Improving computer-aided design (CAD) processes

The CAD drawing tool allows one to draw a bad project as easily as a good one. One may therefore say that the process is entirely neutral. But, of course, my whole point throughout Book 2 is this: There is no such thing as neutrality in such matters. A process is either life-creating, or it is not.
To be life-creating, even in some degree, it must have the effect that it encourages the formation of living structure — increases the freedom of the user to find his way to what is useful and appropriate — hence to find living centers, which preserve and extend the structure of the world.

Interesting that Alexander here comments on the neutrality of a software tool — a hammer or a saw used for building are tools that are equally as neutral and can be used for both good and bad projects. Why does CAD software have more responsibility here?

It is perfectly possible (in principle) that computer-based processes could be life-creating — because such processes could, of course, be made in such a way that they systematically encourage the formation of living structure.
I am merely saying that the kinds of CAD-based programs which existed in the era of 1990-2000, because they were intentionally neutral, most often did not have this character.

I guess that explains the question above: software is more like a process, a hammer or saw is a tool for a specific step in a process. Are there other differences between these kinds of tools?

#book/The Nature of Order/2 The process of creating life/18 Encouraging freedom#

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