Anyone who has wrestled with general-purpose CAD for a simple deck knows how steep the learning curve gets. The maker's answer is a program restricted entirely to lumber construction, now in open beta, with version 2027.3 released the same day it was announced. A team of four has been at it since sometime between 2020 and 2022, after first building a similar engine for the aluminum industry starting back in 2010.
The deck shown is modeled from dimensional lumber in convincing detail: 2x8 joists sit in metal flanged joist hangers off rim joists, and a notched 6x6 support post rests on a cylindrical concrete pier through a metal standoff base, secured to the beam with lag screws. Stairs come from 2x12 stringers cut for a 7 3/16-inch rise and an 11 1/4-inch tread, then stringer hangers, 1x12 riser boards and treads. Post and pier assemblies get duplicated across the foundation with the array tool.
Where this stands out for me is the automated documentation. Cut lists compile every timber member with cutting dimensions, board diagrams and labels like P13, including miter callouts of 34.19 and 55.81 degrees, and a Documentation Builder module turns the 3D model into 2D prints: plan, roof plan, elevations, foundation plan, materials and cut list sheets, with a front elevation drawn at 1/4 inch to 1 foot. Gable-end studs on the shed get trimmed flush beneath the rafters by an on-screen saw cut tool set to 18.43 degrees.
The maker posted to gather feedback from deck builders and says the response has already been enormous, with as much of it acted on as possible. The obvious trade-off is the lumber-only scope, and one open question is pricing: whether the software is free has not been answered yet.