If curious, past threads:

LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14801612 - July 2017 (79 comments)

LeoCAD software to build Lego models - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9674129 - June 2015 (3 comments)

The submitted URL this time was https://github.com/leozide/leocad/releases/tag/v21.03, which is pretty specialized. Since it has been years since the project was discussed, I've changed the URL to its home page.

> I've changed the URL to its home page.

It was bad idea, as there are no release notes on LeoCAD home page.

Please, @dang, revert news URL back!

UPD: Or at least replace it with link to "Version History" page.[0]

[0] https://www.leocad.org/docs/history.html

The release notes don't make sense without knowing what the project is. If you want to post the release notes URLs in a separate comment, I can pin it to the top of the thread. That way no one is likely to miss them.

Guess, this time just set main URL to the "Version History"[0] page (as it shows all majour changes in LeoCAD v21.x in one place, including "dark color" mode introduced in `v21.01`).

P.S. I just curious why in threads about GIMP[1] and Inkscape[1] releases URLs not replaced to each software homepage...

[0] https://www.leocad.org/docs/history.html

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23490326

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24405214

That "version history" page is just a changelog. It also doesn't make sense unless people know what the project is.

The other projects you mentioned are orders of magnitude better known and have been discussed a ton on HN. In that scenario we take a completely different approach. I wrote about this at length here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23071428. Funnily enough it happened to be in a thread about Inkscape.

When a project has never been discussed before on HN, we routinely change URLs to the project home page so that people get a chance to learn about it. In the current case the project had been discussed before, but only a couple times and not since 2017—that binds more closely to the "never-discussed" scenario than the "much-discussed" one, which is why I changed the URL.

If you look at the last paragraph of the post I just linked to, where it says "For obscure projects", you'll notice an explanation of exactly what I did in the current case. But the "no one is unhappy with the mods" part has now officially been falsified!

The main page is much better context for a general discussion. To someone who does not already regularly make models with LeoCAD or intend to do so in the immediate future, and especially to someone who doesn't even know what LeoCAD is, these release notes are not very useful. But here they are:

> Added option to draw conditional lines. Added option to draw logos on studs. Added option to draw high contrast studs. Added option to configure edge colors. Added new find/replace widget. Improved Bricklink xml export. Added option to paste parts and keep their original steps. Added model measurements to the Properties Dialog. Load official parts before unofficial parts. Fixed mac retina display issues.

> To someone who does not already know what LeoCAD is

There is already TL;DR: comment[0] with link to website.

> these release notes are not very useful

It useful for those who already khow what LeoCAD is.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26458863#26459148

FWIW as a casual observer, “this software exists and can do these things” is way more useful than “software I know nothing about got a new feature that I don’t understand because I don’t have the context of knowing what the software is or what it does” :)

> I don’t have the context of knowing what the software is or what it does

If someone don't know something Google always may explain it.

If you go to GitHub release page and don't know what it is, just jump to project main page on GitHub.[0]

[0] https://github.com/leozide/leocad

Responding to the original comment before it got edited:

> Google still works for all, as I know.

So I should google everything that hits the front page of HN, even if I already read the original link and it looks boring, just in case it might be actually be relevant to my interests but the submitter chose a particularly non-representative example to share…?

I think the current approach of “link to the discussion-worthy part” is fine :3

> So I should google everything that hits the front page of HN

Of course NO!

HN users should google only about those thing that hits the front page of HN they don't know.

Maybe https://www.leocad.org/docs/history.html would be good, contains all the release notes going back to 1998 on one page.

Its good for general use, but its not an exact release announcement.

Is Lego CAD, website has some pictures: https://www.leocad.org/

LeoCAD uses LDraw Parts Library[0] as a set of "digitallego" bricks.

Also, highly recommend all AFOLs look on the "AWESOME LDraw"[1] — a list of useful digitallego resources (not only LDRaw-related, but also in other formats for various software other than LeoCAD).

> website has some pictures

Here is my latest screenshot[2,3] with my MOC "Micropolis Mallet Locomotive 0-8-8-0".[4,5]

[0] https://www.ldraw.org/

[1] https://git.io/digitallego

[2] https://i.imgur.com/tBZ2FCK.png

[3] https://twitter.com/app4soft/status/1371197528197193728

[4] https://twitter.com/app4soft/status/1217201295196663808

[5] https://twitter.com/app4soft/status/1234260641558548482

how did you get such a nice render?

> such a nice render

Guess, you mean this one[0,1,2], right?

If so, I just:

1) modeled MOC in LeoCAD & saved it as `.ldr`;

2) imported `.ldr` into Blender 2.79 (you may use later version) using ImportLDraw addon[3] & just rendered it in "Cycles" render mode (in later versions of Blender its possible use "Eevee" render mode too);

3) final touches was made using AzPainter[4] image editor.

That's all! If you are interested in more LDraw tools and other digitallego resources check the "AWESOME LDraw" list.[5]

There is good guide on ImportLDraw usage for realistic rendering.[6,7]

[0] https://i.imgur.com/VBLIbUn.png

[1] https://twitter.com/app4soft/status/1174490820050849792/phot...

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/d666xd/micropolis_mal...

[3] https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw

[4] https://git.io/azpainter

[5] https://git.io/digitallego

[6] https://www.rm-media.net/photo-realistic-rendering-with-leoc...

[7] https://github.com/beranep/lego_black_knights_castle_6086

How long does that take to render on a GPU?

It's highly depend on your hardware.

For this render I used 10+ y/o laptop w/ CPU P4 Dual-Core + integrated GPU Radeon Xpress 1250 (Blender was running in `software-gl` mode) — as a result this model rendered in few hours ( ^_^;)

I suppose this would be great with VR goggles.

