CAD:
- FreeCAD (bit clunky at times, it forces you into one specific workflow. Its free, open source and what you create with it will always be yours. Its what I use. It feels like C in programming language terms)
- onshape (feels very similar to fusion. Its a smooth experience, runs in the browser and is a nice tool. I liked it and did some cool stuff with it. Only drawback: the free only allows to store files openly, so everyone can see your designs. Kind of open source if you want, but I think files can only be opened with oshape. Its by a team that worked for solidworks. It feels more like python.)
- open s cad (you code your 3d objects. Its rough to learn and build complex parts I guess? But a pretty cool idea. Worth a try!)
SLICERS (all open source) It does not really matter, just try and pick what you like. I used them for fdm only, idk about resin.
- cura (by ultimaker, one of the older brands. Slicer is quite nice, nothing special I guess, just works quite well.
- prusa slicer (by prusa. THE printer brand I think. A bit confusion interface compared to cura I think, works great tho)
- orca slicer (based on slic3r I think? Has supposedly one of the best slicing algorithms if I remember correcly and a lot of settings. The forbidden one (baboo lab slicer) is based on this)
- slic3r (the og slicer of sorts, never tried it)
OTHERS: To control your printer (remotely if it does not offer it out of the box. I tried none of them):
- octoprint (sends live g code to your printer. Offers camera stream. Runs on a raspberry pi)
- mainsail is (controls your printer, if it runs clipper. Supposed to be one for the best I think. Runs on a raspberry as well I think?)
- many new ones have remote controll stuff build in. Prusa offer remote management, same as bamboo, sovol, some enders and anycubic ad well I suppose. Some run in the browser.
To control your printer when fiddling with it, you can send gcode to the printer over serial, if you can connect to it via usb. Can’t name a CLI tool for that from the top of my head.
There are python tools to generate 3d meshes from 2d images. Look at huggingface how to install and use it. There are also tools in the browser. Pretty cool stuff!




Its about 2 years with Linux on my laptop and about 1 year full time on all my devices, besides my work laptop with runs w11.
I run KDE neon on both. I distro hopped around from Ubuntu, fedora, mint, KDE, pop but ended up with KDE again. I feel like it does not matter anymore what de or distro I use. I need my browser and a terminal and my tools, then i can work.
Its nice having a reminder every time I am working with windows that I did the correct choice.
There are some bugs, but at least tgjey are mine now.
Only thing I miss, is ableton. I did not dabble in it with wine or winboat too much, but that’s the only thing I miss.
But worth it. I stand behind the idiology and got a few other people around me to switch