freecad 1.0

[x11start]

freecad is a software, which as the name says is "free". over the years it has evolved with numerous modules that allow you to space from mechanics to architecture (bim) to fem and is completely programmable in python.

for a sort of "humility" version no. has always been characterized by a "0", followed by the release year of the version.
Unfortunately, I believe because of the increase in complexity, from the n. esiguo of real programming experts who try ... and from the fact that it is free, the years that versions have gone faster. then the current version is 0.21.
However (and this is why this post), things are about to change: by August 2024 should release version 1.0!

https://wiki.freecad.org/release_notes_1.0

seems a banality, but this means that "the butterfly comes out of the cocoon" and becomes an adult.
the problem of this software is that, being "free", it made the nose twist to the "professionals" for the lack of a "software house" to which to rely in case of problems: the forum being managed by volunteers is less immediate ... and also updates and new features that arrived slowly: 0.21 is retrying.
this new version marks the transition to a "hybrid" management: software continues to be free, but one of the programmers created the ondsel

https://ondsel.com/handbook/about/freecad/

the purpose is to create paid forms (or subscription), so as to accelerate the development of the "free" part.
In essence it is a question of finding the right compromise between the two worlds: free, but slow to upgrade and pay, which can also pay external programmers, to become more competitive with proprietary software.

an immediate example was to contact the programmer who had created his software called "freecad" (he had given him the same name!), in which the main purpose was to assemble parts and to create monovellism.
Since in freecad this type of module existed in various muds incompatible with each other, it was thought to contact the one who had masterly implemented it in his software.
therefore from version 1.0 of freecad (I did not understand if free or paid by the ondsel) should be available this form.

all these long elucubrations, to invite you to take a look at freecad: I have been "observing" for a long time, but I have not yet managed to bring it to my work.

 

[meccanicamg]

who knows when version 1.0 is actually released.
I for work I integrate it to solidworks for the following activities:
- gear modeling
- fem analysis of carpenters
- nonlinear fem analysis in plastic field

 

[ragnol]

reading the forum, I saw that some users use freecad at least for some parts (see message above @meccanicamg ).
in 2021, a message of @+forte underlined that blender had received substantial donations and thus could become an absolutely competitive alternative to commercial software.

now the stupid proposal: having, only cad3d italia, one hundred thousand members, you could put on a "harvest donations" that gives visibility and stimulus this practice (which, of course, one can do of its sponent already now...). a forum so specific maybe would give a good impulse. then I understand that there are dynamics related to who maybe sells and makes training for commercial software, but donations would be aimed at speeding up the development of a free software.10€ * 100.000 = 1.000.000€ ;to the possible observation "but I don't care, I find myself great with xyzwkjrcad" I get to answer "well, always better to have a possible alternative, no? you never know in life."

I'm sorry.

 

[x11start]

now the stupid proposal: having, only cad3d italia, one hundred thousand members, you could put on a "harvest donations" that gives visibility and stimulus this practice (which, of course, one can do of its sponent already now...). a forum so specific maybe would give a good impulse. then I understand that there are dynamics related to who maybe sells and makes training for commercial software, but donations would be aimed at speeding up the development of a free software.10€ * 100.000 = 1.000.000€ ;

the main purpose for which I started this post, is precisely the need to "give visibility" to this software also to Italian users: Maybe some visitors to this forum then decide to try to use it in his daily work.
I remember in this regard that hardware requests are minimal and even has versions that do not require installation: nothing prevents us from alongside other commercial software.

all this without any intention of "damaging" who sells commercial or application software (for revit - solidwork etc); In fact... as I said the ondsel was born, with the intent to package specific "applications" for payment, for freecad. but freecad "base" continues and will continue to be free.

it would be nice if the "italfreecad" was born (imaginative name as they say on TV!) that thanks to the Italian genius (although we are always a people of geniuses - saints and navigators .... also only of the network!), he gave a push to freecad.

As for donations, the thing is already present here: donations - freecad documentation

 

[ragnol]

@x11start Of course, as I said one can give "everytime" on his own.

But I thought that if this practice was "slimated" by a forum like this, maybe it would be a nice flyer. putting a banner/announcement/invitation or in some other way.

Then, I repeat, I understand that this thing could make the bills pay to those who pay the bills thanks to the paid software, which could even remove their "competence" from the forum. There's a risk.

 

[DrBarde]

[...] the ondsel was born, with the intent to package specific "applications" for payment, for freecad. but freecad "base" continues and will continue to be free. [...]

My only thought is that it passes from free software to one that, doing a parallelism in the videoludic field where they turn very nice money, they are called pay to win.
I mean, you can use it for free, but you can't really do much. if you pay you have access to the working structure. therefore forcing the purchase and "masking" the fact that it became a paid software.
Clearly, it's just a thought, but it's usually what happens when you integrate paid forms into open source. is the opposite of the concept of open source.

 

[x11start]

I prefer to "think positive" (as jovanotti said) and believe that this is an opportunity for development.
Moreover, we have examples in this sense: openoffice and libreoffice continue to exist and have nothing to envy to the software office of microsoft.
If we want to exaggerate with optimism (!), I would bring the example of wikipedia, which killed the encyclopedia encarta.

 

[ragnol]

My only thought is that it passes from free software to one that, doing a parallelism in the videoludic field where they turn very nice money, they are called pay to win.
I mean, you can use it for free, but you can't really do much. if you pay you have access to the working structure. therefore forcing the purchase and "masking" the fact that it became a paid software.
Clearly, it's just a thought, but it's usually what happens when you integrate paid forms into open source. is the opposite of the concept of open source.

my useless opinion is that the independent developers finance is the only way to make freecad a mature, complete software, with integrated modules, and always free (actually).

Does anyone want to develop a paid "pro" version? funding developers is just the way to counter this direction.

 

[dsw]

therefore from version 1.0 of freecad (I did not understand if free or paid by the ondsel) should be available this form.

for the future I cannot answer, but the answer to your doubts is certain, freecad remains opensource.

the business model that the ondsel adopts is theopen-core.

this should ensure greater stability and continuity in the opensource project (freecad) because the "core" is the basis of the business model.

I see only a form of fiction of the opensource project, no one is obliged to donate to the opensource project and no one is obliged to buy the "extra" services offered by the ondsel.

I believe that converting an opensource project into a pro version commercial project is not, and it will never be, a good business choice.

 

[x11start]

if you want to try the "release candidate" (i.e. the almost definitive version) of freecad 1.0. .

The first release candidate of FreeCAD 1.0 is out

We’ve just published builds of the first release candidate for FreeCAD 1.0. You can download them here. So far, we’ve enjoyed the contributions of users who are happy to be living on the edge with …

blog.freecad.org

... maybe you could be useful to find some last-minute "bugs", but you will certainly notice that the software has made considerable steps forward; here the news (in Italian):

https://wiki.freecad.org/release_notes_1.0/it

 

[meccanicamg]

on the same pc also turns faster from the previous stable and official version.
The news is good and we've been waiting for you for a long time.