I actually build a sort of L**o simulation that uses the LDraw library for pieces in combination with the HTC Vive. You can check it out here:

https://essometer.itch.io/virtual-blox

Looks great!

Possible for sure! Get the following software:

- Blender

- Plugin ImportLDraw - https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw

- Either use Blender latest versions (has built-in VR) or try something like Blender XR

I did use ImportLDraw for something a while ago here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk3yrj4FC7E/

Here is good tutorial on ImportLDraw usage.[0,1]

[0] https://www.rm-media.net/photo-realistic-rendering-with-leoc...

[1] https://github.com/beranep/lego_black_knights_castle_6086

I just gave this a try, and I would honestly love to have a traditional cad software that is so intuitive and easy to use. (Except for the stuff with the rotation, that was a little hiccup for me)

I could just get into it, drag, drop rotate and make some stuff - it's actually _fun_ to use!

Does anyone know of a cad program which uses a similar approach? I'd love to be able to build smooth models with such a software...

> Except for the stuff with the rotation, that was a little hiccup for me

Please, report any issues to issues tracker.[0]

[0] https://github.com/leozide/leocad

The issue already seems to be there[0], but honestly I immediately resorted to using the arrows to move the pieces around and from there on out it didn't disturb me anymore.

I'm really glad you're putting such an emphasis on beginner friendliness though, that's really cool!

[0]https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues/655

Architect here: nothing beats SketchUp on intuitiveness.

> traditional cad software that is so intuitive and easy to use

Autocad is the Emacs for CAD - you can even script it with Lisp. It's not intuitive at all, but once you master it, is unbeatable.

> Architect here: nothing beats SketchUp on intuitiveness

Try latest SolveSpace.[0]

> Autocad is the Emacs for CAD - you can even script it with Lisp. It's not intuitive at all, but once you master it, is unbeatable.

LeoCAD is CAD for kids in the first place. And this HN thread is mostly about CADs which are kids-friendly — usable just with its GUI elemnts & mouse/keyboard shortcuts (SolveSpace also one of such), without any needs in scripting at all.

[0] https://git.io/SolveSpace3x

I had to search a bit to find it's GPLv2 licensed.

https://www.leocad.org/docs/license.html

Did some 3D lately and used TinkerCAD, which runs from the browser. Very intuitive and had more than enough features to achieve what I needed.

https://www.tinkercad.com

> TinkerCAD, which runs from the browser. Very intuitive...

TinkerCAD is proprietary software by AutoCAD... And we remember what has happen[0] with its another 'free' app - Fusion360 (RIP).

Thanks, but no.

BTW, LeoCAD is a much better choice for kids and AFOLs.

[0] https://twitter.com/MvdH74169613/status/1369334245043404815

I don't understand this reaction. Fusion360 continues to be free (as in beer) for personal. Not only that but startups can apply for a free licence each year.

> I don't understand this reaction.

You may get a better explanation from FreeCAD team on Twitter.

[0] https://twitter.com/FreeCADNews

Is there a particular tweet you’re trying to highlight? As a casual bystander, this comment isn’t helpful...

There are a lot of FreeCADNews' threads, so here I would link just few of them.[0,1]

Also read related discussions on HN.[2,3]

[0] https://twitter.com/FreeCADNews/status/1306932199564947457

[1] https://twitter.com/FreeCADNews/status/1313167577284304897

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24494653

[3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24503950

good point!

There’s also Bricklink Studio, which I’ve found to be easy to use with a decent built-in renderer (https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studio/download.page). How does LeoCAD compare?

> How does LeoCAD compare?

Bricklink Studio is proprietary — LeoCAD is fully free & opensource.

Bricklink Studio's `.io` format is closed — LeoCAD's uses LDraw's `.ldr` format which is fully open & well documented.

Briclink Studio available only for Windows & macOS — LeoCAD available for Linux, macOS, Windows and could be compiled for any platform which support Qt (including *BSD, Haiku OS, RaspberryPi, Arduino, etc.)

This is very cool, glad to see an opensource version of brick building. As a Dane (Lego's Danish), I'm impressed that you manage to navigate the numerous pitfalls with copyright infringement and the like.

Also glad to see it being GPLv2 licensed.

Hm still their logo is used in one of the model screenshots. I cannot imagine this will be tolerated.

> I cannot imagine this will be tolerated.

LeoCAD & LDraw follows LEGO's Fair Play[0] policy, so all is OK here.

See LeoCAD's License > Disclaimer.[1]

FTR, Studs logo by default is turned off in LeoCAD, but user may turn in on in the preferences.

[0] https://www.lego.com/en-us/legal/notices-and-policies/fair-p...

[1] https://www.leocad.org/docs/license.html

Just gave this a try... why is it that when you rotate a brick, the x,y,z movement also rotates with it? What I mean is that once you have rotated a 2x4 brick 90 degrees clockwise, when trying to position that part, moving the mouse left moves the part forwards, moving it forwards moves the part right and so on. That makes no sense - surely it's a bug?

> why is it that when you rotate a brick, the x,y,z movement also rotates with it?

Hardly to say what exactly you mean without seeing some sreenrecord.

I may just guess that you should learn a little about "Relative" and "Absolute" coordinates in LeoCAD (see menu "Edit > Transform", "Transform" buttons on main toolbar and on "Properties" widget).[0]

> That makes no sense - surely it's a bug?

I'm not sure.

UPD: Follow related issue thread[1]; alternatively use rotation arrows[3] for rotate (click on each rotation arrow with mouse and move it)

[0] https://i.imgur.com/7sdt8yC.png

[1] https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues/655

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26458863#26464346