Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

picoCAD VS OpenFrameworks

Compare picoCAD VS OpenFrameworks and see what are their differences

picoCAD logo picoCAD

A game jam from 2021-03-05 to 2021-03-11 hosted by Munro & Johan Peitz. Make something in picoCAD, the latest and greatest low-poly pixel-art 3D modeler. No prior 3D experience required. All skill levels welcome! Theme Bui...

OpenFrameworks logo OpenFrameworks

openFrameworks
  • picoCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-06
  • OpenFrameworks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30

picoCAD features and specs

  • Accessibility
    picoCAD is designed to be beginner-friendly and accessible, allowing users with no prior experience in 3D modeling to easily create simple models.
  • Affordability
    Being an inexpensive or occasionally free tool available on platforms like itch.io, picoCAD provides an affordable way for hobbyists to explore 3D modeling.
  • Focus on Creativity
    With its limitations in complexity, picoCAD encourages users to focus more on creativity and originality rather than on technical mastery.
  • Community Engagement
    The picoCAD community, including events like jams, fosters collaboration and inspiration among users who share their work and techniques.
  • Lightweight Software
    picoCAD does not require intensive hardware resources, which makes it accessible to use on most computers without high-performance specifications.

Possible disadvantages of picoCAD

  • Limited Features
    The simplicity of picoCAD comes with limited features compared to more advanced 3D modeling software, which can hinder those looking for more complexity.
  • Basic Rendering
    The tool's rendering capabilities are quite basic, which may not meet the expectations of users who require high-quality visual outputs.
  • Low Fidelity
    picoCAD is not suitable for creating detailed or highly realistic models due to its intentionally low-fidelity design constraints.
  • Learning Plateau
    While picoCAD is easy to learn, advanced users might find that they quickly reach a plateau where they cannot further develop their skills within the tool.
  • File Export Limitations
    The ability to export models for use in other programs is limited, which may be a drawback for users wanting to integrate picoCAD in more complex workflows.

OpenFrameworks features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenFrameworks is open-source, allowing developers to access, modify, and contribute to its codebase. This fosters a community-driven development environment and encourages collaboration.
  • Cross-Platform
    It supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, making it versatile for developing applications across various operating systems.
  • Rich Collection of Add-ons
    OpenFrameworks offers a wide range of add-ons and libraries contributed by the community, which extend the framework's capabilities and provide tools for graphics, sound, video, computer vision, and more.
  • Community Support
    The framework has a robust community that provides support via forums, tutorials, and a wealth of shared projects and code snippets, making it easier to learn and troubleshoot.
  • Artistic and Creative Focus
    OpenFrameworks is particularly well-suited for projects that emphasize creativity and artistic output, making it popular among artists and designers working on interactive installations and media art.

Possible disadvantages of OpenFrameworks

  • Steep Learning Curve
    While OpenFrameworks is powerful, its complexity can be daunting for beginners, especially those without experience in C++ programming.
  • Limited Documentation
    Although there is community support, the official documentation can sometimes be sparse or outdated, which can pose challenges for developers seeking detailed explanations or examples.
  • Performance Overhead
    As an abstraction layer over native OpenGL, OpenFrameworks might introduce performance overhead compared to writing raw OpenGL code, which can be a concern for high-performance applications.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and ensuring compatibility across different platforms can be complex, especially when dealing with various libraries and add-ons.
  • Not Ideal for All Types of Applications
    OpenFrameworks is tailored towards creative coding and may not be the best choice for applications that require extensive GUI features or are more business-logic-oriented.

Analysis of picoCAD

Overall verdict

  • picoCAD is a good tool for those looking to dip their toes into 3D modeling without a steep learning curve. It offers a fun, informal introduction to the basics of creating 3D models and can be enjoyed by hobbyists and creatives looking for an easy-to-understand platform. However, its limited features may not be suitable for professional use or for those seeking advanced modeling options.

Why this product is good

  • picoCAD is appreciated for its simplicity and accessibility, making it a great tool for beginners who want to get into 3D modeling. It runs directly in your browser and is quite minimalistic, which allows users to focus on the fundamentals of 3D design without getting overwhelmed by complex features. The community around picoCAD is also active, often sharing tips, tutorials, and showcasing creative projects, which can be inspiring and educational for new users.

