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Home > Archive > Architecture > June 2005 > Varkon CAD
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| Richard MacIntyre 2005-06-16, 2:35 pm |
| I have just downloaded and installed the libre open source (GPL) Varkon CAD
for WinXP, and will be testing it for its possible use (at least [ease of
use] for me  in architecture, in as much as I can test it for this
capacity, since my knowledge of CAD in architecture is limited, and my
memory of more involved CAD has gotten rusty... (although that could change.
That said, the suggestion is warranted to those hereon, especially those who
have a good knowledge of, and/or experience in, architecture (as well as a
sense of adventure, some "hands-on, self-made" optimism for open source CAD,
and some free time ;) to give it a try.
It's a very recent release, which may suggest some healthy development
activity.
The release for Windows has also been GPL'd!
VARKON for UNIX and Windows are free software distributed in sourcecode
under the GNU/LGPL license as published by the Free Software Foundation. The
full conditions of the GNU/LGPL license is available at: http:/www.fsf.org.
Varkon used to cost $875 USD for a Windows license.
Clips from the manual:
VARKON is ideally suited for all types of variational design. Wooden
houses, tools for ballbearings, welded steel parts or electrical
installations are some of the products currently designed in VARKON using
this technique...
VARKON has been available for more than 15 years and the number of users
are steadily increasing with systems installed in many Europeean countries
as well as the USA. Customers range from big companies like SAAB Aircraft to
very small companies with only a few employees. There is also an increasing
number of users all over the world running the free version of VARKON for
UNIX and GNU/Linux.
VARKON is a powerful geometric modeller. Basic 3D entities are points,
lines, arcs, curves, surfaces, coordinate systems and transformations.
Several representations of parametric curves are implemented including
rational polynomial, analytical offset and curves on surfaces so called
UV-curves. Surface representations include rational polynomial, lofted
procedural, analytical offset and a faceted surface for approximations.
Operations include intersects, closest point, silhouette, curvatures,
transformation, trimming, export, import and approximation. Basic
visualization as well as complex rendering based on OpenGL is included in
all versions of the system.
Can it be?
Finally, a libre, open source CAD program that is learnable, usable, does
3D, runs under Windows, and is good enough to do architecture?
Stay tuned!
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| "Richard MacIntyre"> wrote
quote:
> That said, the suggestion is warranted to those hereon, especially those
> who have a good knowledge of, and/or experience in, architecture (as well
> as a sense of adventure, some "hands-on, self-made" optimism for open
> source CAD, and some free time ;) to give it a try.
> VARKON is ideally suited for all types of variational design. Wooden
> houses, tools for ballbearings, welded steel parts or electrical
> installations are some of the products currently designed in VARKON using
> this technique...
In evaluating the performance of any tool the user must consider this first:
The actual functionality of the device and its ability to be customized to
the owners preference.
For a CAD program this means that the toolbars, menus, flyouts, etc. must be
fully customizable.
I'm only guessing, that I do over 10,000 CAD operations per day, but if true
than you can see how necessary it is to save steps along the way.
When you open AutoCAD for the very first time all sorts of *floating* tool
bars cover the screen. It takes the better part of a long day to get Acad
configured so that you might be productive and then another week or so to
get all the bugs out.
THAT is the magic of AutoCAD, that is limited or missing in many other CAD
programs. Really, THAT is the key to being either a ho-hum CAD operator or a
high speed demon bent on getting as much stuff done as possible in as little
time as possible. The ability to fully customize the GUI as the user sees
fit.
I have stripped all of the toolbars out and built one brand new toolbar with
exactly the number and placement of buttons I need. The thing that slows me
down the most is the thing that has plagued me for years now. The fact that
the mouse click activates when your finger LIFTS off the button rather than
when your finger PRESSES on the mouse button. Hundreds of times a day I have
to back and click on a toolbutton 2, 3, 4 and yes even 5 times before the
command will activate, because by the time I have released the click button
my cursor is already back over the area I want to work on. It is extremely
aggravating to have a state of the art machine, stripped and boiled software
and then suffer at the mercy of a silly mechanical function of a mouse
switch or OS glitch. I suspect this mouse glitch issue I mentioned is a
problem within Windows itself.
