Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

BRL-CAD VS HackADay

Compare BRL-CAD VS HackADay and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

BRL-CAD logo BRL-CAD

BRL-CAD: Open Source Solid Modeling

HackADay logo HackADay

Hackaday.io is a platform for people who like to build things.
  • BRL-CAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23
  • HackADay Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-04

BRL-CAD features and specs

  • Open Source
    BRL-CAD is free and open-source software, which means it can be freely downloaded, used, and modified. This makes it accessible to a wide range of users, from hobbyists to professional engineers.
  • Rich Feature Set
    BRL-CAD offers a comprehensive suite of tools for solid modeling, including geometry editing, rendering, and analysis capabilities. It supports a variety of file formats and has powerful computational capabilities.
  • Longevity and Provenance
    BRL-CAD has been actively developed and maintained for over 40 years. Its extensive history in the field ensures a robust and stable platform trusted by industries and government agencies alike.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    BRL-CAD is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and various Unix-like systems such as Linux and BSD.
  • Extensive Documentation
    BRL-CAD provides thorough documentation and tutorials, which can be extremely helpful for new users trying to familiarize themselves with the software as well as advanced users looking for specific information.

Possible disadvantages of BRL-CAD

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive feature set and unique interface, BRL-CAD can have a steep learning curve, especially for users who are new to CAD software or who are migrating from other more user-friendly platforms.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface of BRL-CAD is considered outdated compared to modern CAD software, which can make it less intuitive and harder to navigate for some users.
  • Limited Community Support
    While BRL-CAD has a dedicated user base, it is not as large as those of more popular CAD systems. This can result in fewer community resources, such as forums, user groups, and third-party tutorials.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Development and updates can be less frequent compared to commercial CAD software, potentially leading to slower implementation of new features and bug fixes.
  • Lack of Integration with Commercial Tools
    BRL-CAD may have limited integration with commonly used commercial CAD tools and PLM systems, which can be a disadvantage for users who need to operate in a mixed software environment.

HackADay features and specs

  • Diverse Content
    Hackaday covers a wide range of topics within electronics, engineering, and DIY projects, catering to a broad audience with varied interests.
  • Community Engagement
    The site has a vibrant community that actively shares projects and ideas, providing a platform for collaboration and feedback.
  • Regular Updates
    Hackaday frequently updates its content, ensuring readers have access to the latest in technology and maker communities.
  • Educational Resources
    The site offers tutorials and how-to guides, valuable for both beginners and experienced makers looking to learn new skills.

Possible disadvantages of HackADay

  • Technical Complexity
    Some projects and articles are highly technical, which might be challenging for beginners to fully understand without additional context.
  • Variable Quality
    The quality of content can vary greatly, as it is community-driven and includes submissions from a wide range of contributors.
  • Niche Focus
    While Hackaday covers diverse topics within its niche, it may not appeal to individuals outside the DIY or maker community.
  • Advertisement Presence
    The website contains advertisements that can sometimes detract from user experience, especially during project navigation.

BRL-CAD videos

Introduction of BRL-CAD

More videos:

  • Review - free open source cad software Archer BRL-CAD Setup

HackADay videos

No HackADay videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to BRL-CAD and HackADay)
3D
100 100%
0% 0
Digital Fabrication
0 0%
100% 100
Architecture
100 100%
0% 0
Additive Manufacturing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, HackADay should be more popular than BRL-CAD. It has been mentiond 49 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

BRL-CAD mentions (13)

  • What is a Good Next Step After to Learn C in More Depth After CS50?
    If computer graphics is of interest, BRL-CAD (https://brlcad.org) is very welcoming to new contributors and has lots of projects you could take on. Source: about 2 years ago
  • GPT4 hallucinating a FTP server at ftp.disney.com
    Mike Muuss[0] approves of this message. 0: https://brlcad.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Best way/book to learn C, for a rookie like me
    Join an open source community that is welcoming to newcomers (e.g., BRL-CAD, Haiku OS, OSGeo, ..) and work on a little bit of code every day. It can be a simple feature, specific bug, or something new you want to achieve. Many open source groups are very welcoming to newcomers if you do the work and ask smart questions. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Windows / MacOS - Home/garden design
    You could also try out free AutoCAD alternatives like libreCAD (2D), or brlCAD (2D&3D, I believe). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Free 3D design software??? Hey friends! I am building a couple of custom sized cabinets with shaker style doors. Are there any free design design software applications that can render in 3D that isn’t too difficult to use? Any info will be so appreciated! Thanks!!
    So, uh ... Learning curve. If you want anything and everything under the sun, go with BRL-CAD. It was designed for ballistics testing and simulation, but it can do pretty much anything. The learning curve for BRL-CAD is immense. Otherwise, I recommend OpenSCAD. Source: over 2 years ago
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HackADay mentions (49)

  • Wells Fargo Fires over a Dozen for 'Simulation of Keyboard Activity'
    It seems like most of these devices (example: https://hackaday.com/?p=683252) have a fixed and unusual USB vendor+product ID that will surely come up in the system log. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Deej: An open-source hardware volume mixer for Windows and Linux
    Can't help you with a list. But https://hackaday.com/ features sometimes nice DIY project, I often also see them popping up on youtube. But you might be able to find some if you search on 3D printing websites such as https://www.printables.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • What are some fun ME-related coding projects?
    Https://hackaday.com/ has many ideas/previously made projects. They also reward you for bringing up something new. Also accept year around applications. Check it out. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Did students lose interest in electronics as a hobby in the early 80s?
    We made abstractions successfully, world changing abstractions. Do the NAND to Tetris course and see that tech is abstractions on top of abstractions. Electronics today is frequently represented by code. Check out Verilog or VHDL. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_description_language Where electronics stayed interesting is in the realm where code meets reality -> robotics and art. Playing with LED's,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • What is your go-to source for science/tech news?
    Hackaday for when I'm browsing cool ideas I can actually do myself. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing BRL-CAD and HackADay, you can also consider the following products

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

Hackster - Hackster is a community dedicated to learning hardware.

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.

Wikifactory - Engineer the future with Wikifactory. Wikifactory unifies teams in real-time, enabling efficient communication, streamlined workflows, and accelerated time-to-market.

OpenSCAD - OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.

Instructables - DIY How To Make Instructions