IFC vs gbXML

Developers should learn IFC when working on BIM software, AEC applications, or digital twin projects that require interoperability between design, analysis, and management tools meets developers should learn gbxml when working on software for building energy modeling, sustainable design tools, or bim (building information modeling) integrations, as it is widely adopted in the aec industry for interoperability. Here's our take.

IFC

Nice Pick

Developers should learn IFC when working on BIM software, AEC applications, or digital twin projects that require interoperability between design, analysis, and management tools

Pros

• It is essential for creating plugins, converters, or integrations that handle building data across platforms like Revit, ArchiCAD, or Navisworks, ensuring compliance with industry standards and enabling data-rich workflows in construction and facility management
• Related to: building-information-modeling, bim-software

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

gbXML

Developers should learn gbXML when working on software for building energy modeling, sustainable design tools, or BIM (Building Information Modeling) integrations, as it is widely adopted in the AEC industry for interoperability

Pros

• It is essential for creating applications that need to import or export building data for analysis, such as energy performance simulations in tools like EnergyPlus or OpenStudio
• Related to: building-information-modeling, energy-modeling

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. IFC is a format while gbXML is a concept. We picked IFC based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

IFC wins

Based on overall popularity. IFC is more widely used, but gbXML excels in its own space.