Recommended for

  • Beginners who want to learn 3D modeling basics
  • Artists looking for a quick and simple tool for prototyping
  • Teachers seeking an educational tool to introduce students to 3D design
  • Game developers interested in creating low-poly models
  • Hobbyists who enjoy experimenting with new creative tools

Analysis of OpenFrameworks

Overall verdict

  • OpenFrameworks is considered a good choice for those looking to explore creative coding due to its combination of versatility, performance, and community support. Its open-source nature and cross-platform capabilities make it an attractive option for both beginners and experienced developers in the field.

Why this product is good

  • OpenFrameworks is widely regarded as a solid toolkit for creative coding. It provides a comprehensive set of tools and functionalities aimed at artists, designers, and developers who seek to create interactive applications, visuals, and installations. The framework is built on top of C++ and offers extensive support for multimedia operations, making it suitable for graphics rendering, audio processing, and computer vision tasks. Additionally, OpenFrameworks benefits from an active community that contributes to a rich ecosystem of addons and shared projects, providing a collaborative environment for learning and experimentation.

Recommended for

  • Artists and designers looking to create interactive installations.
  • Developers interested in multimedia applications and simulations.
  • Educators teaching creative coding or multimedia art courses.
  • Hobbyists wanting to experiment with graphics and audio processing.

picoCAD videos

picoCAD -- A Tiny Modeller For Tiny Models

More videos:

  • Review - Making a Character in picoCAD | TMNT Metalhead

OpenFrameworks videos

Part 2 of GAFFTA OpenFrameworks for Processing Coders

More videos:

  • Tutorial - openFrameworks tutorial - 000 intro to openFrameworks
  • Review - [openframeworks] Box2d study - Burst -

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to picoCAD and OpenFrameworks)
3D
33 33%
67% 67
Game Development
100 100%
0% 0
VJ
0 0%
100% 100
3D Modeling
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenFrameworks seems to be a lot more popular than picoCAD. While we know about 32 links to OpenFrameworks, we've tracked only 1 mention of picoCAD. 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.

picoCAD mentions (1)

  • The Four Seasons in #picoCAD
    There's been a bunch of jams on itch.io where you can download entries to see directly how they were done. (https://itch.io/jam/picocad-jam, https://itch.io/jam/picocad-jam-9, etc). Source: over 3 years ago

OpenFrameworks mentions (32)

  • Ask HN: Who Are Your Favorite Photography and Generative Coding Artists?
    Zach Lieberman https://x.com/zachlieberman does his work in C++ with https://openframeworks.cc/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Resolume
    Not exactly VJ, but could be used for it. https://openframeworks.cc. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • VVVV – A Hybrid Visual/Textual Development Environment
    - openFrameworks https://openframeworks.cc/ C++. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Valve Says Counter-Strike 2 for macOS Not Happening, There Aren't Enough Players
    Vulkan is sort of a post-API API. It seems to be designed specifically with high performance render pipelines in mind, and "end users" should interface with it through an intermediary layer. Ie, you might prefer bgfx[0], cinder[1] or openframeworks[2]. 0: https://github.com/bkaradzic/bgfx 2: https://openframeworks.cc/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • I'm starting to get tired
    Since you have C# experience, take this time to learn more about C++ while you continue to look. While yes, it is very easy to write bad code, it's not a huge deal since you just graduated and are just hacking around. Plus there are a lot of helpers these days to make writing bad code a little less likely.A former mentor of mine gifted me "C++ Without Fear" by Brian Overland which I can recommend. It's not too... Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing picoCAD and OpenFrameworks, you can also consider the following products

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

Processing - C++ and Java programming at the speed of thought.

Bforartists - Bforartists is a fork of Blender.

TouchDesigner - TouchDesigner is a visual development platform that equips you with the tools you need to create stunning realtime projects and rich user experiences.

Autodesk 3DS Max - 3ds Max is software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and visualization. Create stunning game enrivonments, design visualizations, and virtual reality experiences.

Vvvv - vvvv is a graphical programming environment for easy prototyping and development.