Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Solve Elec VS OpenModelica

Compare Solve Elec VS OpenModelica and see what are their differences

Solve Elec logo Solve Elec

Solve Elec is a free educational program to draw and analyze electrical circuits.

OpenModelica logo OpenModelica

OpenModelica – A Free Modelica Environment!
  • Solve Elec Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-20
  • OpenModelica Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Solve Elec features and specs

  • Freeware
    Solve Elec is completely free to use which makes it accessible for students, educators, and hobbyists without any financial constraint.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and straightforward interface which makes it easy to create and analyze simple circuits, even for beginners.
  • Educational Focus
    Specifically designed for educational purposes, Solve Elec provides tools and functionalities that help users understand the behavior of electrical circuits, making it an excellent learning resource.
  • Real-time Simulation
    Solve Elec offers real-time simulation capabilities, allowing users to visualize the behavior of circuits as they design them, which aids in quick learning and immediate error checking.
  • Basic Analysis Tools
    The software includes fundamental analysis tools such as voltage, current, and power calculations, which are essential for basic circuit analysis.

Possible disadvantages of Solve Elec

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Solve Elec lacks many advanced features and components required for complex circuit design and analysis, which makes it less suitable for professional or advanced engineering use.
  • Outdated Interface
    The software's interface appears dated compared to more modern applications, which could be less engaging or harder to use for those accustomed to contemporary UI/UX standards.
  • Limited Component Library
    The component library in Solve Elec is quite limited, which can restrict users in designing more sophisticated or varied circuits.
  • Windows-only
    Solve Elec is only available for Windows operating system, making it inaccessible for users on macOS or Linux unless running a compatibility layer or virtual machine.
  • Lack of Support and Updates
    Being freeware developed by a small or single entity, Solve Elec does not receive regular updates or extensive support, which could result in compatibility issues with new hardware or software environments and a lack of new features.

OpenModelica features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenModelica is an open-source tool, meaning it is free to use and modify. This allows for extensive customization and community support.
  • Modelica Standard Compliance
    OpenModelica supports the Modelica language, which is a standardized, object-oriented language for modeling complex systems.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The tool is available for various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing flexibility for users across different platforms.
  • Extensive Libraries
    OpenModelica provides access to a wide range of built-in libraries for different domains, such as mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems.
  • Community and Support
    There is an active community of users and developers who contribute to the continuous improvement of OpenModelica and offer support via forums and mailing lists.

Possible disadvantages of OpenModelica

  • User Interface
    The user interface is not as polished or user-friendly as some commercial alternatives, which might make it challenging for beginners.
  • Documentation Quality
    While the tool is well-documented, some users find that the documentation could be more detailed and better structured.
  • Performance
    In some cases, the performance of OpenModelica may not match that of specialized commercial tools, especially for very large and complex models.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to the complexity of the Modelica language and the tool, there can be a steep learning curve for new users who are not already familiar with system modeling.
  • Limited Commercial Support
    As an open-source tool, OpenModelica may lack the level of dedicated commercial support and frequent updates that some users might expect from proprietary software.

Analysis of Solve Elec

Overall verdict

  • Solve Elec is generally considered a good resource for those beginning in electrical engineering or physics related to electricity. It offers an intuitive interface and a comprehensible approach to circuit analysis, making it a valuable tool for educational purposes.

Why this product is good

  • Solve Elec is a software tool that helps users understand and analyze simple electrical circuits. It provides visualizations, circuit simulations, and educational resources that make learning about electricity and electronics more accessible and engaging. It is particularly useful for students and educators looking to enhance the learning experience with practical, hands-on tools.

Recommended for

  • High school students studying physics
  • Undergraduate students taking introductory electrical engineering courses
  • Educators looking for classroom tools to demonstrate circuit analysis
  • Hobbyists and beginners interested in learning about electronics

Analysis of OpenModelica

Overall verdict

  • Overall, OpenModelica is a strong choice for users seeking a cost-effective, open-source option for system modeling. Its robust features and active development community contribute to its high regard among users in both academic and industrial settings.