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| Bob Morrison 2005-06-16, 2:35 pm |
| In a previous post Don says...
quote:
> THAT is the magic of AutoCAD, that is limited or missing in many other CAD
> programs. Really, THAT is the key to being either a ho-hum CAD operator or a
> high speed demon bent on getting as much stuff done as possible in as little
> time as possible. The ability to fully customize the GUI as the user sees
> fit.
>
> I have stripped all of the toolbars out and built one brand new toolbar with
> exactly the number and placement of buttons I need. The thing that slows me
> down the most is the thing that has plagued me for years now. The fact that
> the mouse click activates when your finger LIFTS off the button rather than
> when your finger PRESSES on the mouse button. Hundreds of times a day I have
> to back and click on a toolbutton 2, 3, 4 and yes even 5 times before the
> command will activate, because by the time I have released the click button
> my cursor is already back over the area I want to work on. It is extremely
> aggravating to have a state of the art machine, stripped and boiled software
> and then suffer at the mercy of a silly mechanical function of a mouse
> switch or OS glitch. I suspect this mouse glitch issue I mentioned is a
> problem within Windows itself.
>
>
Don:
Your comments point out why I like VisualCadd so much. The toolbars and
menus are easily customizable with any text editor. Custom commands
(scripts) can easily be built in the same way. You can even create
different menus and toolbars for different types of jobs. They are
loaded on command with two mouse clicks.
Scripting is easy too. For instance, I created a script that will trim
two crossing lines to each other and then join them into a single
polyline. The script has been assigned a two-letter shortcut and I
invoke the command by typing those two letters -- no "Enter" key is
required.
One thing I might suggest to speed up your drawing process is to invest
in a 24 "Function" key keyboard. The Avant Stellar is the best one
around, but it is not cheap ~ $180.00. The thing is built like a brick
s__house and weighs in at about 5 lbs. Assign your regular commands to
a function keys. Only takes one keystroke to get the command up and
running.
With VCadd, I have the snap nearest point command under my left little
finger. I can be drawing with my right hand and snapping to points with
the left. Two-handed drafting -- just like the old days!
--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
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| Matthew Erickson 2005-06-17, 11:35 pm |
| Don wrote:
quote:
> "Richard MacIntyre"> wrote
>
>
>
> In evaluating the performance of any tool the user must consider this first:
> The actual functionality of the device and its ability to be customized to
> the owners preference.
>
> For a CAD program this means that the toolbars, menus, flyouts, etc. must be
> fully customizable.
>
> I'm only guessing, that I do over 10,000 CAD operations per day, but if true
> than you can see how necessary it is to save steps along the way.
>
> When you open AutoCAD for the very first time all sorts of *floating* tool
> bars cover the screen. It takes the better part of a long day to get Acad
> configured so that you might be productive and then another week or so to
> get all the bugs out.
>
> THAT is the magic of AutoCAD, that is limited or missing in many other CAD
> programs. Really, THAT is the key to being either a ho-hum CAD operator or a
> high speed demon bent on getting as much stuff done as possible in as little
> time as possible. The ability to fully customize the GUI as the user sees
> fit.
I'd suggest, like Bob said, a shortcut keyboard. You might want to look
into an add-on gaming controller, designed for at-hand keyboard
shortcuts for various games. The styling is kind of odd, and you may or
may not enjoy the backlit keyboard, but the Saitek Gaming Keyboard
(http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/7515/) has such a device with
it, if you feel like programming it.
quote:
> I suspect this mouse glitch issue I mentioned is a
> problem within Windows itself.
That's how Windows deals with clicks. Windows, and most other modern
GUI environments these days, register a "click" as a button-down,
button-up sequence. Changing this is quite a low-level hack, and most
likely would need to be executed among all the GUI toolkits used on the
system. A benifit of open source software is that you can change said
behavior, spend over ten hours recompiling[1] KDE and Qt (the K Desktop
Environment, a GUI environment popular in the Linux world, along with
Qt, the GUI toolkit it's based off of), and then realize you
accidentally disabled clicking altogether.
