…So obviously I’ve heard about “cloud”, right here on this site and elsewhere - what is it, exactly? The main thing I wanna know is - Is This The End Of Piracy? Short answer.
Does “cloud” mean that the thing runs in a browser, or does it not?
What is "cloud"?
The cloud is mostly storage for content, but what you’re talking about is streaming, ultimately the big software companies would rather do that since there’s a bunch of advantages to it, but I don’t think it’s plausible at this point due to latency and internet service reliability. It could mean that in the future you wouldn’t need to buy a powerful PC to run your 3D software, you would just use a very low-end laptop and it would stream the software. But, when that happens you’ll be stuck on a subscription for everything.
It’s very convenient, but there’s a lot of downsides.
I was talking about like, Creative Cloud, even MS Office - so, does this mean the end of piracy or not?? Like, it’s not Photoshop running in a browser they’re talking about??
…and if it runs in a browser, it can still be running locally, not “streaming” although that has ALSO happened.
So are they gonna shift Max and Maya to the cloud?
Those are some different things. For example with Creative Cloud they made it easy to download your software but also provide some cloud-hosted storage for your account. Autodesk has something similar, but they also have some things like cloud rendering, where you upload your 3D file and they render it on their servers and send the results back to you when it’s finished.
Office is a different matter, they have versions that are simple enough to run within the browser and the advantage there is that you can use it anywhere without installing the software just by logging in. It’s not an option for 3D software since it still relies on your device having enough processing power to do it, it’s just that Office apps aren’t as complex as 3D software.
Eventually though, Autodesk will probably offer the option where their software runs on their cloud servers and it simply streams it to your device so that you don’t have to use a powerful workstation to run 3D software. However, that requires a constant high quality internet connection.
In the case that the software isn’t running on your device at all, then there’s no way to pirate it. Basically, if the software relies heavily on an online connection then they have very effective ways of making sure you have permission to use the software.
Riiiight, so if and when they shift the WHOLE thing to the browser (ie. Javascript), does THAT mean that it will be uncrackable? Like, guaranteed? That would kind of, change the WHOLE WORLD right there…?
The 3D software isn’t going into browsers in the same way that Office does, like I said, text software is much simpler than stuff that runs 3D graphics.
What would most likely happen is that they could build the interface by itself for browsers but all of the heavy processing would be done on the server, so for example the viewport isn’t being rendered on your device. In that situation, the vast majority of the software isn’t actually running on your device and it would be impossible to pirate.
Services like Google Stadia are what would likely be the future of 3D software, where the heavy processing is done on a server which makes it impossible to pirate.
Yes, my thoughts exactly 
I’m glad to report it’s already HAPPENING!! :
nimblecollective.com
athera.io
Now - how soon before they kill the normal stuff? (I’m talking about AUTODESK and the others!) So - NOW, basically everybody either 1) starts paying, or 2) shifts to Linux, or 3) DIES. I think we can call this “The World 2.0”
I don’t see it happening any time soon, I wouldn’t trust a cloud solution for the work that I do and I can’t imagine any big studio would feel OK working in software that completely relies on a strong internet connection.
HOWEVER you probably don’t have a render farm of your own (some people don’t even have PCs capable of running Max, me being one of them! )
darthviper107
#11
There’s a huge difference between a cloud rendering farm service and software that’s running directly off servers. Cloud render farm services don’t require you to have a constant online connection to use them you just need to be able to upload your file and download the results when it’s finished. You don’t have to worry about latency or constant online access.
And just to note, these cloud services aren’t meant to make things cheaper, they’re a way to make people more dependent so that they can charge higher prices and have a constant revenue stream. So while it’s nice that you could use software without having to have expensive hardware, you’re going to be paying more for it in the long run.