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Comment by Aurornis | Hacker News Reader

I think it’s great that we have FreeCAD as an option and I’m excited to see it mature.

That said, I recommend Autodesk Fusion free tier for anyone who just wants to get quality work done quickly. Some will refuse to use it on principle and that’s fine for them, but it really is quality software free for hobbyist use with trivial restrictions.

EDIT: Getting downvoted, presumably for suggesting a non-OSS software to get a job done. However I’d recommend anyone who just wants to get work done at least consider the options at their disposal. Not every software decision needs to be made on principle.

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Those who have bought into "free" closed source software simply haven't been burned hot enough by it yet. It might take a while, but you'll learn your lesson one of these days.

I think I could be burned by Fusion, recreate everything in OnShape, get burned by OnShape, then redo everything on a 3rd software and still be better off.

FreeCAD is just that far behind.

Honestly it’s useful enough that I’d pay the several hundred dollars per year if I had to. It’s that much better. The money spent would be well worth it (for me) for all the time saved over using FreeCAD. I’ve used multiple professional CAD packages and I’m just not interested in going back.

People sneer and tell me I’m going to get burned some day, but meanwhile I’ve been using it to great effect for many years for hobby projects that I can share around and edit easily.

I'm not going to agree to any of the "free" (you sign away all rights to the things you made free) tiers. Not that anyone would ever use my things but it's out of principle. FreeCAD has issues but is good enough for most people. And once you want to do really complicated things and also can cope the hundred of euros per years fine, but don't complain other people should do the same because you can.

> (you sign away all rights to the things you made free) tiers.

Do you have a source for this? Or are you speculating?

> but it's out of principle

Great that it works for you. I have limited time for hobbies and I can’t justify making choices based on principle to avoid hypotheticals that even you admit aren’t going to happen.

> but don't complain other people should do the same because you can.

I’m not complaining. Anyone who wants to use a certain software based on principle is free to do so.

I’m sharing recommendations from my own experience and that of my peers. If the goal is to focus on the project you’re trying to do instead of fighting with software then people should be aware of their options.

> (you sign away all rights to the things you made free)

I don't see that in Autodesk's terms, which (per quick search - not exhaustive) seem to apply to "Fusion for Personal Use":

https://www.autodesk.com/company/terms-of-use/en/general-ter...

The only license I can find it compels is "If You provide Autodesk with ideas for improvement, suggestions, or other feedback".

(Not a lawyer, not your lawyer, not legal advice etc. etc.)

Unfortunately, those who (used to) use Autodesk Eagle can't say the same, and they were willing to pay.

The irony (or at least difference) here is that KiCAD is way better than Eagle ever was (or whatever the Fusion name is now). FreeCAD isn’t better than onShape, F360, or SolidWorks (and not even close, IMO).

Linux is fine, GNU is fine, KiCAD is fine, GIMP is fine, Mastodon is roughly fine, FreeCAD just hasn't gotten to that point.

SolidWorks hobbyist subscription is what I would point people to. It's the cheapest of the "real" CAD packages that will give portable skills to other packages.

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