Free and open-source computer-aided design/Intro

One of the core components necessary for open collaborative design to truly take flight is an advanced free and open-source computer-aided design (CAD) program to allow anyone to easily generate new designs or customise existing ones which are 'open-source' and freely available. This should include a special browser to find open-source components and machines in the 'universal commons' as well as a physics engine and analytical tools which will allowing a significant amount of simulation and testing to be done 'virtually', saving significant amounts of time when it comes to construction.

The availability of user-friendly open source CAD software will be essential to allow the widest number of people to engage in this creative activity, which will mean more solutions and a more diverse ecosystem of designs. There is no reason, with careful design, why this software shouldn't be intuitive enough for children to use easily. It could explain mechanical and engineering principles along the way if the user wished, and also be a place to store detailed contextual development notes, wiki style, to help others understand the workings and decisions made.

The virtual nature of the designs mean that far-flung people via the internet can easily work together on the same design, either working individually on various sub-assemblies of the whole or collaborating directly on the same part. The restrictions of having to finding people local to yourself with similar interests and desires becomes much less of an issue.