Group talk: OpenDWG Replacement

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I did not want to mess with the first page, so this is a rough list of thoughts we can discuss:
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This is a rough list of thoughts we still need to discuss, before moving them to the front page:
  
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=== CAD Data formats ===
 
  
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* vtk from kitware.com is a 3D CAD format used in scientific areas, but i don't know the licence
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=== Mailing lists ===
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* www.ocf.or.jp/e/index.shtml - OCF / Open CAD Format Council
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* http://www.freelists.org/archives/cad-linux/ - people annouce various activities around "open" cad systems.
 +
* [http://groups.google.com/group/open_cad_format Open CAD format] people discuss over Open CAD Format.  (We would be interested in FREE CAD format accepted as standard)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
We need to have a mailing list for '''"Free" CAD system''' so that we can invite more people and
 +
have faster interactions.
 +
* ask on the cad-linux mailing list, if we can discuss matter there?
 +
* once we now where & what to head for, there should be a project with related mail list
 +
 
 +
=== Getting up to speed ===
 +
At the moment this "Priority" project is not gathering momentum as interested
 +
people are more of users than developers. This is a general problem, since cad software is not used by developers. Free Software so far is often started, because software folks scratch there own itch.
 +
How can we motivate developers to contribute to this kind of software? In return mechanical, architecture and design engineers can start free design projects and build something software folks may like :-)
 +
 
 +
''I do see many developers working on various GPL licensed CAD software we need to bring them on one platform to drive this project. Lets create an invitation mail which can be sent to these groups of developers/users so that they can visit FSF priority project''
 +
 
 +
=== About open CAD formats... ===
 +
 
 +
[http://groups.google.com/group/open_cad_format/web/oca-page?version=36 This google group] has already started generating an open CAD format as it seems.
 +
 
 +
I also thought that collecting the information on KNOWN CAD FILE FORMATS will also help us understand how vivid these formats are hence created one section in the main wiki.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
¿what about this format? IFC http://www.buildingsmart.com/bim. It is a free standard for BIM(Building Information Models)
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Used as a 3D model of an architectural design by several proprietary applications such as Revit, Allplan and Archicad.
  
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=== opendwg replacement / data format ===
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=== DRAFT INVITATION to existing projects===
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Why do we call it an open dwg replacement?
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Here is draft of the invitation which we may send
 +
out to people known to have interest or are already
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developing a CAD solution under GPL.
  
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My view is that there is a need for a free 3d CAD Software and a free 3D Data format. These two go together.
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Quote:
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Ideally the cad package should not just resemble what existing proprietary packages do, but also contain features like novel ways of community & collaborative design work.
 
  
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=== 3D CAD Software around ===
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We understand that you are (actively involved/interested) in
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* www.opencascade.org - the opencascade project provides a software stack that has many foundations for CAD/FEM/CFD Software. It was started or at least is pushed by airbus - i think to avoid vendor lock-in with long running aeroplane design projects that go on for decades. Derived from this is "salome"
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CAD format freedom.
  
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* sourceforge.net/projects/avocado-cad - avoCADo was recently startet in java. It is in very early stages, aimes for cross plattform use, but i fear java the wrong choice for a demanding piece of software
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Free Software Foundation is popularly known as FSF and
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a foundation spearheading the Free Software Movement under
 +
the GNU GLP license. They identified the need of a
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Free CAD Format as a High priority project.
  
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* blender.org - once had the idea to fork a cad version. However CAD is mainly about 3D geometrie driven design and then deriving 2D drawing from it. Blender is about artists expressing there imagination. But - the 3D displaying technology and rendering is there, blenders interface is very theme driven, maybe a starting point.
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Please check out FSF High Priority Project list at
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http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority.html for more
 +
information.
  
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* various (ex-commercial or unknown stage) other cad packages http://brlcad.org/, varkon.sourceforge.net/ Varkon.org, http://www.graphiteone-cad.com
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FSF also created a wiki for project coordination at
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* some more lists: http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Apps/cad.html
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http://groups.fsf.org/index.php/OpenDWG_Replacement
 +
The goal is to have a free CAD format and to concentrate activities in order to develop a free, portable, 3D CAD software.
  
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=== mailing lists ===
+
We have checked and found that there are various
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* http://www.freelists.org/archives/cad-linux/ - people annouce various activities around "open" cad systems.
+
groups working on Free & Open CAD formats and software.
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* [http://groups.google.com/group/open_cad_format Open CAD format] people discuss over Open CAD Format. (We would be interested in FREE CAD format accepted as standard)
+
 
 +
In an effort to converge all efforts to the creation of a
 +
widely accepted standard for CAD and a software along with it, we invite you to
 +
register and participate in this "FSF High Priority Project".
  
 +
Any support would be of greatly appreciated.
  
−
We need to have a mailing list for '''"Free" CAD system''' so that we can invite more people and
+
UnQuote
−
have faster interactions.
 
  
−
I feel that this "Priority" project is not gathering momentum as interested
+
Taking it as '''"High Priority"''' we must finalize this draft
−
people are more of users than developers.  
+
by 14th Feb and start sending them.
  
