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Feature requests for engineering workflow; financial support? (by Alex)
Hello folks,
I'm a new SolveSpace user with background in Solidworks and Creo (formerly ProEngineer). I wanted a low-cost CAD package for basic 2D and 3D design work, without the strings attached to options like the free personal use Fusion 360 license.
For rapid prototyping and small-batch production with single-axis machining and 2D cutting, SolveSpace is so far very easy and intuitive to use. For an open-source CAD package, I am beyond impressed and very grateful for all of the talented contributors.
There are only a few options I find myself reaching for from SW or Creo that don't have simple enough workarounds. I think that with these additions, for my application, SolveSpace could feasibly replace either of those software packages.
- Separate "hide constraints" and "hide dimensions"
- Improved rectangle tool
-> Defined by perpendicularity rather than vertical/horizontal constraints
-> Ability to draw triangles from either two corners or two near points would also be very useful
- Some kind of midpoint functionality
-> Imagine trying to draw the letter "X" at an arbitrary angle, the best way I am aware at present is four legs with multiple parallel and equal length constraints
-> Ability to draw a point and constrain it to the midpoint of a line would make this radically faster
I may have other additions to this list as my experience with SolveSpace grows, I don't currently have SW or Creo licenses to "cross-shop." However, I want to emphasize that SolveSpace provides a level of functionality that I can't get with any other software package without spending at least $500USD per year, and I feel the project itself should benefit from commercial users like myself. QCAD, for instance, has a ~$30 "Pro" license fee which doesn't nearly match SolveSpace in capabilities.
I wonder if there might be a way to give financial support to contributors out of gratitude? Direct donation to individuals, or Patreon?
Could there be room for additional "Pro" modules or add-ons which specialize SolveSpace for one or more commercial applications? These would most likely be GPLv3 just like SolveSpace but GPL would still allow a "suggested donation".
Or potentially a bounty on particular features, perhaps allowing multiple users interested in the same functionalities to fund them?
Thanks for reading!
Alex
I'm a new SolveSpace user with background in Solidworks and Creo (formerly ProEngineer). I wanted a low-cost CAD package for basic 2D and 3D design work, without the strings attached to options like the free personal use Fusion 360 license.
For rapid prototyping and small-batch production with single-axis machining and 2D cutting, SolveSpace is so far very easy and intuitive to use. For an open-source CAD package, I am beyond impressed and very grateful for all of the talented contributors.
There are only a few options I find myself reaching for from SW or Creo that don't have simple enough workarounds. I think that with these additions, for my application, SolveSpace could feasibly replace either of those software packages.
- Separate "hide constraints" and "hide dimensions"
- Improved rectangle tool
-> Defined by perpendicularity rather than vertical/horizontal constraints
-> Ability to draw triangles from either two corners or two near points would also be very useful
- Some kind of midpoint functionality
-> Imagine trying to draw the letter "X" at an arbitrary angle, the best way I am aware at present is four legs with multiple parallel and equal length constraints
-> Ability to draw a point and constrain it to the midpoint of a line would make this radically faster
I may have other additions to this list as my experience with SolveSpace grows, I don't currently have SW or Creo licenses to "cross-shop." However, I want to emphasize that SolveSpace provides a level of functionality that I can't get with any other software package without spending at least $500USD per year, and I feel the project itself should benefit from commercial users like myself. QCAD, for instance, has a ~$30 "Pro" license fee which doesn't nearly match SolveSpace in capabilities.
I wonder if there might be a way to give financial support to contributors out of gratitude? Direct donation to individuals, or Patreon?
Could there be room for additional "Pro" modules or add-ons which specialize SolveSpace for one or more commercial applications? These would most likely be GPLv3 just like SolveSpace but GPL would still allow a "suggested donation".
Or potentially a bounty on particular features, perhaps allowing multiple users interested in the same functionalities to fund them?
Thanks for reading!
Alex
(no subject) (by Paul)
Hi Alex, to answer some of your questions:
- Separate "hide constraints" and "hide dimensions"
That has been requested but not added here: https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/1046
- Improved rectangle tool
-> Defined by perpendicularity rather than vertical/horizontal constraints
I've had that thought myself. You can of course construct a rectangle with those constraints, but to have a button right next to the other that creates it this way might be more useful than I thought.
-> Ability to draw triangles from either two corners or two near points would also be very useful
I'm not sure I understand this one. Can you explain it better?
