Good things come to those who wait, and for 3D modeling professionals who prefer open-source software, the release of FreeCAD 1.0 signifies the end of a 22-year developmental journey. This free alternative to expensive engineering tools like Autodesk Fusion 360 and SolidWorks has finally reached its first formal stable version.
Despite being widely used by professionals and students in the field for years, the absence of a "1.0" designation had left some wondering why it took so long to achieve this milestone. The developers stated they were hesitant to rush the release, wanting to ensure that critical issues were addressed, particularly the toponaming problem and the integration of a built-in assembly module.
With these final pieces resolved, the FreeCAD team feels confident that this release will enhance its competitiveness against well-funded, proprietary software. Users who have had experience with FreeCAD have generally given it positive feedback, cementing its usability and utility in the CAD space.
Accompanying the release is a new logo crafted by the community, along with several updates to the user interface, such as rotational center indicators, an on-model task panel, and new dark and light themes. A slick release trailer highlights the capabilities of FreeCAD 1.0.
However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mark the end of development. The team emphasizes that version 1.0 is not a final product but rather a significant step in an ongoing project. It represents the collective achievements of contributors from various stages of FreeCAD’s development.
Download FreeCAD 1.0
FreeCAD is available for free across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users can download it directly from the official website, where the Linux version is provided as a standalone AppImage file. For Ubuntu users, an official FreeCAD snap is also available, as well as a version on Flathub here. To use AppImages on Ubuntu, the necessary package must be installed.
For those who prefer a simple installation, running sudo apt install freecad will provide an older version without additional setups. More information, including tutorials and the official release notes, can help users get started with FreeCAD.