FreeCAD Changelog

What's new in FreeCAD 0.21.2

Jan 9, 2024

This is a bug-fix release of the 0.21 release branch

New in FreeCAD 0.21.1 (Sep 1, 2023)

New in FreeCAD 0.20.2 (Jul 31, 2023)

Addon Manager fixes:
a8cb4e7: Fix bug in dependency resolver
#7356: Minor bugfix with Mod folder
83f4b2c: Fix failures with Unicode characters in filenames
d1ad3b4: Add try/except to integer conversion
9bf0c58: Fix formatting in error handler
283fec6: Fix bug in updater
Arch fixes:
#6140: fix wrong line spacing in 3D-view
#6178: External Reference does not load Windows nested in Walls
#7370: Wall not visible when base sketch lines overlap
#7528: Fix crash related to SoBrepEdgeSet
#7591: Improve handling of window hosts
#7859: Fix CutPlane color
Core (App and Gui) fixes:
746a56f: Don't show non-existing and unusual directories in file dialog
ff876bf: Clear combo boxes before re-filling them and fix handling of icon size in preferences packs
6395465: make FreeCAD 0.20.x to compile with Python 3.11
#7388: Prevent crash when trying to create ExpressionBinding without arguments
#7422: Allow set up expression even if property value is currently being edited
#7444: Assure message boxes appear and stay on top of main window
#7507: Allow None parameter again in drag and drop methods in Python ViewProviderPy class
#7539: TinkerCAD navigation was always stopping right mouse button propagation
#7277: Write to network drive failed on Windows
bc9897c: TreeView selection can not be undone
#7628: Fix crash after creating a Sketch for a Body
4d8e615: If expression is set for Euler angles in the placement dialog then evaluate the expression instead of determining the angles from the rotation
6f302d3: Backport class WrapperManager to fix possible crashes when using PySide
#7737: Add default JPEG save quality and set it to 90%
7d9b344: Fix memory leak
4067cc1: Fix endless-loop in View3DInventorSelection::checkGroupOnTop
710a470: Fix endless-loop in DocumentObject::getParents
#5942: Revit navigation: rotation stop on scroll release
#7819: ActionGroup: also get its tooltip title updated
Draft fixes:
#5765: Clone did not maintain the colours of the original
2b5b7cd: Fix snapper icons
#7354: Add tolerance to BoundBox check
#7424: Fix working plane auto alignment to front view
#7441: Fix flatten wire
#7453: Fix alignment of angular dimension arrows
#7528: Fix crash related to SoBrepEdgeSet
#7616: Make Std_TransformManip work for Point
#7670: Fix rectangle with face offset bug
#7806: arcFromSpline() function uses wrong parameter
FEM fixes:
b716644: Fix handling of case fluids + solid materials
bd796c9: Fix error for 2D shapes
08af39c: Fix heat flux handling
#7360: CalculiX write_constraint_temperature.py outputs incorrect file name format
b14a909: Fix flux equation
#7538: Fix remaining result object in memory in FemMesh2Mesh
c0a45ec: Add standard path for Gmsh on MacOSX
PartDesign fixes:
#7445: Improve offset handling of SubShapeBinder
#7504: Add format parameter for Wedge X-min
#7626: Hole cut depth was not recalculated correctly
#7674: Improve Helix calculation for straight shape
#7629: Keep sketch visible during revolution tasks
#7722: assure source sketch is visible when in selection mode of Helix
145c3bf: Fix UTF-8 in filename handling for Hole
#7943: Fix check for orthogonality when padding/pocketing along a custom direction
Path fixes:
#7438: Change Default Drilling Retraction from G99 to G98
#7454: Fix for testing verticallity during PathFeedRate generation
#7455: Fix for setup-sheet-stepover
Sketcher fixes:
#7324: Fix WhatsThis for Constrain an arc or circle
#7426: Prevent dangling state of Shift key if key released out of Quarter
#7429: Some user colors were not taken into account
2d5b874: PointOnObject: do not substitute constraint if conditions are not OK
#7641: Correct icon for CreatePointFillet in menu
e3cd132: Fix typo in tooltip for Clone
#7082: Dimension size on perspective view scales "backwards"
#7860: Dimensions became unreadable small if a second sketch is visible
Spreadsheet fixes:
#7604: Fix multi-screen management of QtColorPicker
#7841: Alias field can't be set for empty cells
TechDraw fixes:
#7351: Fix multiple dimension drag
#7362: Fix hatch file default handling
ff01905: Fix UTF-8 handling in LineGroup
#7463: Fix extent dimension
#7555: Encode XML characters in SpreadsheetView
#7856: Segfault when opening task on DetailView for which the parent View was deleted
Compilation:
#7389: Fix MacOSX build of FreeCAD 0.20.x
#7434: Fix makeWireString for Windows with Python 3.09 and newer
Miscellaneous:
#7358: XDGData: fix wrong xml element in mimetype file
#7447: StartPage: fix Wiki link to Reverse Engineering workbench

