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S1 Ep 7: Scott Harris on Starting SolidWorks and Onshape
Scott Harris takes us on a captivating journey through the evolution of CAD software, sharing insider stories from his pivotal roles in creating both SOLIDWORKS and Onshape—the two most influential professional MCAD systems of our time.
From his early days at Pratt Whitney where he mapped out jet engine components on graph paper, to the revolutionary moment when 3D solid modeling "clicked" for him, Harris reveals how understanding engineers' actual needs transformed an industry. "Software designed by software people is easy to use if you know how to use it," he explains. "But engineers—some of the smartest people on earth—can't use their software."
When SOLIDWORKS launched in 1995, it wasn't just another CAD program—it was engineered specifically for how mechanical engineers think. The small founding team faced enormous technical challenges and competition from industry giants, yet their strategic focus on solving critical problems rather than building every possible feature proved decisive. Harris takes us behind the scenes of those early days, describing the team dynamics that fueled innovation: "We argued a lot, which I think was actually healthy... You want people that bring different points of view to the table."
Years later, as cloud technology emerged, Harris and many original SOLIDWORKS team members reunited to create Onshape, addressing fundamental limitations of file-based CAD systems. The database-driven approach eliminated common frustrations like lost work from crashes and enabled true collaborative engineering. As Harris puts it, "There's a lot of problems we had that we didn't know we had."
Looking toward the future, Harris sees artificial intelligence as the next transformative force in CAD, potentially delivering tools that support the messy, iterative reality of engineering design rather than forcing linear workflows. His insights offer a fascinating glimpse into both CAD history and where the technology is headed.
Are you curious about how today's engineering software evolved and where it's going next? This conversation with one of the industry's true pioneers provides rare perspective on the past, present, and future of how we design the physical world.
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By RoopinderScott Harris takes us on a captivating journey through the evolution of CAD software, sharing insider stories from his pivotal roles in creating both SOLIDWORKS and Onshape—the two most influential professional MCAD systems of our time.
From his early days at Pratt Whitney where he mapped out jet engine components on graph paper, to the revolutionary moment when 3D solid modeling "clicked" for him, Harris reveals how understanding engineers' actual needs transformed an industry. "Software designed by software people is easy to use if you know how to use it," he explains. "But engineers—some of the smartest people on earth—can't use their software."
When SOLIDWORKS launched in 1995, it wasn't just another CAD program—it was engineered specifically for how mechanical engineers think. The small founding team faced enormous technical challenges and competition from industry giants, yet their strategic focus on solving critical problems rather than building every possible feature proved decisive. Harris takes us behind the scenes of those early days, describing the team dynamics that fueled innovation: "We argued a lot, which I think was actually healthy... You want people that bring different points of view to the table."
Years later, as cloud technology emerged, Harris and many original SOLIDWORKS team members reunited to create Onshape, addressing fundamental limitations of file-based CAD systems. The database-driven approach eliminated common frustrations like lost work from crashes and enabled true collaborative engineering. As Harris puts it, "There's a lot of problems we had that we didn't know we had."
Looking toward the future, Harris sees artificial intelligence as the next transformative force in CAD, potentially delivering tools that support the messy, iterative reality of engineering design rather than forcing linear workflows. His insights offer a fascinating glimpse into both CAD history and where the technology is headed.
Are you curious about how today's engineering software evolved and where it's going next? This conversation with one of the industry's true pioneers provides rare perspective on the past, present, and future of how we design the physical world.