FreeCAD Managing Expectations
This documentation is a work in progress. Please don't mark it as translatable since it will change in the next hours and days.
Purpose
The purpose of this wiki page is to 'Manage Expectations' of users using FreeCAD, especially those coming from other proprietary CAD/CAM solutions.
The Eternal Open Source Conundrum
I really like/dislike using [Insert your go-to proprietary program] but I:
- can't afford it
- resent that I need to pay for it
- don't want to be locked in to proprietary format/technology
- want to own my work
- want to work on my local machine (not on someone else's cloud)
- really like using FOSS better
- don't want to be involved in a FOSS because I don't have: time, skills the community needs
- don't want to involved in a FOSS because someone else is probably doing that
- want to complain somewhere about a pathetic attempt at competing with [Insert your go-to proprietary program]
- want to vent about how ugly the UI is to someone/somewhere just because wanna!
Reflections
- How do people conceive the way open source software is created?
- Do people expect that when a group of people with common interest come together that they will magically self-organize in to a highly productive and well-oiled machine? (see tweet)
What FreeCAD is not
Non Parametric
- FreeCAD can be used non-parametrically. But the user needs to know how.
- Blender is the ideal free libre opensource tool for non-parametric design.
Mesh Modeler
- Again, Blender is the more appropriate application for mesh modeling.
Common Perspectives
FreeCAD has not reached v1.0
FreeCAD is not stable
FreeCAD UI is ugly
Where is my favorite feature?
Realities
OpenCascade Kernel
OpenCascade (OCC/OCCT) is a core external CAD kernel dependency that FreeCAD is utterly dependent on. There are many open 'upstream' bugs that the FreeCAD community has identified and track regarding OCC. We track them via the:
- bugtracker
- forum thread called OCC Bugs in the Bugtracker
Qt
Volunteers
The reality of having a volunteer based workforce:
- Project timelines/goals change due to unforeseen life issues.
- Goals abandoned due to financial or motivational problems.
- Incompatible relational attitudes/behaviors that come up during collaborations.
- Unpaid volunteers
Hence, FreeCAD's motto It's done when it's done.
Organizational Challenges
As with many opensource projects, FreeCAD has had its organizational challenges. Some of them are listed here in short:
- Departure of jriegel (one of the original core developers)
- The incomplete implementation of PartDesign workbench (incompatibilities with Part WB).
- Assembly workbench development that had been abandoned several times (Assembly and Assembly2). It now has 3 separate solutions (Assembly2+, Assembly3, Assembly4). There is an intention to unify these 3 active Assembly approaches.
Relevant Links
- Why the GIMP Team Obviously* Hates You (*We Actually Lot you. **mostly) Pat David from GIMP team presentation at SCaLE16x California 2016
- Earning Your Support Instead of Buying it: A How-to Guide to Open Source Assistance by Ian Turton at FOSS4G Seoul 2015
Discussion Threads
Links to forum thread discussions related to this topic
- Discussion: FreeCAD is not ready for 1.0 (forum thread)