FreeCAD

FreeCAD 1.0 was the release the community waited a decade for: the infamous topological naming problem was largely fixed, assembly workbench landed in core, and the whole experience tightened up. It’s genuinely parametric CAD — sketches, constraints, part design, TechDraw drawings, FEM analysis — suitable for 3D printing projects, mechanical parts, and hobbyist-to-semi-pro engineering.

It still isn’t Fusion 360’s polish: the workbench paradigm confuses newcomers, surfacing/freeform tools are weak, and complex assemblies push its limits. Professional interchange (STEP works; native SolidWorks files don’t) can constrain collaboration. Expect a learning investment measured in weeks, rewarded by never being held hostage by a license change again.