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FreeRouting VS SolveSpace

Compare FreeRouting VS SolveSpace and see what are their differences

Unimus
Unimus is a Network Automation and Configuration management (NCM) solution designed for fast deployment network-wide and ease of use. Unimus does not require learning any abstraction or templating languages, and does not require any coding skills. sponsored
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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

FreeRouting logo FreeRouting

FreeRouting is a routing software for PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) that works with various CAD software such as Layout Editor, Eagle, KiCad.

SolveSpace logo SolveSpace

SOLVESPACE is a parametric 3D CAD program with extrude, revolve, union and difference functions.
  • FreeRouting Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-08
  • SolveSpace Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-20

FreeRouting features and specs

  • Accessibility
    FreeRouting is a free tool, which makes it an attractive option for hobbyists, small businesses, and educational purposes. Users can access powerful routing capabilities without any cost, making it widely accessible.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    FreeRouting can be integrated with various PCB design tools, allowing users to import and export designs easily. This compatibility with popular design formats adds flexibility to the workflow.
  • User Community and Support
    As an open-source project, FreeRouting has a community of users and contributors who can provide support, share enhancements, and contribute to ongoing development. This can be beneficial for troubleshooting and continuous improvement.
  • Customizable Algorithms
    The tool offers customizable routing algorithms, allowing users to adjust settings according to specific needs and preferences. This feature aids in achieving better routing results and efficiency for complex designs.

Possible disadvantages of FreeRouting

  • User Interface
    FreeRouting's user interface may not be as modern or intuitive as some commercial alternatives, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Limited Documentation
    The availability of comprehensive and up-to-date documentation can be limited. Users might find it challenging to locate resources or guides that can help them fully leverage the tool's capabilities.
  • Performance for Complex Designs
    While FreeRouting is capable of handling complex designs, it may not perform as efficiently as some commercial tools specifically optimized for large-scale and highly intricate PCBs.
  • Update Frequency
    As an open-source project, updates and new features may be released less frequently than in commercial software, which could impact users requiring constant advancements and bug fixes.

SolveSpace features and specs

  • Open Source
    SolveSpace is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages community contributions and allows users to customize the software to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    The software is relatively lightweight compared to other CAD programs, making it suitable for older systems or for users who prefer a minimal footprint.
  • Parametric Modeling
    SolveSpace offers parametric modeling, allowing users to define geometric constraints and dimensions that can easily be adjusted to alter the design.
  • Cross-Platform
    SolveSpace is available on multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enhancing accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • 2D and 3D Design
    The software supports both 2D and 3D design capabilities, making it versatile for various design projects ranging from basic sketches to complex 3D models.

Possible disadvantages of SolveSpace

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced and commercial CAD software, SolveSpace has limited features that might be insufficient for complex engineering projects.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of SolveSpace might seem outdated or less intuitive to users accustomed to more modern design environments.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the program's unconventional approach and lack of comprehensive documentation or tutorials.
  • Performance
    While lightweight, SolveSpace can struggle with performance issues when handling complex or large 3D models, which may affect users working on detailed projects.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a lesser-known tool, the community around SolveSpace is smaller, which could lead to challenges in finding help or resources for troubleshooting.

FreeRouting videos

+ Add

Tech Explorations - Kicad 5 - Using FreeRouting to autoroute a four-layer board

More videos:

  • Review - FreeRouting AutoRouting

SolveSpace videos

+ Add

Solvespace Tutorial 0: Basics and User Interface

More videos:

  • Demo - SOLVESPACE 2.0 demo
  • Tutorial - Solvespace Tutorial 1 - a Simple Plate

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeRouting and SolveSpace)

FreeRouting

SolveSpace

Network & Admin
100 100%
Network & Admin
0% 0
3D
0 0%
3D
100% 100
Operating Systems
100 100%
Operating Systems
0% 0
Architecture
0 0%
Architecture
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using FreeRouting and SolveSpace. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SolveSpace should be more popular than FreeRouting. It has been mentiond 25 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.

FreeRouting mentions (4)

  • [Elementary/Stupid Question] What are the uses of graph and relationship theorems in PCB and maybe, digital design?
    You might want to look at a free routing application called FreeRouting. Source: over 3 years ago
  • I want to design my own pcb with the nice!nano where do I get started and is there a way to download opensource designs like the corne or ferris sweep if they are open source, to modift the?
    Thereโ€™s only one autorouter thatโ€™s a) open source and b) known to work. Itโ€™s called FreeRouting. Iโ€™ve tried to adapt it for a GitHub workflow that takes an Ergogen YAML and outputs ready-for-fab PCB Gerber files. It doesnโ€™t work perfectly for all use cases, so itโ€™s probably worth double-checking the result with a DRC (design rule check) run in KiCad. Watch out for shorts and opens! ๐Ÿคž. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Fritzing is an open-source electronic design too
    Thanks for the info. Have you checked this out? https://freerouting.org/ (Not being snarky, looking for some clues to get me going) My intent is to produce single and perhaps double layer prototype boards using a CNC Router and hand soldered vias. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Routing a PCB for beginners
    Look into FreeRouting. It does a good job on its own but can be improved with an iterative process. I used it to route this 100x100 mm board. Source: over 4 years ago

SolveSpace mentions (25)

  • Ask HN: What are your top open source apps/software?
    Love OBS and Blender. Recently started using Kdenlive and it is awesome. Big fan of OpenSCAD[1] and solvespace[2] for making functional 3D prints. I'm going to branch out a bit here and say GrapheneOS is my favorite thing going on right now. [1] https://openscad.org/ [2] https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler
    Just checked it out [1] but it appears the last version released was in 2022? Makes me wonder if it is still active. [1] https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Ink and Switch Constraint System (2023)
    The comment on constraints which still blows me away is the footnote on the readme for Dune 3D: https://github.com/dune3d/dune3d Probably a bit more approachable for folks is: https://www.cadsketcher.com/ which adds the Solvespace constraint solver to Blender. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Show HN: A playable game of Tetris inside a PDF
    >> I do wish I did pay some attention to CAD now. I want a 3D printer and have no idea how to design objects for it. Get Solvespace: https://solvespace.com/index.pl Do the tutorials. If/when you outgrow it, the concepts will carry over to FreeCAD which otherwise has a steeper learning curve but has more capabilities. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • I Revived 3-Axis CNC Mill G-Code Simulator
    > - Solvespace --- limited to 2D last I checked According to https://solvespace.com/index.pl "SOLVESPACE -- parametric 2d/3d CAD" "SOLVESPACE is a free (GPLv3) parametric 3d CAD tool. Applications include: - modeling 3d parts โ€” draw with extrudes, revolves, helixes and Boolean (union / difference / intersection) operations [...] - 3d-printed parts โ€” export the STL or other triangle mesh expected by most 3d printers". - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeRouting and SolveSpace, you can also consider the following products

OSRM - Utilities, Application Utilities, and Mapping APIs

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

pgRouting - Repository contains pgRouting library. Development branch is "develop", stable branch is "master" - pgRouting/pgrouting

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

OPNsense - OPNsenseยฎ you next open source firewall. Free Download. High-end Security Made Easyโ„ข. Offers Intrusion Prevention, Captive Portal, Traffic Shaping and more.

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

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