this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023

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Free Software

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What is free software?

Free software is software that respects the 4 software freedoms. The 4 freedoms are

The freedom to run the run the program
The freedom to study the source code
The freedom to modify the source code
The freedom to distribute modified versions of the source code

Please note: Free software does not relate to monetary price. Free software can be sold or gratis (no cost)

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FreeCAD: Your own 3D parametric modeler (www.freecad.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I've been using FreeCAD a lot for woodshop projects, both designing the furniture I build, and for 3D printing shop accessories such as vacuum hose adapters.

FreeCAD is an incomprehensible pain in the ass. It tries to be all things to all people. It's probably the biggest example of an open source project that is designed to be made ~~before~~ rather than it's designed to be used. It's also exceptionally powerful, and the built-in spreadsheet is a game changer. Especially with the addition of a few macros, the ability to build your list of parameters in a spreadsheet, to work with measurements and quantities in a spreadsheet-style workflow, is unique AFAIK, and lets me work in ways no other software can.

I can't recommend it, and I can't recommend it enough. Version 1.0 will be amazing when it comes out in 2188.**

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Most people I've talked to who have used it say the same thing

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I don't think I've ever finished a model in FreeCAD. The UI is so incredibly frustrating that I end up uninstalling it and modeling in OnShape/Fusion360 depending on the OS I'm on at the moment.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I love freeCAD though I admit I probably wouldn't suggest it to anyone I didn't know very well. It's incredibly powerful and can do amazing things even if you only use 5% of its tools, it is very complex though and it's UI has a steep learning curve so if you're just getting started with a 3d printer or just want to make basic technical drawings then it's not what you're looking for - but if you want to make complex things that interlock and interact or if you want to apply some complex formula to your model then it's amazing.

Not that people shouldn't play with it, it can teach e lot about workflow and engineering practice. Also it's a great tool to have on hand for certain jobs, downloading parametric models and putting in your required sizes then outputting the model is really easy and useful. If you already know how to work with old engineering blueprints and convention's then you'll have a huge head start.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Garbage software and a perfect example of why open source software usually sucks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I disagree, i've found pretty adequate for my needs. I agree the UI isn't great, it reminds me of how Blender used to be, but I use it for all my parametric modelling for 3d printing stuff around the house. Fusion 360 is a better experience overall but to say FreeCAD is garbage seems extreme. If you need hobbyist software and care about your freedoms at all it's worth the slight inconvenience to use FreeCAD instead.

[+] [email protected] -6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yeah no, I'm not going to use the excuse about "freedom" to justify shit software.

[–] u_tamtam 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good thing nobody's forcing you to use it, right?
If freedom and open source software is of no importance to you, that's perfectly fine, you are in your right, just like I am in mine for bringing up that your take is shortsighted :)

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It is the laziest reason to act like FrEeDoM is why people should use shit software. How about making your Open source software as good - god forbid better - than the competition to where people WANT to willingly use it? It is the endless cycle with open-source software where it is clearly written by people who have no clue about the way the very same software they are developing is actually being used. They are programmers, not drafters or engineers. And it isn't just FreeCAD but so much other open source software out there that is junk-grade because someone just wanted to write some code and maybe learn a new programming technique but never went to the trouble of learning HOW that software would actually be used by real users.

In short, this is like the "mom, can we get Solidworks? No we have CAD software at home. The CAD software at home is FreeCAD" meme. oof

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

The world needs free/libre software. You can complain all you want but at the end of the day freeCAD is the best cad software that is fully libre.

I will say you do make a good point about usability. FreeCAD really needs to rework it's UI

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You do realize what sub your in right? This sub is literally about software freedom

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And if I see CAD software, I will comment regardless of where the post is made. Simply brushing off the shittiness of the software just because it's open is ridiculous. You realize that right? You shouldn't be blindly defending something just because it is open. How is that beneficial?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It is not the "openness" that matters. What matters is the 4 freedoms. All of the tools you mentioned in your other comments don't respect your freedom

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How the hell does a useless tool that can't allow me to do my work "respect my freedom"?!? How absurd are you going to take this?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It respects your freedom because you (and everyone else) have the ability to run, study, modify and distribute the source code.

Please see the description of this sub for more information

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

You didn't explain how a piece of software that DOESN'T allow me to do my work respect my freedom. It is just wasting people's time and effort, and not respecting anything.

Free =/= good

And if the software isn't at least good, then it is nearly useless.

And the entire "free software" community is at fault for this because it doesn't push developers to actually make good software. It's like soviet Russian cars like the Trabant or Lada. Technically it is a car. Not a good one, but it is a car, so somehow we should be happy with what we got.