[1]- on a 1.3 GHz AMD Athlon with 256 MB of ram.
| |
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| "Matthew Erickson"> wrote
quote:
> shortcuts for various games. The styling is kind of odd, and you may or
> may not enjoy the backlit keyboard, but the Saitek Gaming Keyboard
> (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/7515/) has such a device with
> it, if you feel like programming it.
Less is more.
I'd like to have a KB that is stripped of all the unnecessary stuff.
I could live without the 10 key and the other buttons on the right.
When doing CAD (I'm right handed) my KB is kicked at a steep angle, the left
side is more to the rear of the desk than the right side, and it tends to
slide a little even though I glued some thin rubber things on the bottom. I
used to have one of those lighted KB's but the light got on my nerves at
night, altered my depth perception or something.
Ever seen a BAT KB? Interesting concept unlike anything else out there. It
only has about 7keys. You *chord* them like a guitar, but pricey.
http://www.infogrip.com/product_vie...RecordNumber=12
| |
| Markus Jakas 2005-06-17, 11:35 pm |
| It will be interesting to hear what you think of the program!
Wheter it is customizable or not is a big deal, yes. Personally I think
a command-line with programmable shortcuts is most important.
As far as special keyboards go, it would be great if everything right to
the Enter-key could be detached. The mouse would be closer, the position
of the hands more natural. Logitech has such a keyboard, but I don't like
wireless ones. (I get my daily dose of radiation from monitor screens,
mobile phones and TV already, thank you very much
M.J.
| |
|
| "Markus Jakas"> wrote
quote:
> It will be interesting to hear what you think of the program!
>
> Wheter it is customizable or not is a big deal, yes. Personally I think
> a command-line with programmable shortcuts is most important.
>
> As far as special keyboards go, it would be great if everything right to
> the Enter-key could be detached. The mouse would be closer, the position
> of the hands more natural. Logitech has such a keyboard, but I don't like
> wireless ones. (I get my daily dose of radiation from monitor screens,
> mobile phones and TV already, thank you very much
Logitech needs to reevaluate their market because they are giving their
business away.
I have been using their mice since about 1994 and like them alot.
Way back when I bought a BSR wireless mouse and was very disappointed with
it, there was a time lag and the batt would go dead overnight if it wasn't
docked.
Few months ago I bought the Logitech MX1000 laser wireless and like it alot
and I highly recommend it. Its about $80 everywhere.
The problem is, now I want a wireless keyboard and Logitech doesn't market
the keyboards alone, only paired with a mouse. So if I want a wireless KB
I'll have to look at MS or others. I, and many other people (according to
the Logitech forums) have emailed tham about this, yet they persist.
| |
| Richard MacIntyre 2005-06-17, 11:35 pm |
|
"Don"
quote:
> "Richard MacIntyre"> wrote
>
> In evaluating the performance of any tool the user must consider this
> first: The actual functionality of the device and its ability to be
> customized to the owners preference.
>
> For a CAD program this means that the toolbars, menus, flyouts, etc. must
> be fully customizable... <edited>
Well this is what I got from a quick glance at the manual:
"Creating Your Own User Interface:
Basic elements of the interface are menus, toolbars, functionkeys, and
windows. All these are defined in external textfiles called MDF. A standard
setup is of course included in the system but creating your own interface is
important if you want to develop a nice application."
"Editing a MDF-file is a simple way of replacing standard menus for menus of
your own but if you need more detailed control you can also use the MBS
language to manually program a user dialogue. MBS includes a number of high
level routines to create windows buttons, icons and edit fields and to
manage events from these."
"The system was originally developed by a group at the university of
Linkoping in Sweden during 1984-86 under the leadership of Dr. Johan
Kjellander..."
So Varkon appears about as old as ACAD, and seems to have been in
development since then, so one would guess that it should be more on par
with ACAD than one might think, maybe more powerful in some ways. It seems
highly configurable.
Of course, a power it already has over ACAD comes from the fact that it's
open source.
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| "Richard MacIntyre"> wrote
quote:
> So Varkon appears <snip>
> Of course, a power it already has over ACAD comes from the fact that it's
> open source.
How would that benefit the average user?
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