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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

#81

Post by dcminter »

themerone wrote: post #76
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.

> the developer of a non-open source project

The first line of the article says "We're building a new open-source CAD program"

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

#82

Post by prokoudine »

zihotki wrote: post #77
sliptonic wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Businesses that ask for donations don't have a long and happy life :)

What you could do instead is donate to the FreeCAD Project Association. Part of the money goes into the development fund, that is, grants for developers.

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

#83

Post by mft_ »

geph2021 wrote: post #73
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/

2D vs. 3D, I think.

3D is where the excitement is, but also where the difficulty is from the kernel perspective.

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

#84

Post by freeone3000 »

spookie wrote: post #64
LeifCarrotson wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm not enough of an evangelist, but I just want a good, non-subscription local-first CAD package. I've recently moved over to Alibre Atom3D, which, while not open-source, costs $200. Once. Then (as long as your host OS doesn't change too much) you can access your designs forever. It runs on the ACIS kernel. "Browser first" and (from the readme) "Beyond that, I will try to monetize by offering a hosted version…

Feel the same way. Honestly I think there's more money to be had going open source than competing in a sea full of sharks. But hey, that's probably wishful thinking from my part.

But that open-core subscription model is the way open source makes money! Not enough people pay for software out of the goodness of their hearts to make a living off of it.

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

#86

Post by hathawsh »

I really hope CADmium can wean me off of OpenSCAD. With OpenSCAD, I don't really have to think at first; I use a simple language to write modules that build on other modules. The problem with OpenSCAD is there's no solver: I have variables, but no constraints. As I make changes, suddenly I have to think hard and solve the constraints manually and it's easy to introduce errors. However, the problem isn't severe enough to get me to use something else, because starting a model with OpenSCAD is IMHO far easier that anything else I've tried.

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

#87

Post by tverbeure »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #60
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…

Maybe I'm not enough of an evangelist, but I just want a good, non-subscription local-first CAD package. I've recently moved over to Alibre Atom3D, which, while not open-source, costs $200. Once. Then (as long as your host OS doesn't change too much) you can access your designs forever. It runs on the ACIS kernel. "Browser first" and (from the readme) "Beyond that, I will try to monetize by offering a hosted version…

The problem with Alibre is that it only works on Windows. I switched from FreeCAD to the free (as in beer) version of Onshape, which works in the browser and is a night and day difference over FreeCAD.

Your designs are wide open for anyone to see, but I can live with that for hobby stuff.

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

#88

Post by tverbeure »

geph2021 wrote: post #73
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/

I'm impressed what people are doing with 2D CAD, because for the life of me I can't figure out how they do it. I love the constrained based sketching in 3D CAD tools and didn't have the impression that qcad had anything like it?

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

#89

Post by jonathankoren »

freeone3000 wrote: post #84
spookie wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Feel the same way. Honestly I think there's more money to be had going open source than competing in a sea full of sharks. But hey, that's probably wishful thinking from my part.

But that open-core subscription model is the way open source makes money! Not enough people pay for software out of the goodness of their hearts to make a living off of it.

All subscription software is just a protection racket.

Nice files you got there. It would be a shame if they suddenly become unreadable, eh?

Even the so called "open" core is a joke. Just try to add anything useful. It will get rejected in favor of a paid option.

The whole thing is just an offensive anathema to open source.

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

#90

Post by andybak »

tverbeure wrote: post #87
LeifCarrotson wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm not enough of an evangelist, but I just want a good, non-subscription local-first CAD package. I've recently moved over to Alibre Atom3D, which, while not open-source, costs $200. Once. Then (as long as your host OS doesn't change too much) you can access your designs forever. It runs on the ACIS kernel. "Browser first" and (from the readme) "Beyond that, I will try to monetize by offering a hosted version…

The problem with Alibre is that it only works on Windows. I switched from FreeCAD to the free (as in beer) version of Onshape, which works in the browser and is a night and day difference over FreeCAD. Your designs are wide open for anyone to see, but I can live with that for hobby stuff.

I think there's probably a vast range of use cases where having the models freely available isn't hindrance
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