Oh now behave yourself. It’s a simple question, but one we can throw a truckload of speculation at and shake it vigorously to come up with all sorts of outlandish ideas. ya down?
Mozilla Labs launched their Open Web Tools Directory today. It’s the new central repository mish-mash of design and coding tools to aid the most hardcore web developers pour their creations onto our screens – all of them available for the price of free. Now, what happens if we apply this to the whole 3D CAD/PLM space… besides pure mayhem and ensuing violence from VAR to partner product?
Open wide
I’m not talking open CAD standards or open-source CAD. I’m talking a place where developers, from the CAD/PLM companies to the third-party pushers, have a place that centralizes apps to produce CAD/PLM related products, models and services. Sure, having an open-source for the developers would be part of it, making it a common source an even bigger plus.
Now, put it on the web
Being able to have a central location for helps that help develop offline products is one thing. But as we look at SaaS (Software as a Service) apps having a little more potential and gaining more interest, you can’t help but think of the possibility that much of the development will be happening for online development. Add the open aspect to that and you have some big change happening in the whole design, engineering and manufacturing marketplace.
Now make it all Social-ly
Ya just can’t have a warm cozy web presence without some social aspects. It’s all the rage. Kids are putting it in their soup and CAD developers in their software. The obvious benefits for something like a Tools directory is feedback from the people using the tools, not just ways to connect people or collaborate. Not a reason to use ‘Web 2.0′ (so 2006) in product literature.
Who will start it?
Maybe we’ll see some fresh faces in this area, but my hope is that we’ll see some innovation in how products are deployed and how support is extended to a community of CAD/PLM users and developers. Looking at a small segment like the Open Web Tools can bring up a lot of ideas about where CAD/PLM can be pushed. Yeah, it’s basically a list of free apps. Maybe that doesn’t make a big difference. maybe that’s how you take over the freagin’ world.
Anyway, head over to take a look at the interface (in Firefox to see the fancy Canvas action). If you’re a web developer, it will interest you. If you have no idea what the heck this is all about, you can at least appreciate the way in which the tools are presented. Is something like this out of the range of CAD/PLM development?
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SolidSmack is a very small behemoth of an online community about 3D CAD, technology, design, robots, and ninjas… Ok, maybe not ninjas so much, but those guys are COOL so there just might be something about some dang ninjas.
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Josh,
You touched great topic! I think to be open is right way to go. The question what need to be open – code, format, tools. Does it mean license-free? Communities of developers are different animals and I don't see designers/engineers to behave in similar way for short term. Pay attention on initiatives like SketchUp and O3D. Some other thoughts on this topic –
http://plmtwine.com/2009/05/04/can-internet-cha...
http://plmtwine.com/2009/07/07/5-ways-to-become...
http://plmtwine.com/2009/05/19/what-will-drive-...
Best, Oleg
Thanks Oleg. I like the idea of open source cad and 3d, but I'm trying to stay away from the idea of the “web-based open source cad system” ya know? it's cliche and people are skeptical, but really, it's bound to happen. the web, hardware, software we use each day is changing right? CAD/PLM apps we use now were made to run on hardware/software that is nearly 15 years old. so how would it work today. something else interesting that just came up is Google's announcement of Chrome OS. it's being developed as an open-source OS. you've probably seen it. So will CAD/PLM companies develop for that and keep it open as well? really cool stuff.
Have a look at http://thingiverse.com. The RepRap community has been sharing designs since the beginning. Now RepRap Rock star Zach Smith has created a site. There are over a 1000 designs added within its first year. 90%+ is creative licensed open source / Creative Commons. We encourage you and other readers to use it and contribute if you like!
Your other point is certainly valid:
An open source solid modeling tool would really be great. We have blender (not solid), meshlab (not a modeler) and varous libraries, but not an complete or integrated toolchain yet…
Have a look at http://thingiverse.com. The RepRap community has been sharing designs since the beginning. Now RepRap Rock star Zach Smith has created a site. There are over a 1000 designs added within its first year. 90%+ is creative licensed open source / Creative Commons. We encourage you and other readers to use it and contribute if you like!
Your other point is certainly valid:
An open source solid modeling tool would really be great. We have blender (not solid), meshlab (not a modeler) and varous libraries, but not an complete or integrated toolchain yet…
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