New in FreeCAD 0.20.1 (Dec 5, 2022)

Addon Manager fixes:
#7112: Addon manager did not work on windows with special characters in username
0e2508c: Fix for non-Github URLs
119a402: Add other_files download for wiki macros
0865b97: Fix thread termination bug
Arch fixes:
#7135: Invert opening symbol for simple door
#7212: Fix getCutVolume
#6679: Could not change type of profile after its addition
Core (App and Gui) fixes:
#7032: Fix expressions assignment for FreeBSD
#7044: Set missing angle in Rotation::inverse function
#5592: Respect symbolic links
212b140: GuiPy: allow to call setupWithoutGUI more than once
3f8dc1a: Fix crash in ViewProviderLink::currentDraggingPlacement()
#7113: Pressing OK button in "Placement Panel" changed color of the Link object
c4547c0: Python console: Fix a Latin1 UTF-8 conversion problem
Draft fixes:
#7058: Draft to sketch does not take placement into account
#7105: Fix align working plane to DatumPlane
#7109: Fix default fillmode
#7138: DisplayStatusbarScaleWidget should be checked in preferences
#6734: Join fails when there is a minor difference in coordinates due to rounding
#7173: Fix setEdit
#7174: Fix EditMode for hatch, facebinder and shapestring
#7186: Fix Hatch task panel title
#7215: Remove unnecessary DisplayStatusbar preference
#7259: Fix handling of groups on move-copy and rotate-copy
#7295: Fix Draft Edit AddPoint with BSpline
#6181: Ctrl+Z dis not work in Draft_Wire
FEM fixes:
e8f3227: Fix point filter initialization issue
ef08867: Fix wrong console outputs for fluid materials
1f7374e: Fix material task dialog for fluids
5d389e3: Check if solver executables exist
#7158: Fix CalculiX multi-threading bug
#7160: Fix solver console bugs
faa1f96: Check if Gmsh, CalculiX and Mystran solver binaries exist
#7230: Color bar for result pipelines and filters not updated in view
057e90b: Add missing info about transparency
#7242: Fix regression that result pipeline missed some results
864c9ec: set default selection mode to BoundBox for post objects
c4b8983: Fix errors on missing material properties
8303a55: Add missing eigenfrequcy calculation for Elmer
8bb85d2: Use SoAnnotation to highlight result pipeline objects
ba85817: Use direct solving as default for stresses
357989c: Allow to edit solver input files also for Elmer and Z88
7e07162: Fix selection issues with electrostatic constraint
90afc19: Fix pipeline recompute bug
d438514: Fix another pipeline recompute bug
515584c: Fix warp filter factor
4b2a486: Fix selection issues with flow velocity constraint
Material improvements:
c7a2ddb: new material card for plain Aluminum
9c50b54: new material cards for Copper and Invar
Mesh fix:
#7023: 3mf created with FreeCAD cannot be loaded with PruseSlicer
OpenSCAD fix:
#7301: Get rid of SCAD-Import error
Part fixes:
#7083: Fix display "labelfillet" name for Chamfer and Fillet
9de8b33: Fix GeomBSplineCurve::toBiArcs
#7154: Rename preferences page to "Part/Part Design"
639ff92: Fix TopoShape.isInside() for faces
#7219: Correction of decimal places on creation of primitives
#7260: Fix KnotSequence for periodic BSpline surfaces
PartDesign fixes:
360b428: Hole dialog fixes
1b2f006: Hole initialization bugfix
6564086: Fix ProfileBased::getSupportFace()
094ae93: Fix Pad/Pocket logic issue
#7198: Add property enabling logic for pad/pocket
#7201: Improve face selection for Pad/Pocket
Path fixes:
#6693: LeadInOut dressup breaks simulator
#7164: Fix wrong "Please delete and recreate the job" message
#6974: Restore drilling op retract value to user supplied Retract Height
#7137: Fix Type=Polar regression in PathArray
#7278: Fix vcarve c++ exception
#7333: Fix external thread issues
Sketcher fixes:
#7064: "Toggle Construction Geometry Button" is not working in "Custom Workbenches"
#7324: Fix "WhatsThis?" for Sketcher_CompConstrainRadDia
Spreadsheet fixes:
469e4f1: Fix several memory leaks
#7285: Crash if cell value ' is set
Stylesheet fixes:
#7190: Remove whitespace and add "checked" icon style
#6102: Group box lines were not correctly styled
TechDraw fixes:
fb1a7af: Fix Projection group view spacing
4b47d38: Fix dimension update on change of Projection group scale
#7106: Fix Dimension export to DXF
#7121: Fix bitmap hatch
#7066: Fix Image scaling
#7131: Fix multiple open dialogs
#7144: Fix bad edge in face finder
#7184: Fix crash on body with no shape
#7266: Fix symbol recompute and scale
Compilation:
#7136: Prepend CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX if CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR is not absolute
b85e9b1: Fix Conda test errors
Miscellaneous:
e89ebba: Do not exclude widget plugins from tarball

