work.

 

 

We built this space not to sell a proprietary sandbox, but because we—as a global drafting community—believe that the legends of AutoLISP should never be forgotten.

 

We'd love to invite the developers, curators, and CAD managers here to explore the live index, secure your @username, and share your thoughts on this initiative.

 

Explore the live board here: vedacad.com/pioneers

 

Respect and cheers, Vico & the CAD Community

 

 

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Note: English is not my native language. I use Google AI to translate and polish my posts to ensure clarity and respect for the community's technical depth.

[BIGAL]

Does this idea not be similar to the Autodesk App store which has been around for a lot of years, some programs are free, some have a cost.

[VicoWang]

4 hours ago, BIGAL said:

Does this idea not be similar to the Autodesk App store which has been around for a lot of years, some programs are free, some have a cost.

 

You are right; the Autodesk App Store is indeed a good choice, especially for certain high-value plugins, which might be the best option. It has a long history, but in 2026, it's as niche as the Blackberry App World was back then. The image is from a post by a guy I saw on LinkedIn, probably a week ago:

 

 

In 2026, If I want to publish any code on GitHub (like github.com/VedaCAD/v-code), I can do so. If I write a Lisp plugin that solves a specific professional problem, I can also publish it in VedaCAD in 1 second and open-source the lsp source code (like [Codebase Packer] VCID: 0FBGZB @ VedaCAD); if I want to keep it closed-source, I can also publish the binary file (such as [Quick Annotator] VCID: 7JAU18 @ VedaCAD). Then let the market test it.

 

It is widely known that Lee Mac has opened up hundreds of plugins, and with the highlight snippets or complete code he writes to assist in solving certain issues on forums from time to time, there could be several hundred or even thousands of plugins. However, there are only 7 plugins that can be publicly searched for on the Autodesk App Store.

 

 

 

You and you all have also made a large number of commendable contributions and algorithmic code, which collectively form the robust foundation of our LISP field (including Net and ObjectARX, etc.). This field of research deals with algorithms based on two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces, which is orders of magnitude more difficult than centering a webpage DIV. This is something that all of us should remember and be grateful for, yet all of this has been submerged and scattered among millions of posts.

 

VedaCAD that I created merely provides a solution, a method for even the 2006 version of CAD to enjoy modern package management, and records them so that what should be remembered is forever remembered.

 

[Steven P]

Whatever store there is on the internet will suffer similarly from Al generated code, a store where code is uploaded quickly will just become very large, lose its value when there are too many resources to choose all doing something very similar.

 

I think I prefer the forum format (probably always will do), that in creating an answer to the problems asked there is some peer review going on, explanation as what does what and the ability to ask for explanations or how to modify a code supplied to a more unique solution - which is all in itself a great learnign tool

[VicoWang]

1 hour ago, Steven P said:

Whatever store there is on the internet will suffer similarly from Al generated code, a store where code is uploaded quickly will just become very large, lose its value when there are too many resources to choose all doing something very similar.

 

I think I prefer the forum format (probably always will do), that in creating an answer to the problems asked there is some peer review going on, explanation as what does what and the ability to ask for explanations or how to modify a code supplied to a more unique solution - which is all in itself a great learnign tool

 

I very much agree with you that the forum form is an optimal mode of non-immediate and efficient knowledge precipitation (and the best way to reach through search at any time), but it is inevitably fragmented.

 

The solution I provide is not to replace the function of the forum, but to collect everyone's achievements and count them independently. It is just an optional element in the forum flow, such as a card. In my ideal framework, it should run like this:

 

 

1. You (the developer) publish plug-in promotion posts or reply to other people's posts to provide solutions. You describe your algorithm, ideas or solution code in words, and provide such as [VCID]123ABC[/VCID] to attach your plug-in (as optional). Of course, you can also mention The source code or LSP file is available for you to download. You can completely publish it in LSP format for open source.

 

2. Whenever anyone finds the plan you left at that time in any way, they can download LSP or directly use VCID to download your plug-in to obtain the knowledge crystallization you selflessly share.