Why this product is good

  • OpenModelica is considered good due to its open-source nature, which allows for customization and flexibility. It supports a wide range of modeling capabilities, especially for multi-domain physical systems. The software is constantly updated by a large community of researchers and developers, who provide support and share improvements. Additionally, it is compliant with the Modelica language, making it a versatile choice for those familiar with Modelica's capabilities.

Recommended for

  • Researchers and academics in need of an open-source tool for detailed system modeling.
  • Engineers and developers familiar with the Modelica language looking for a versatile modeling environment.
  • Organizations and individuals seeking a cost-effective alternative to commercial modeling software.

Solve Elec videos

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OpenModelica videos

Simulacion Openmodelica Control de Tanques

More videos:

  • Review - Modelica - Graphical modeling of electric circuits with OpenModelica

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Solve Elec and OpenModelica)
Simulation
74 74%
26% 26
Technical Computing
0 0%
100% 100
Electrical
100 100%
0% 0
Numerical Computation
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Solve Elec and OpenModelica

Solve Elec Reviews

Electronic circuit design and simulation software list
Solve Elec – is an electrical circuit simulator (free version) which is developed for Macintosh OS and Windows. It enables users to draw and analyse circuits (both electrical and electronic) functioning in direct current or alternating current, get formulas, verify equations, get equivalent circuits etc.

OpenModelica Reviews

We have no reviews of OpenModelica yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenModelica seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 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.

Solve Elec mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Solve Elec yet. Tracking of Solve Elec recommendations started around Mar 2021.

OpenModelica mentions (7)

  • Modelica
    Obligatory mention to Openmodelica[1] which is an open source implementation based on the Modelica language. While I haven't used it yet, I was planning on exploring some of the features this holiday. [1] https://openmodelica.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • An open source, educational, low-cost modern analog computer
    I have used https://openmodelica.org/. It's another one of those "invest substantial time understanding what they are doing, and you will likely be rewarded." Simple things are simple, but I found it took longer than I would have like to bang out e.g. a PID algo with a particular motor and load. If you want to try this, buy the book, and follow it to the end. Then keep learning, as you build more and more... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Best software for parallel robot simulation?
    If the robot simulation doesn't need to pick up stuff or take into account changing contacts with other objects you can use Modelica's Multibody library which you can run for free with OpenModelica. This will be more accurate than other simulators because modelica can analytically solve the dynamics equations. You don't need to write them either just to connect blocks for various components. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Anyone know if python can be used to make a MATLAB simulink clone (dragging and dropping elements)? If not, do you have recommendations of other languages that can do this best to make a desktop app?
    OpenModelica consists of a combination of graphical and written components to simulate dynamic systems. I don’t know what control system feature set might be available. AMESIM is a more extensive paid tool that operates on the same Modelica modeling language. IIRC, at least Simuscape operates on Modelica under the hood. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Just introduced to diffeq last year. Curious how to go about modeling something like this.
    It shouldn't be too difficult to model in Modelica. You could approximate the pendula in 1D with masses on springs or just use Modelica's multibody library. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Solve Elec and OpenModelica, you can also consider the following products

Pspice - OrCAD PSpice technology provides the best, high-performance circuit simulation to analyze and refine your circuits, components, and parameters before committing to layout and fabrication

Oregano - oregano - An electrical engineering tool for GNOME

BlackBoard Circuit Designer - Help building prototypes on so called breadboards easily

PCBWeb - PCBWeb is a 100% free Windows desktop CAD application for designing and manufacturing electronics...

Circuit Simulator - Animated electronic circuit simulator using ideal components to visualize voltage and current.

PCB Wizard - PCB Wizard 3 is a powerful package for designing single-sided and double-sided PCBs.