ArcGIS Engine

Description

ArcGIS Engine (ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit and ArcGIS Engine Runtime) entered Mature Support on March 1, 2024. No further functionality-based software updates, patches, and hot fixes will be available. Quotes for additional ArcGIS Engine licenses ceased on July 1, 2024.

ArcGIS Engine has been deprecated as Esri focuses on client-application developer products that meet the needs of developers now, and in future, as part of the modern ArcGIS system. The deprecation of ArcGIS Engine also enables Esri to provide customers with the best experience with our fully supported client-application developer products, while also allowing us to deliver enhanced features and comprehensive support.

The client-application developer products Esri encourages customers to move to include: ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Game Engines, ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, and ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET.

The deprecation of ArcGIS Engine will not immediately affect end-users’ work. ArcGIS Engine end-users with perpetual licenses will be able to continue using ArcGIS Engine applications. End-users with term licenses can continue to pay for term licenses through December 1, 2025, and ArcGIS Engine based applications running on term licenses will continue to run for one year after the final term renewal.

Recommendation

Esri recommends customers migrate to alternative, fully supported Esri developer technology before ArcGIS Engine is retired on March 1, 2026.

For many ArcGIS Engine customers, the closest alternatives are ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET, which includes support for building desktop applications on Windows, and ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt, which supports building desktop applications for Linux and Windows. In addition to desktop operating systems, both of these SDKs also support Android, iOS, and macOS, offering developers the flexibility to target mobile and additional desktop platforms. These SDKs also support Android, iOS, and macOS, offering developers the flexibility to target mobile and additional desktop platforms.

Depending on requirements, consider the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Kotlin, designed for Android development, or the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Swift, designed for iOS development. Alternatively, for cross-platform mobile support for both Android and iOS, consider ArcGIS Maps SDK for Flutter.

A range of new 3D and immersive applications can be created with game engines using either ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity or ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unreal Engine to target desktop, mobile, and extended reality (XR) experiences.

To support advanced GIS workflows, explore customizing the full-featured, professional desktop product ArcGIS Pro with the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET. Developers can use ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET to deliver a custom experience of ArcGIS Pro, designed for specific organizational workflows, with custom add-ins that extend existing functionality and configurations that tailor the UI.

Additionally, customers must assess the suitability of a web application for their requirements and evaluate the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, along with Esri's no-code and low-code app builders.