 

3. Difference: If you use the source code or attachment, if you want to update your plug-in in the future, you must find the original location, and then update the latest version, such as 1.1; if you use VCID, even after 10 years, others will use the you left at the beginning VCID download plug-ins can be downloaded to the latest version, such as version 1.2 (you updated it 3 years ago and did not notify any users).

 

4. Through the VCID protocol, version fragmentation is eliminated, and importantly, anything downloaded through VCID will be collected to vedacad.com/pioneers and the total number will be calculated and ranked. More importantly, our original distribution logic ensures the signature at the time of publication. Anyone who downloads is the original version provided by you, not the secondary modified version of Vico on the basis of Steven P 1.0 (we all know that the original author's signature may be omitted in this process) .

 

It's a pleasure to discuss with you.

 

---

 

The arrival of AI is inevitable, and the market prospects you describe are highly likely to come true. This is also the reason why I want veterans to VCID their achievements, because for the same demand, would you use someone's XXX (VIA AI) or the veterans' XXX? It's an obvious thing, because any software, besides what it can do, also includes the long-tail value that the people behind it can provide. What do you think?

 

Edited yesterday at 09:17 AM by VicoWang

[BIGAL]

I am sure if you ask some one will beat this number I have 3000+ lisps, some are client lisps some are forum, some are a package, some downloaded for future reference.

 

This has 130 lisps behind it. Just one of 3 pop menu's.

 

This is a package

[VicoWang]

5 hours ago, BIGAL said:

I am sure if you ask some one will beat this number I have 3000+ lisps, some are client lisps some are forum, some are a package, some downloaded for future reference.

 

This has 130 lisps behind it. Just one of 3 pop menu's.

 

This is a package

 

Wow, BIGAL. That is an absolute masterpiece of CAD engineering.

 

When I mentioned Lee Mac’s hundreds of plugins, I knew it was just the tip of the iceberg. Your 3,000+ LISP repository, driven by a massive custom CUI drop-down menu, is exactly the kind of industrial-scale ecosystem I was talking about.

 

 

Since this thread is focused on our FREE tier and community tools, I’ll share how VedaCAD handles this massive volume natively:

The very core of VedaCAD is built on a completely decoupled "Demand-Loading Proxy" architecture. Even for free users, loading 130 scripts into the manager won't freeze AutoCAD at startup. The microkernel only registers lightweight proxy hooks in memory. For the UI, the system automatically generates a clean, paginated visual matrix to manage and trigger them, acting as a menu panel out-of-the-box.

 

However, I know veterans want to keep their beloved, highly-customized .cuix interfaces. That's where our PRO tier integration comes in.
Traditionally, migrating a .cuix file means manually fixing Support Paths and APPLOADing all those scripts. In VedaCAD PRO, the system natively supports environment files. It silently mounts your CUIX via _.MENULOAD. Because the core proxy hooks are already sitting in memory, when you click your drop-down menu, the proxy catches it and lazy-loads the actual binary in milliseconds. Hit "Cloud Config Sync", go to a new PC, and your entire top ribbon and 130 scripts are wired up in seconds.

 

Scaled up to the Enterprise tier, an IT Admin can mount this exact setup into a central Foundry and deploy it silently to hundreds of employee terminals simultaneously.

 

Managing 3000+ files manually is a monumental task. Massive respect for keeping that running smoothly for decades!

 

 

--

Additionally, I would like to ask how you manage the versions of each plugin for such a large number of Lisp?

Edited 8 hours ago by VicoWang

[BIGAL]

I think your overlooking the AUTOLOAD function, yes in my Autoload.lsp loads on startup there are 37 defuns, most are very small like DTR, RTD, then there are 38 Autoload's the way Autoload works is you type a command and a lisp program is loaded, so you limit how many lisps are loaded on startup, In the pop there is (load "myprogram") nowrunit so again only loaded when you need the program.

