Developer(s) | Manfred Rosenberger |
---|---|
Initial release | 2008 |
Stable release | v4.3.03
/ October 9, 2023 |
Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/rattlecad |
Written in | Tcl |
Engine | Tk (software) |
Operating system | Windows, Linux, Mac OS |
Platform | IA-32, x86-64 |
Size | 26 MB |
Available in | English |
Type | Computer-aided design |
License | up to v3.6.30: GNU General Public License version 2; since v4.0.0: Proprietary with Commercial, Freeware and Demoware editions |
Website | rattlecad.com |
rattleCAD — is a parametric 2D CAD software specific for bicycle design,[1][2] in particular for design bicycle frame,[3][4] developed by an Austrian cyclist and a programmer Manfred Rosenberger since 2008.[5] Application is written in the Tcl programming language with the Tk-based GUI.[6]
In 2019, after 10 years being open source, rattleCAD switched to proprietary development model.[7]
In 2008, Manfred Rosenberger started development of rattleCAD as an open-source software for bicycle DIY makers and bike shops, hosting source and binary on SourceForge since January 2010,[8][9][10][11] as an alternative to only few existing proprietary apps in this field at the time, such as BikeCAD, one of the oldest CAD software specific for bicycle design, developed by a Canadian bicycle rental businessman and a programmer Brent Curry since 2002,[12][13][14][15][16] and Linkage, a CAD and CAE software for bicycle design and bicycle suspension simulation,[17][18] developed by a Hungarian software developer Gergely Kovacs.[19][20][21][22]
From 31 March to 1 April 2012, app has been exhibited at the EHBE (European Handmade Bicycle Exhibition) in Schwäbisch Gmünd.[23]
On 11 April 2012, app has been presented at the Bespoked 2014 (the UK handmade bicycle show) in London.[24]
On 8 July 2017, Rosenberger presented rattleCAD at the EuroTcl 2017 (15th European Tcl/Tk User Meeting) in Berlin.[25][26][27]
On 7 July 2018, at the EuroTcl 2018 (16th European Tcl/Tk User Meeting) in Munich, Rosenberger presented the cad4tcl — an open-source CAD graphics library for Tcl/Tk, extracted from the main rattleCAD source.[28][29][30]
On 10 December 2018, first rattleCAD 4.0.0 preview release has been rolled out.[31]
In January 2019, rattleCAD 3.6.30 has been released. It was the last open-source release.
In 2019, Rosenberger announced ceasing open-source development and switching to proprietary development model for the next rattleCAD 4.x releases on the new website.[7]
rattleCAD 4.0 will not be free and open source anymore. Basically, there will be timely limited licenses for rattleCAD - a kind of user fee. This will allow me to continue to develop rattleCAD in the future. Since last autumn (2018) a lot has been done in rattleCAD.
— Manfred Rosenberger
Since then app provided via Gumroad as a limited freeware version[32][33][34] under donationware payment model (later freeware version replaced with a more restricted demoware version) and as commercial editions for private and professional use under subscription payment model.
As of June 2023, project page on SourceForge still actively used as a discussion board by users and app developers.[35]
Despite the fact that all the old source and binary builds licensed as an open-source has been deleted from SourceForge by developer in 2019, few code snapshots of original code and a fork of rattleCAD 3.x, hosted on GitHub,[36][37][38] and binary of the last open-source rattleCAD 3.6.30 and older releases, still circulated on the internet as of October 2023,[39][40][41][42] are now collected on the Internet Archive.[43]
Design your bicycle - the rattleCAD method (3.4.01.38) | |
---|---|
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMbzEKe4HN8 |
rattleCAD provides all the tools needed for design bicycle from preliminary design of basic geometry, adjusted to cyclist body size,[44] to producing full assembly and frame manufacturing documentation:
rattleCAD supports the next file formats:
*.rc4
— JSON-based file format for storing rattleCAD 4.x bike design projects and templates.*.py
, *.FCMacro
) — for export FreeCAD Macro to generate 3D models inside FreeCAD.[45][46][47]Version | Release date | Information |
---|---|---|
unk | 2008 | Initial release |
2.8 | January 2010 | development become open via SourceForge |
3.1 | September 2010 | |
3.2 | October 25, 2010 | |
3.3 | April 28, 2012 | new definition of Saddle Position, Rear Mockup |
3.4 | February 17, 2013 | add samples to rattleCAD and loop through them, demo mode (File -> Demo ), rattleCAD 3D (Plugin)
|
3.5 | February 24, 2018 | |
3.6 | August 14, 2018 | accordion menu, bike fitting (enter Position, import Position, import Frame), extracted libraries (cad4tcl, svgDOM)[49] |
4.0 | December 10, 2018 | development switched to proprietary (with Professional, Private and Demo versions), revised UI, new file format (*.rc4 )
|
4.1 | October 31, 2020 | bent tubes |
4.2 | June 19, 2022 | additional features to configure HeadTube, configure bent SeatStay, components separated into independent library |
4.3 | September 1, 2023 | |
Legend: Old version Older version, still maintained Latest version Latest preview version Future release |
cad4tcl[50] — is an open-source graphics library for Tcl/Tk for building CAD software, developed as a part of rattleCAD. It supports importing SVG and exporting SVG, PDF and DXF files.[29]
svgDOM[51] — is an open-source SVG graphics processing and optimization library for Tcl/Tk, developed as a part of rattleCAD.[29]