Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

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AIMEDSOLUTIONS
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Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by AIMEDSOLUTIONS »

Hi Guys
I am a mech designer and I am running almost all major CAD/CAM softwares expertly. I want to refine freecad according to a software user's point of view. I want to add all best options from other softwares.
What I think I had to do is to use a module and refine the software's interaction with user. So I want to make my module and adding commands form your work.
I have little knowledge of coding, but I like to give it a try what I want to do.
My very first question in this regards is;
  • Where to find commands in a workbench?? So I can use that code and modify it in my WB.
    Do I need to work at my laptop or need to use Github??
    what should be best to make some change then try it, windows or linux??
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fosselius
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by fosselius »

AIMEDSOLUTIONS wrote: Tue Nov 06, 2018 4:45 pm
  • Where to find commands in a workbench?? So I can use that code and modify it in my WB.
    Do I need to work at my laptop or need to use Github??
    what should be best to make some change then try it, windows or linux??
Hi and welcome!
You checkout the codebase from the gitrepo, then make sure you can build it. The easiest way to get started is to check out the "getting started/workbench" threads here or on the wiki. If you are only changing GUI / UI mapping then you should be fine with only python, then there is no need to build the project.
Will update with links later.
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AIMEDSOLUTIONS
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by AIMEDSOLUTIONS »

Bundle of thanks fosselius
I am eagerly waiting.
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fosselius
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by fosselius »

AIMEDSOLUTIONS wrote: Tue Nov 06, 2018 5:15 pm
Note, quote is there to trigger notification on your account.

See:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2612
https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Developer_hub
https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/The_FreeCAD_source_code

Python gui:
https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Interface_Customization

For documentation:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=6830

Start using macro, FreeCAD got a python/text editor, so you can develop FreeCAD in FreeCAD

Ironically i made this thread a few days ago..
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=31950
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AIMEDSOLUTIONS
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by AIMEDSOLUTIONS »

HI All
I started my own part design workbench "Design Light". I will show after adding some commands.

Now I want to make three standard file types for FC.
fprt for part files. Any kind of part or any kind of workbench works except assembly and path will go there.
fasm for assembly files. Only assembly and path information will save into fasm. In future I want to add mold making or core cavity splitting operation will save in fasm too.
fdwn for drawing files. Only drawing/TechDraw information will save in fdwn files.
My question is how to change fcstd to these extensions?
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fosselius
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by fosselius »

There is no official asm support yet. Changing file extensions might be a bad idea, at least for now.

See: https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=30865
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AIMEDSOLUTIONS
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by AIMEDSOLUTIONS »

Bundle of thanks fosselius (what can I call you besides this?)
I am not going to add things in main freecad. I am exploring things and checking the options, problems and trying to find possible solutions from everywhere. When I will find something beneficial then I will introduce it to you people.
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Kunda1
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by Kunda1 »

AIMEDSOLUTIONS wrote: Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:30 am I am exploring things and checking the options, problems and trying to find possible solutions from everywhere
This is great and very welcome. What we do need for FreeCAD as well are tutorials and documentation written by users with a fresh perspective. Can you please consider documenting your journey as you start developing FreeCAD. Like how you set up your dev environment, how you installed it (we're the instructions on the wiki enough for you to get started or did you need to supplement them in any way?), what documentation did you find lacking and make a list of these things so the community can address them etc...what issues you ran into and how you Solved said issues...
This is very very needed
Alone you go faster. Together we go farther
Please mark thread [Solved]
Want to contribute back to FC? Checkout:
'good first issues' | Open TODOs and FIXMEs | How to Help FreeCAD | How to report Bugs
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fosselius
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by fosselius »

Kunda1 wrote: Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:03 am Can you please consider documenting your journey as you start developing FreeCAD. Like how you set up your dev environment, how you installed it (we're the instructions on the wiki enough for you to get started or did you need to supplement them in any way?), what documentation did you find lacking and make a list of these things so the community can address them etc...what issues you ran into and how you Solved said issues...
This is very very needed
I would like to get more feedback / input here:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=31950

Maybe I should create an initial draft for one of the points mentioned and then ask for improvement/corrections/additions?
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AIMEDSOLUTIONS
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Re: Help needed to start modifying FreeCAD

Post by AIMEDSOLUTIONS »

Kunda1 wrote: Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:03 am This is great and very welcome. What we do need for FreeCAD as well are tutorials and documentation written by users with a fresh perspective. Can you please consider documenting your journey as you start developing FreeCAD. Like how you set up your dev environment, how you installed it (we're the instructions on the wiki enough for you to get started or did you need to supplement them in any way?), what documentation did you find lacking and make a list of these things so the community can address them etc...what issues you ran into and how you Solved said issues...
This is very very needed
HI Kunda1
Do you means me to first concentrate on documents (help documents) creation or modification?
I love to do.
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