Solvespace is a CAD tool that makes heavy use of constrains and uses the traditional CAD way of building 3D models, where most of the work happens in 2D planes then gets "lifted" to 3D.

It's useful when you build 3D objects that have to obey strict engineering constraints.

3D modeling for games / sfx / 3Ddesign rarely has such problem and typically follows a very different workflow.

I don't think SolveSpace is in that niche at all, it's for parametric design, like FreeCAD.

Have you tried it. Way different than freecad. You set constraint of equality or whatever. You leave it open ended and now you can add those same constraints in the 3D and transform your shape in this hybrid feel, that feels like your are modelling an equation with your hand.

That being said Freecad is way more versatile and you can do almost anything. Solve space is more like the equivalent of building a freecad model out of clay. You can always adjust it but you don’t end up with anything more usable than a stl file in reality, which you can then import into freecad lol.

Openscad and opencascade are for CAD program designers imho . Although version control is so appealing.

I love OpenSCAD for specific tasks like modeling microcontrollers against vendor datasheets. While this is not often required with commercial tools and conventional component suppliers, KiCad + chipageddon + being based in China means I've done quite a bit of that recently and it's been largely efficient, cross-platform and up to task. I am competent with Blender, but prefer OpenSCAD for this domain. Haven't really looked in to SolveSpace.

I have tried it, yes. You can add constraints to any parametric CAD software, like FreeCAD, OnShape, Solidworks, Fusion, etc.

> You can add constraints to any parametric CAD software, like FreeCAD,...

SolveSpace has a little bit different constraints solver.

There is Assembly3 worbench for FreeCAD, which is based on SolveSpace solver.[0]

[0] https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3/wiki/Constr...

Hmm, it's been a while since I last tried it, but I remember the constraints being pretty much the same as other software. Maybe I should try again.

It's just a different implementation of exactly the same idea. I've used every parametric CAD software that exists (more or less) and their sketch constraint solvers are generally indistinguishable. They only differ in small details - can you select the midpoint of a line? can you have mirror constraints? are they vaguely stable when underconstrained? etc.

> I don't think SolveSpace is in that niche at all

SolveSpace could export designed 3D model as NURBS geometry to STEP (.stp), but there are no advanced tools for NURBS surface modeling.