- Some kind of midpoint functionality
This exists in the constraints menu, or by pressing "m" after selecting a point an a line. To make your "X" draw the two lines, then press "p" and make a point somewhere (not on a line) Then constrain it to each lines midpoint.
If you have other feature requests or issues to report feel free to use github issues here: https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues
- Separate "hide constraints" and "hide dimensions"
That has been requested but not added here: https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/1046
- Improved rectangle tool
-> Defined by perpendicularity rather than vertical/horizontal constraints
I've had that thought myself. You can of course construct a rectangle with those constraints, but to have a button right next to the other that creates it this way might be more useful than I thought.
-> Ability to draw triangles from either two corners or two near points would also be very useful
I'm not sure I understand this one. Can you explain it better?
- Some kind of midpoint functionality
This exists in the constraints menu, or by pressing "m" after selecting a point an a line. To make your "X" draw the two lines, then press "p" and make a point somewhere (not on a line) Then constrain it to each lines midpoint.
If you have other feature requests or issues to report feel free to use github issues here: https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues
(no subject) (by app4soft)
> I wonder if there might be a way to give financial support to contributors out of gratitude? Direct donation to individuals, or Patreon?
I may not say about core devs, but I'm SolveSpace contributor in QA/testing & localizing.
On Patreon I'm sharing my SolveSpace showcases (SLVS-files): https://www.patreon.com/app4soft
Also some of my showcases available on GitHub: https://git.io/DailySolveSpace
> QCAD, for instance, has a ~$30 "Pro" license fee which doesn't nearly match SolveSpace in capabilities.
To be clear, QCAD is rather different CAD app - it is CADD and is targeted to create 2D drawings (LibreCAD is a fork of QCAD 2.x).
There are a lot of things not (yet!) implemented in SolveSpace which does not allow create really "professional" drawings.
SolveSpace itself could be used for creating some limitied 2D CAD drawings/blueprints with dimensions (see: https://twitter.com/app4soft/status/1348108114596397056 ), but for creating complex drawings (especially according ISO standards) I just recommend use LibreCAD/QCAD; otherwise sketch something in SolveSpace and "Export 2D View... > DXF" - then import into LibreCAD/QCAD for final touches (I has all of those apps installed and using them together).
FTR, QCAD Pro is just a paid trial-plugin bunded with QCAD CE (QCAD Community Edition) while QCAD CE is fully free & opensource, so you can download the binary from site for your platform (see: https://qcad.org/en/download ) and then remove the QCAD Professional add-on running in trial mode (click "Remove" in the "Trial" widget and follow on screen instructions). Otherwise you could compile it from source: https://github.com/qcad/qcad (many Linux distros provides QCAD CE packages: https://repology.org/project/qcad/versions ).
I may not say about core devs, but I'm SolveSpace contributor in QA/testing & localizing.
On Patreon I'm sharing my SolveSpace showcases (SLVS-files): https://www.patreon.com/app4soft
Also some of my showcases available on GitHub: https://git.io/DailySolveSpace
> QCAD, for instance, has a ~$30 "Pro" license fee which doesn't nearly match SolveSpace in capabilities.
To be clear, QCAD is rather different CAD app - it is CADD and is targeted to create 2D drawings (LibreCAD is a fork of QCAD 2.x).
There are a lot of things not (yet!) implemented in SolveSpace which does not allow create really "professional" drawings.
SolveSpace itself could be used for creating some limitied 2D CAD drawings/blueprints with dimensions (see: https://twitter.com/app4soft/status/1348108114596397056 ), but for creating complex drawings (especially according ISO standards) I just recommend use LibreCAD/QCAD; otherwise sketch something in SolveSpace and "Export 2D View... > DXF" - then import into LibreCAD/QCAD for final touches (I has all of those apps installed and using them together).
FTR, QCAD Pro is just a paid trial-plugin bunded with QCAD CE (QCAD Community Edition) while QCAD CE is fully free & opensource, so you can download the binary from site for your platform (see: https://qcad.org/en/download ) and then remove the QCAD Professional add-on running in trial mode (click "Remove" in the "Trial" widget and follow on screen instructions). Otherwise you could compile it from source: https://github.com/qcad/qcad (many Linux distros provides QCAD CE packages: https://repology.org/project/qcad/versions ).
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