Kernel Wars
Kernel Map
60 years of CAD geometry kernel lineage — from NURBS foundations and the B-rep wars (ACIS vs. Parasolid) through Open CASCADE to the next generation of implicit modeling. Click any node to explore.
Mathematical FoundationB-rep Kernel / SystemCAD ApplicationModern EvolutionImplicit / Next-Gen
Mathematical Foundations
B-rep Kernels (The Kernel Wars)
Major CAD Applications
Next Generation
Interactive Kernel Map
Click any node to explore its history, description, and connections to other kernels and applications.
⚔️
- 20
- Systems
- 22
- Links
- 60yrs
- Span
View all 22 lineage connections
NURBS / B-Splines→Boundary Representation (B-rep)mathematical basis
Boundary Representation (B-rep)→BUILD (Cambridge)academic B-rep
BUILD (Cambridge)→Romulus / ShapeDatacommercial spinout
Romulus / ShapeData→Parasolidevolved into
Boundary Representation (B-rep)→GM Solid / Padl-2parallel research
GM Solid / Padl-2→ACIS (Spatial)influenced
Boundary Representation (B-rep)→ACIS (Spatial)ACIS B-rep architecture
Boundary Representation (B-rep)→CGM (Dassault)Dassault proprietary
Boundary Representation (B-rep)→Open CASCADE (OCCT)open cascade
Parasolid→SolidWorkslicensed kernel
Parasolid→Solid Edgelicensed kernel
Parasolid→Unigraphics / NXnative kernel
ACIS (Spatial)→AutoCAD / Inventorembedded (ASM)
ACIS (Spatial)→Metamorph / Spatial ImplicitSpatial → implicit
CGM (Dassault)→CATIA (Dassault)proprietary kernel
CGM (Dassault)→Metamorph / Spatial ImplicitCGM Implicit
NURBS / B-Splines→SubD / Mesh Modelingcomplement/compete
NURBS / B-Splines→Isogeometric AnalysisIGA uses NURBS
Boundary Representation (B-rep)→Implicit Modeling (SDF)paradigm shift
Implicit Modeling (SDF)→nTop (nTopology)commercial platform
Implicit Modeling (SDF)→Cascade Technologies / Monolithstartup → Siemens
Implicit Modeling (SDF)→Metamorph / Spatial ImplicitSpatial/DS push