Key Takeaways
1. AstoCAD is a new soft fork of FreeCAD focused on improving user interface design to make it more user-friendly and appealing.
2. The development of AstoCAD aims to support ongoing enhancements in FreeCAD while ensuring users access the latest features.
3. AstoCAD’s UI changes are inspired by the popular CAD software Autodesk Fusion360, making it more relatable for users.
4. AstoCAD operates on a paid membership model, offering Standard and Premium options, with different pricing and benefits for each.
5. New UI features developed in AstoCAD will eventually be integrated into FreeCAD, providing long-term improvements for all users.
It’s known that a lot of open-source applications and software struggle with their user interface design. FreeCAD, which has recently made significant progress in its features and capabilities, has long been part of this narrative. However, a new fork of FreeCAD aims to offer a refreshed, user-friendly UI redesign.
The Future of FreeCAD
Our goal is to enhance FreeCAD to transform it into the ultimate CAD software. To achieve this, we need a sustainable income. That’s where AstoCAD comes into the picture.
In the introductory video, Pierre-Louis Boyer, the main developer of AstoCAD and also responsible for many recent UI updates in FreeCAD, presents the new program as a means to support the ongoing development and UI enhancements in FreeCAD. AstoCAD is a soft fork, meaning it will always utilize the most recent FreeCAD build, ensuring that users get the latest technical features alongside the improved UI.
User Interface Enhancements
The new UI modifications being introduced in AstoCAD make the 3D design software resemble Autodesk Fusion360, which is a well-known CAD suite favored by makers and hobbyists alike.
AstoCAD operates on a paid membership basis, offering both premium and standard membership options, yet the source code for AstoCAD remains open-source. The UI advancements and features introduced in AstoCAD won’t be exclusive to it forever. As stated on the FAQ page, the AstoCAD team plans to integrate new UI features into FreeCAD “after some time,” with Boyer indicating this could be a few months post-release in AstoCAD.
Membership Pricing
As previously mentioned, AstoCAD offers both premium and standard membership choices. The Standard membership is priced at €48 or $48 annually, providing members with access to AstoCAD builds. Conversely, the Premium membership costs €144 or $144 per month, offering prioritization for issue reporting. This means that users with Premium memberships will have their issues addressed more quickly than those reported by Standard members.
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