Revit was acquired in 2002, and since then, Autodesk has dedicated significant effort to developing its BIM platform products. From a code standardization standpoint, there are no issues, as all adhere to the standard specifications followed by international software companies. Before the acquisition, Revit had no APIs, but post-acquisition, Autodesk introduced API interfaces for Revit’s secondary development, following their consistent development approach. The API development team is composed of highly experienced professionals.
Initially, Revit had no API, but it quickly evolved to include one. During the early stages, the approach was to encapsulate all the necessary APIs directly. However, this method soon proved insufficient to meet developers’ growing demands. As a result, the software structure was optimized, and many Revit APIs were exposed within the functional development framework. This explains the rapid expansion in both the number and capabilities of Revit APIs over the past two to three years. Even spending an entire day immersed in Revit makes it challenging to explore and fully understand all the new APIs.
Regarding software stability in Revit API development, the platform is very stable. Products built using the Revit API maintain high stability. I had the opportunity to visit Revit’s development team in Shanghai at the end of June this year to learn about their testing processes, and I was impressed by the level of automated testing they employ. Test cases can be saved, downloaded, and automatically run by machines, which compare current test results using pixel-by-pixel analysis of screen screenshots. Any discrepancies are immediately reported to the relevant testers. The Revit team prides itself on being able to release high-quality builds at any time, thanks to these rigorous automated tests that prevent many issues.
Abnormal program exits during Revit use are extremely rare, so stability concerns are minimal. On the subject of API interface stability, recent versions have seen numerous architectural and specification improvements. For example, some methods now use ElementId instead of the original Element parameter, and Revit has started replacing its own encapsulated collection classes with those provided by .NET. Additionally, certain methods have been reorganized into different classes to enhance clarity and ease of use for new developers. These incremental changes require developers to update their secondary development code accordingly. The compiler assists by highlighting necessary modifications and offering suggestions for replacements or adjustments. While there have been some API adjustments in the past two years, the overall direction has been towards simplicity, better clarity, and easier problem-solving for newcomers.
The rapid growth of Revit in China is evident to all. In many ways, Revit is the AutoCAD of the CAD era, offering unmatched capabilities. No other software can provide such precise modeling and automated construction drawings like Revit. Beyond solving individual professional challenges, Revit supports architecture, structural engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), collaboration, remote teamwork, rendering with material input into 3ds Max, cloud rendering, clash detection, green building analysis, and more. These comprehensive features are critical considerations for organizations when choosing a BIM platform.
The financial potential for Revit secondary development is enormous.
Both Revit and AutoCAD hold vast market spaces. As BIM adoption spreads across the industry, design, construction, and operation all require development tailored for Revit to fully leverage BIM advantages across professions and organizations. Especially when combining Revit with specific project developments for particular organizations, the scale of these projects tends to be substantial. This includes areas such as curtain wall systems, quantity and cost estimation, construction documentation, and more. The prospects in this field are truly expansive.
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