FreeCAD Now Runs Directly in the Browser Without Installation

·3 views

FreeCAD, the open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler, has been made accessible directly through a web browser. The project, hosted at magik.net, eliminates the need for users to download or install any software locally. This browser-based implementation allows users to access FreeCAD's modeling capabilities from any device with a compatible browser. The development was shared on Hacker News, where it attracted community discussion. Such efforts reflect a broader trend of porting desktop applications to web environments using technologies like WebAssembly.

Read the full story at Hacker News

This is an AI-generated summary. ShortSingh links to the original source for the complete article.

Discussion (0)

Developer Builds Custom Bash-Like Terminal in C++ Without Standard Libraries

A developer has begun building a custom bash-like terminal from scratch using C++, documenting the process in a series of devlogs. The project deliberately avoids standard C++ libraries to gain hands-on experience with low-level programming and microcontrollers. To manage memory safely, the developer created a custom 'carr' struct to handle char pointer allocation, expansion, and cleanup manually. Custom command names like 'here' and 'go' were chosen instead of traditional Unix equivalents such as 'pwd' and 'cd' to give the terminal its own identity. The project is ongoing, with future devlogs planned to cover additional design decisions and trade-offs encountered during development.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community

ProgrammingDEV Community ·

Senior Dev Relies Heavily on AI for Angular Project, Questions Own Skills

A developer with five years of experience and a senior title was assigned to build an Angular application at work, but has relied extensively on AI tools to write and review code throughout the project. The developer grants the AI full codebase access but maintains control by reviewing all suggestions before applying any changes manually. Their manager is aware of this workflow and remains satisfied, as tickets are consistently closed on schedule. With the app nearing completion, the developer admits to having learned little about Angular itself and questions whether that matters. The experience has sparked a personal dilemma about professional identity, skill ownership, and whether heavy AI assistance makes someone a less legitimate developer.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community

ProgrammingDEV Community ·

Developer builds open-source widget to show how much heat a PC pumps into a room

A developer created HeatLens, a free desktop widget, after finding no existing tool that translated PC power draw into room heat metrics. The app converts live wattage readings into BTU per hour, session heat totals, and rough exhaust airflow estimates, using the simple formula BTU/hr ≈ watts × 3.412. It pulls sensor data from LibreHardwareMonitor, nvidia-smi, and Linux RAPL, with labeled fallbacks when direct power sensors are unavailable. Built with Python and Tkinter, HeatLens is available as a portable executable for Windows and Linux under an MIT license on GitHub. The developer notes it is not a substitute for a plug-in wall meter and advises treating its readings as contextual estimates rather than precise measurements.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community

ProgrammingDEV Community ·

Developer Builds Retro-Style Personal Website as Tribute to Cat Juma

A developer created a personal tribute website dedicated to their cat, Juma, as part of DEV Community's Weekend Challenge: Passion Edition. The project aimed to recreate the nostalgic aesthetic of the early internet era. It was built using foundational web technologies — HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — to achieve its retro look and feel. CSS was used for animations, gradients, and responsive design, while JavaScript powered interactive effects like falling stars. The developer shared the source code publicly on GitHub but opted out of prize category submissions.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community