Solvespace is a 2D and 3D CAD application, the 2D sketcher and constrain engine is full featured and used as a library by other applications, while the 3D geometry engine is a very limited minimalistic implementation, but with a great UI.
Requirement notes
Multiplatform: ✅
Free / Open source: ✅
Active project: 🔴
Seems that there was a push to revive the project between 2016 and 2022, but after the release of 3.0 version it looks like there is no further development.
Despite having some very enthusiastic followers, the project has otherwise what it seems to be a very small community.
Low entry barrier: ⚠️
Despite the dark neon look of the UI, it is a very simple and well executed interface.
Since the project is not very popular, there is almost no learning materials for it.
Non-linear: ✅
Solvespace provide a very streamlined non-destructive parametric modelling solution, its minimalism makes it "immune" to the complicated topology mapping issues that most other CAD applications have to deal with.
Fast prototyping: ✅
The simple UI and minimalistic approach could make it a good prototyping tool, despite the strict parametric modelling limitations.
Collaboration: ✅
The savefile format .slvs is textual.
Seems that such files are populated with a lot of (redundant?) geometry data which makes the files a bit noisy, but still good enough for GIT collaboration.
Assembly: ✅
Solvespace allow to import other Solvespace files or even .stl files as reference.
Boolean operations can be performed on imported .stl too.
Common tools: 🔴
Linear and circular extrusion are available.
Fillets and bevels have to be done manually, which is inconvenient, and in some cases impossible.
There is absolutely nothing to loft from one shape to another, not even manually. This is a deal breaker limitation IMO.
Intro
Solvespace is a 2D and 3D CAD application, the 2D sketcher and constrain engine is full featured and used as a library by other applications, while the 3D geometry engine is a very limited minimalistic implementation, but with a great UI.
Requirement notes
.slvs
is textual..stl
files as reference..stl
too.