I love the revolution that FreeCAD BIM and rest of
https://community.osarch.org promises.
When I'm going to find an architect, that's going to make a project of my house, I will specifically look for companies that use FOSS software, even though it probably will narrow pool of available contractors by a lot. I mean it is going to be MY HOUSE, something I plan to live in for many years (in my case I like to wait longer, build a house exactly the way I want it, and live for the rest of life in it). I want to buy project and "own" the project in a sense to be able to open it and modify.
I also want to be able to simulate the heck out of MY future home before it's build. Using fast computers we have today I can try different sizes, shapes and properties of windows, walls and doors, adjust heating, cooling, plumbing, airflow, home automations and countless other things. I can see how the sun would enter the home (https://floyd.lbl.gov/radiance/) before foundations are laid. Sure, most people don't want to do that and that's okay. Most people also don't want to look at the source of programs they are using. I do and even when I don't, I love to have this possibility open.
I understand, that so far Autodesk dominated the architecture software, but since they are moving/moved to subscription-based plans I hope that more and more architects will move away from subscription-based software. For their own good. I wouldn't gamble tools of my trade on something that can be taken away from me any moment and hope they also wouldn't.
FreeCAD BIM & company work to make it possible and for that I am very grateful. It would be great if in next decades we would have something like open source catalogue of great solutions in home building.
When I'm going to find an architect, that's going to make a project of my house, I will specifically look for companies that use FOSS software, even though it probably will narrow pool of available contractors by a lot. I mean it is going to be MY HOUSE, something I plan to live in for many years (in my case I like to wait longer, build a house exactly the way I want it, and live for the rest of life in it). I want to buy project and "own" the project in a sense to be able to open it and modify.
I also want to be able to simulate the heck out of MY future home before it's build. Using fast computers we have today I can try different sizes, shapes and properties of windows, walls and doors, adjust heating, cooling, plumbing, airflow, home automations and countless other things. I can see how the sun would enter the home (https://floyd.lbl.gov/radiance/) before foundations are laid. Sure, most people don't want to do that and that's okay. Most people also don't want to look at the source of programs they are using. I do and even when I don't, I love to have this possibility open.
I understand, that so far Autodesk dominated the architecture software, but since they are moving/moved to subscription-based plans I hope that more and more architects will move away from subscription-based software. For their own good. I wouldn't gamble tools of my trade on something that can be taken away from me any moment and hope they also wouldn't.
FreeCAD BIM & company work to make it possible and for that I am very grateful. It would be great if in next decades we would have something like open source catalogue of great solutions in home building.