FreeCAD Managing Expectations

Other languages:

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

Mesh Modeler

Common Perspectives

FreeCAD has not reached v1.0

FreeCAD is not stable

FreeCAD UI is ugly

Where is my favorite feature?

Realities

OpenCascade Kernel

A core external dependency that FreeCAD is utterly dependent on. There are ATM no FreeCAD devs that have any upstream interaction on the OpenCascade code.

Qt

Volunteers

Timelines, unpaid... it's done when it's done.

History

FreeCAD's history along with departures (jriegel) and pivots (PartDesign Next, App:Link etc...)

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)