> The power of parametric cad is such that I wouldn't be a 10th as productive using an interactive cad system.
This sounds like parametric and interactive CAD are polar opposites. Normal CAD software is generally parametric too.
The other points about the advantage of text files still applies though.
'Normal' cad software is parametric in an entirely different sense. You don't normally build up from entities just like you would in software, which you can then manipulate symbolically.
There are cad packages that can do this but unlike OpenSCAD the main interaction there is the 3D window, not the text editor.
Though AutoCAD of course had this with AutoLISP since 1986.
Interestingly, I'm not sure which has the steeper learning curve, OpenSCAD or AutoLISP. OpenSCAD is really great once it clicks but most people give up long before then.
Interesting to read that. I don't remember any learning barrier for OpenSCAD, while FreeCAD and Rhino3D took many days before I had to put it down. I guess people differ...
Same.
Two 3D CAD tools which seem to be focused on ease-of-use are:
- Dune 3D --- this has been discussed here a couple of times (I think I posted the two most active posts elsethread)
- Moment of Inspiration --- created by the developer who created the program Rhinoceros 3D was based on and who was the lead developer for that program for years, it focuses on ease of use and apparently started with the idea of making a CAD Program suited to use on a computer pen tablet --- there's a video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUilfM8GEmrS3yRLygdFO... which makes it seem very approachable
Iirc autolisp applies to 2D drawings, so it's not a competitor for generating meshes
Mathematica however is Lispy enough and has a lot of helpful geometry primatives and can export STL