−
''I do see many developers working on various GPL licensed CAD software we need to bring them on one platform to drive this project. Lets create an invitation mail which can be sent to these groups of developers/users so that they can visit FSF priority project''
 
  
−
[http://groups.google.com/group/open_cad_format/web/oca-page?version=36 page] of this group have already started generating an open CAD format it seems.
+
==Questionnaire==
 +
Dear visitor, please leave some insight to help this project! Feel free to add important questions, and leave some answers in between them.
  
−
I also thought that collecting the information on KNOWN CAD FILE FORMATS will also help us understand how vivid these formats are hence created one section in the main wiki.
+
* Is there a free 3D CAD project, we don't know about, but which looks promising?
  
 +
* An open CAD file format, worth looking at?
  
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=== 3D Design projects ===
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If you are developing a free 3D CAD Software:
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... waiting for free 3D CAD to start working exchanging data
 
  
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* http://theoscarproject.org
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* why did you not contribute to other, existing projects?
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* http://openbike.org
 
  
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=== CA[X] Distributions ===
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* What is needed to get the development of a free 3D CAD Software up to speed?
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* http://caelinux.org
 
  
 +
== General Observations ==
  
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=== CAD Software features ===
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What is noticed that people using Closed source software and
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* easy clean interface to begin with, advanced features can be added by user to grow with the system (complex software - steep learning curve)
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formats are totally ignorant about the possibility of CAD
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* 3D Design + 2D Drawings
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as "Free Software". For these people the proprietary software
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* can display Part Tolerances in 3D
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is the '''ONLY''' way of life.
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* internet collaboration, desktop sharing
 
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integration with:
 
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* versioning, branching, forking,..: CVS,
 
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* product data and life management: PLM, PDM
 
  
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=== outlook ===
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Even making an effort to enroll people who are ignorant on
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3D Printers, Rapid manufacturing & tooling, and various other technologies to "grow" parts are available and will spread in the foreseeable future. Free design communities are there, much like free software communities, but lack software to design and share parts, models, etc.
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"Freedom" would help this project.

Latest revision as of 17:38, 7 December 2010

This is a rough list of thoughts we still need to discuss, before moving them to the front page:


Mailing lists


We need to have a mailing list for "Free" CAD system so that we can invite more people and have faster interactions.

  • ask on the cad-linux mailing list, if we can discuss matter there?
  • once we now where & what to head for, there should be a project with related mail list

Getting up to speed

At the moment this "Priority" project is not gathering momentum as interested people are more of users than developers. This is a general problem, since cad software is not used by developers. Free Software so far is often started, because software folks scratch there own itch. How can we motivate developers to contribute to this kind of software? In return mechanical, architecture and design engineers can start free design projects and build something software folks may like :-)

I do see many developers working on various GPL licensed CAD software we need to bring them on one platform to drive this project. Lets create an invitation mail which can be sent to these groups of developers/users so that they can visit FSF priority project

About open CAD formats...

This google group has already started generating an open CAD format as it seems.

I also thought that collecting the information on KNOWN CAD FILE FORMATS will also help us understand how vivid these formats are hence created one section in the main wiki.


¿what about this format? IFC http://www.buildingsmart.com/bim. It is a free standard for BIM(Building Information Models) Used as a 3D model of an architectural design by several proprietary applications such as Revit, Allplan and Archicad.

DRAFT INVITATION to existing projects

Here is draft of the invitation which we may send out to people known to have interest or are already developing a CAD solution under GPL.

Quote:

We understand that you are (actively involved/interested) in CAD format freedom.

Free Software Foundation is popularly known as FSF and a foundation spearheading the Free Software Movement under the GNU GLP license. They identified the need of a Free CAD Format as a High priority project.

Please check out FSF High Priority Project list at http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority.html for more information.

FSF also created a wiki for project coordination at http://groups.fsf.org/index.php/OpenDWG_Replacement The goal is to have a free CAD format and to concentrate activities in order to develop a free, portable, 3D CAD software.

We have checked and found that there are various groups working on Free & Open CAD formats and software.

In an effort to converge all efforts to the creation of a widely accepted standard for CAD and a software along with it, we invite you to register and participate in this "FSF High Priority Project".

Any support would be of greatly appreciated.

UnQuote

Taking it as "High Priority" we must finalize this draft by 14th Feb and start sending them.


Questionnaire

Dear visitor, please leave some insight to help this project! Feel free to add important questions, and leave some answers in between them.

  • Is there a free 3D CAD project, we don't know about, but which looks promising?
  • An open CAD file format, worth looking at?

If you are developing a free 3D CAD Software:

  • why did you not contribute to other, existing projects?
  • What is needed to get the development of a free 3D CAD Software up to speed?

General Observations

What is noticed that people using Closed source software and formats are totally ignorant about the possibility of CAD as "Free Software". For these people the proprietary software is the ONLY way of life.

Even making an effort to enroll people who are ignorant on "Freedom" would help this project.

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