 

(autoload "COPY0" '("COPY0"))
(autoload "COPYCOMMAND" '("ZZZ"))
(autoload "COVER" '("COVER"))

[VicoWang]

25 minutes ago, BIGAL said:

I think your overlooking the AUTOLOAD function, yes in my Autoload.lsp loads on startup there are 37 defuns, most are very small like DTR, RTD, then there are 38 Autoload's the way Autoload works is you type a command and a lisp program is loaded, so you limit how many lisps are loaded on startup, In the pop there is (load "myprogram") nowrunit so again only loaded when you need the program.

 

(autoload "COPY0" '("COPY0"))
(autoload "COPYCOMMAND" '("ZZZ"))
(autoload "COVER" '("COVER"))

 

Spot on. VedaCAD actually uses the exact same demand-load philosophy to keep startup memory at 0%.The fundamental difference isn't memory management, it's Routing.Native AUTOLOAD relies on AutoCAD's Support Search Paths to locate the physical file. If an IT admin or user alters the Support Paths, the command dies silently.

 

VedaCAD uses an independent Mapping Database. It binds your custom alias directly to the absolute physical file, completely bypassing AutoCAD's Support Paths. It eliminates path configurations forever, making multi-device migrations mathematically frictionless.Especially when you deploy a plugin via VCID—everything executes within an isolated local sandbox cache, rendering traditional search paths completely obsolete.

 

Basically, just a modern UI mapping wrapper over a brilliant classic concept.

[indiancad]

 

From my experience, GitHub and APPLOAD really serve two different purposes.
I usually keep my LISP routines on GitHub so I can access and update them easily.
But when I'm actually working in CAD, APPLOAD is still the quickest way to test a routine.
For frequently used routines, I add them to the Startup Suite so they load automatically.
The problem is that a useful LISP can sit on GitHub and still be almost invisible to CAD users.
People usually discover routines through forums, recommendations, or someone sharing the code.
Good documentation and simple examples make a huge difference in whether people actually use them.
I think GitHub is excellent for maintaining the code and tracking improvements.
CAD forums are still important for getting that code in front of people who need it.
Ideally, I'd use GitHub for distribution and version control, and APPLOAD for everyday use.

[VicoWang]

37 minutes ago, indiancad said:

 

From my experience, GitHub and APPLOAD really serve two different purposes.
I usually keep my LISP routines on GitHub so I can access and update them easily.
But when I'm actually working in CAD, APPLOAD is still the quickest way to test a routine.
For frequently used routines, I add them to the Startup Suite so they load automatically.
The problem is that a useful LISP can sit on GitHub and still be almost invisible to CAD users.
People usually discover routines through forums, recommendations, or someone sharing the code.
Good documentation and simple examples make a huge difference in whether people actually use them.
I think GitHub is excellent for maintaining the code and tracking improvements.
CAD forums are still important for getting that code in front of people who need it.
Ideally, I'd use GitHub for distribution and version control, and APPLOAD for everyday use.

 

Hi indiancad,

 

Spot on. GitHub is fantastic for version control, but it lacks a delivery bridge to the CAD environment. In modern software engineering, people use pip install. In CAD, we still rely on the archaic APPLOAD and ZIP extraction.

 

VedaCAD is exactly that missing native package manager. Here is a short clip demonstrating our core concept（Install via VCID and run directly）:

 

 

Instead of the painful APPLOAD grind, you just use a 6-character VCID. Even better, it makes migrating to a new PC completely painless. The system pulls the binary into a local sandbox and maps it instantly.

 

Where this truly changes the game is Fleet Deployment. IT admins no longer need to manually configure 50 different workstations. By pushing enterprise VCID clusters, every terminal instantly achieves absolute consistency, while automatically delivering targeted toolsets based on the employee's squad (e.g., Architecture vs. Structural teams)—all without anyone ever touching a "Support Path".

 

GitHub for the source code + VedaCAD for deployment is definitely the perfect modern combo. Might be worth giving it a spin!