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CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

mattferraro.dev

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Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#71

Post by postalrat »

WillAdams wrote: post #40

Why in a browser if it's local-first? Solvespace has the benefit of being a single download/executable. It also has a constraint solver which has been used in a couple of projects: CADsketcher as you noted, and Dune 3D: https://github.com/dune3d/dune3d where the author noted: >I ended up directly using solvespace's solver instead of the suggested wrapper code since it didn't expose all of the features I needed. I als…

> Why in a browser if it's local-first?

Because the web browser did what systems developers have failed at for at least 60 years: creating a platform that can host an application that just works on many different devices.

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#73

Post by geph2021 »

samwillis wrote: post #30

I'm very excited about what Matt is building, the world desperately needs a good open source parametric CAD package. One where the UI/UX is designed to be as "easy" to use a SolidWorks. The biggest reason this hasn't happened so far is the lack of a truly capable parametric kernel, Truck, the kernel that Matt is using looks like an incredible project and exactly whats needed. The only other kennel till now that been…

I don't know a lot about these tools, but I've used QCAD[1] for home improvement projects, drawing schematics and layout diagrams, and been very happy with it. It seems quite powerful. It's also open source, although not browser based.

I'm just wondering why QCAD doesn't seem to get much if any mention on HN when CAD tools and open source comes up.

1 - https://www.qcad.org/

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#74

Post by 0x0203 »

tredre3 wrote: post #39
IshKebab wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SolveSpace is good. It's the only free CAD software I've found that's remotely usable (yes including FreeCAD). Unfortunately it has some pretty big missing features, notably bevels & filets.

I also like SolveSpace a lot. I use it to design small things all the time. Tiny single file program, very responsive interface. It's also pretty intuitive (if you're already familiar with CAD constraints and parametric modelling concepts). There was a burst of activity 2-3 years ago so I was hopeful we'd get filets and maybe better error messages but it hasn't happened yet. Ondsel is also increasingly good. They've…

For those unfamiliar, Ondsel is just a custom build of FreeCAD, with some different UI/UX and workbench defaults and their cloud oriented plugin/features enabled by default. They also have some features that haven't yet made their way into a stable FreeCAD release, but most likely will eventually.

I've got no qualms with anything Ondsel is doing, except that their "releases" are based off of the dev versions of FreeCAD, which are still in active development where things are rapidly changing and are poorly tested as a whole package. This leads to the situation where, for example, very basic sketches will cause the most recent Ondsel version to puke in odd ways, but it's a problem that's already been fixed in the FreeCAD dev builds.

So certainly give Ondsel a try; there a lot to like, and they're adding some much needed features to FreeCAD, but until their releases are based off FreeCAD stable, treat it like the unstable dev build it is.

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#75

Post by zihotki »

JAlexoid wrote: post #58

Hopefully it's an easy to use CAD, because my preferred CAD right now on Linux is FreeCAD is way too complex and the user input in the UI horrendously clunky. The good side is that all CADs have a very steep learning curve, with most tutorials made by people who are oblivious to the ignorant masses. The landscape is so complex today, that it's easier to use a vector drawing tool and transform it into a 3D model than…

Ondsel, built on top of FreeCad, aims to make free ad more user friendly and easy to collaborate on projects. Plus Freecad is close to propose a solid solution for topological naming issues. It will be this year, fingers crossed

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#76

Post by themerone »

phkahler wrote: post #55

As one of the Solvespace maintainers I have a few comments: 1) You don't want just 2D constraints, 3D is better. If you were writing in C++ I'd say just take our constraint solver (Like Dune3D did). Since you're loving Rust, I can point you to the work of Michael F Bryan who wrote one in Rust and blogged about it here: https://adventures.michaelfbryan.com/posts/constraints-part-... I think his code is over at gitlab.…

You just told the developer of a non-open source project to take your GPL code. That is a recipe for a copyright dispute.

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#77

Post by zihotki »

sliptonic wrote: post #19
krastanov wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am trying to look you up, but I am not sure I completely understand your organization and offering. Is Ondsel to FreeCAD the same as Codeweavers to Wine?

We're an open-core company building commercially around FreeCAD. We're leading the development of the new integrated assembly workbench and contributing to many parts of the application. We have our own build of FreeCAD which includes our latest contributions. We're also building an optional web-based file sharing and collaboration layer.

I wonder if Ondsel would make a plan for supporters. You folks make a great job there, the UX is way easier and better, I'm very impressed.

I'd be happy to support the project but current subscription levels are too high for a hobby shop. I wonder if there is a chance for a pathreon or similar type of support.

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#79

Post by dcminter »

phkahler wrote: post #55

As one of the Solvespace maintainers I have a few comments: 1) You don't want just 2D constraints, 3D is better. If you were writing in C++ I'd say just take our constraint solver (Like Dune3D did). Since you're loving Rust, I can point you to the work of Michael F Bryan who wrote one in Rust and blogged about it here: https://adventures.michaelfbryan.com/posts/constraints-part-... I think his code is over at gitlab.…

> As one of the Solvespace maintainers

I'm so grateful there's a tool like this out there - thanks for your efforts, they really are appreciated.

Re: CADmium: A local-first CAD program built for the browser

#80

Post by prokoudine »

logrot wrote: post #72

Totally going to check this out. I've been rooting for FreeCAD but I think it's just going to be consumed by Ondsel in the next few years. Does CADmium suffer from a topological naming problem like FreeCAD?

> I've been rooting for FreeCAD but I think it's just going to be consumed by Ondsel in the next few years.

Extremely unlikely. Also, no such plans :)

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