Meshroom — The Complete Guide: Free 3D Models From Photos (Photogrammetry)
Meshroom builds a 3D model from ordinary photos: building details, parts and objects for documentation and reverse engineering. How to shoot and what it needs.
Guides and Articles
GRASS GIS — The Complete Guide: Free Advanced Spatial Analysis, Hydrology and Terrain
GRASS GIS is a long-standing free GIS with hundreds of analysis tools: watersheds, overland flow, slopes, visibility and imagery. Use it alone or in QGIS.
QElectroTech — The Complete Guide: Free Electrical Schematics and Control Panel Drawings
QElectroTech is free software for electrical and control panel schematics: IEC symbols, wire numbering, cross-references and BOMs. Replaces AutoCAD Electrical.
ROS 2 — The Complete Guide: The Open-Source Robot Operating System, Free
ROS 2 is the most widely used software framework in robotics: messaging between components, navigation, perception and arm control, with simulation in Gazebo.
OpenRocket — The Complete Guide: Free Design and Simulation of Model Rockets
OpenRocket is a free tool to design and simulate model rockets: stability, trajectory, apogee and parachute deployment. For student projects and competitions.
XFLR5 — The Complete Guide: Free Analysis of Airfoils, Wings and Small Aircraft
XFLR5 is a free tool for the aerodynamics of airfoils, wings and small aircraft: XFoil, lifting-line and panel methods, and stability. Ideal for UAVs.
gnuplot — The Complete Guide: Free, Precise Scientific Plots for Reports and Papers
gnuplot is a long-standing free tool for scientific plots: plotting data files, curve fitting, export to PDF, SVG and LaTeX, and automated report plots.
wxMaxima — The Complete Guide: Free Symbolic Mathematics for Engineers and Students
wxMaxima is a friendly interface to Maxima: symbolic differentiation, integration, equation solving and ODEs. A free Mathematica and Maple alternative.
ngspice — The Complete Guide: The Open-Source SPICE Simulator, Including Inside KiCad
ngspice is the open-source SPICE simulator and the engine behind simulation in KiCad and Qucs-S. Analog, digital and mixed circuits; how it compares to LTspice.
SolveSpace — The Complete Guide: Small, Fast Free Parametric CAD for Parts and Mechanisms
SolveSpace is a tiny parametric CAD with a strong constraint solver: simple parts, 2D and 3D mechanism analysis, export for printing and CNC. When to pick it.
PrusaSlicer — The Complete Guide: Professional 3D Print Preparation for Free
PrusaSlicer is a free open-source slicer with advanced control: support blockers, per-region settings, multi-colour and resin printing. How it compares to Cura.
VeraCrypt — The Complete Guide: Free Encryption for Laptops and Drives With Drawings and Client Data
VeraCrypt encrypts disks, partitions and USB drives, or makes an encrypted vault in a file. If a laptop with client data is lost, the content stays unreadable.