programmer's point of view, user's point of view

[obelisk79]

As another user says: "It is a poor workman who blames his tools... "

Being proficient with ones' tools does not mean you should be unable or unwilling to also admit that they have shortcomings. Better tools means improved productivity and products, try not to be so myopic.

These common criticisms, often posed in a supportive or constructive way are often quickly dismissed by the same people repeatedly. the more you use FreeCAD the more blind you become to certain problems and it is so common to see forum regulars pile-up on posts like these with little regard to the validity of the items being pointed out.

There are less socially toxic ways to encourage people to get involved in the project than the "learn2code", "haha you just don't understand FreeCAD" and "FreeCAD isn't xyzCAD".

Often, people like the OP appreciate the program and what its capable of but experience some frustrating things they encounter as part of the learning process and actually want it to become better than it is today. While not all criticisms that wind up on the forum are valid or well articulated, this one certainly seems to be. Jumping in with overt and covert negativity does absolutely nothing to help build a stronger community. It actually does the opposite.

All of this aside, I think @chrisb really put everything into perspective with his response.

@hauseru thanks for coming to start a conversation from the perspective of a fresh set of eyes. Despite what could easily be taken as a bunch of negativity, please understand that everyone here is very passionate about FreeCAD. Most of the items you've mentioned are well-known and have been 'beaten to death' here on the forums many times over. If you are willing, and capable, a foray into the source code to fix even one of the things you've noticed helps make FreeCAD that one bit better than it was before.

Either way, I think if you stick with it, you'll find that after you better understand the FreeCAD approach you'll find it rewarding and less complicated than you initially thought. Best of luck to you!

[thomas-neemann]

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Totally agree, anyone who wants to improve freecad can do it

[MisterMaker]

There are some improvements lately in the less coder focused, like the preference packs and the icon theme option in linkstage, also the easy macro coding addon.
But I think the Freecad founders have a great goal in mind and know how to get there.
It's a lot of work that either cost a lot of time or a lot of money.
Now the funding is waaaaaay too low so money isn't doing it, and so it's gonna cost a lot of time.
Good step is the sponsors site where great sponsors are going up or it is more painfully clear how under-funding it is.
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-Homepage/pull/92
Blender has a team working full time on the software but also get 100k+ in funding per month. if Freecad would be able to get that amount of funding that would be awesome!

[thomas-neemann]

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if it runs like linux, there will soon be something like red hat, suse, etc. for freecad

[MisterMaker]

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if it runs like linux, there will soon be something like red hat, suse, etc. for freecad

Something like this for Freecad would be great, but that would only work if the base is rock solid aka tpn fixed.

[thomas-neemann]

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apparently every 3d cad system struggles with this. i found a method without topo... and flipping problem

[MisterMaker]

Working with a master sketch?
Although never wrong using a master-sketch you often still wants to do fillets and chamfers afterwards, and it is annoying that these fail when you change a dimension.

[Zolko]

But I think the Freecad founders have a great goal in mind and know how to get there.

exactly my type of humor, nice, bring-it-on.

the icon theme option in linkstage

which is the stupidest of all ideas: how will you write documentation and tutorials if icons don't mean a thing ?

[thomas-neemann]

... fillets and chamfers ...

fillets and chamfers can also be created constructively

[MisterMaker]

the icon theme option in linkstage

which is the stupidest of all ideas: how will you write documentation and tutorials if icons don't mean a thing ?

If you need tutorials where you need the exact same icon too understand the tutorial you can switch it back. Or just change it when you are done learning.
But for a Solidoworks user or a Fusion360, they know what icons do without having too learn new icons.
Also in companies as Autodesk and Dassault the coders don't do the artwork.
And my point was that you now can replace an Icon without compiling a qt theme which is less coder focused.
it's like telling a coder that they need too learn Inkscape before they can start coding. Like OP said less coder focused.

... fillets and chamfers ...

fillets and chamfers can also be created constructively

You can, but do you really want too?