New in FreeCAD 0.19.3 (Mar 1, 2022)

Addon manager fixes:
#5041: Freezes/crashes when opening Addon manager
Arch fixes:
#4745: Parse window opening modes with more than one digit
#4748: Fix material color pickers
Core (App and Gui) fixes:
#4792: App quitting despite failing to save project
#4800: Abort save when unable to finish
#5103: update weblink to Coin3D
#5215: Preferences - change macro path selection from File to Folder
Draft fixes:
#4743: Ensure horizontal orientation of snap widget
Import/Export fixes:
#5098: Fix STEP import/export color problem
Part fixes:
#4644: Uniform sorting in menu and toolbar
#5138: Fix grid visibility in sketches
PartDesign fixes:
b33324a5: Fix shortcut of Del key in the pipe dialog
#5149: Fix loft visibility on creation and modification
Path fixes:
#4613: Fix bug with spindle not restarting
#4615: Fix connected multi-face clearing bug
#4622: Bugfix/job setup
#4639: Post procesing for GRBL with option "--translate_drill"
#4673: Fix proxy error bug that occurs when postprocessing
#4680: Fix depth calculation for vcarve
#4765: Fix bug adding TC from job dialog
#4796: Check for empty before using - fixes
#4797: GUI scripting support and other improvements
#4815 Fix GUI issues and minor code cleanup
#4819: Fix minor bug when cancelling post process
#4857: PathSanity.py now outputs fillename for the report the same as the postprocessor job
#4864: Fix bug splitting gcode by fixture
#4906: Fix relative shape files for toolbits
#4909: Fixed incorrect usage of isDirty() in the accept button call back
#4919: Remove side assignment to outside for full model profiles
#4936: Fix grbl --return-to placement
#4939: Fix multi-OS path issue for job templates
db16029c: Update 45 degree chamfer tool bit
#4953: fix invalid JSON in 45 degree chamfer tool bit
#4973: Fix face region boundary shape usage
#4986: Add missing newline to return-to statement in grbl postprocessor
#5076: Fix bug with job object not found
Spreadsheet fixes:
#5030: Prevent infinite loop when copy/paste of non-rectangular selection
Sketcher fixes:
#4744: Fix Reference checkbox not working for radius/diameter
#4832: Fix Reference checkbox not working for diameter
#5190: Fix crash when applying Constrain internal alignment on constraints
TechDraw fixes:
#4895: Fix undo for Cosmetic Vertices and Lines
Miscellaneous:
#4771: Preferences - Selection Fix Bug for new users who save an unrelated Preference such as Stylesheet from loosing the default selection settings
#4767: Fix a FEM test failure with yaml.load
#4782: Start workbench; fix bug when custom folder doesn't exist
#4912: Reverse Engineering workbench: Fix compilation with PCL-1.12.0

New in FreeCAD 0.19.2 (Oct 24, 2021)

New in FreeCAD 0.18 Build 16110 (Apr 22, 2019)

[Bug] libspnav crash on linux wayland during startup (wmayer)
[Bug] "View Sketch" button doesn't account for container transform (wmayer)
[Bug] Sweep tool fails with Frenet=True on special Wire created from Section (Chris_G)
[Bug] list of languages is not sorted in the preferences settings (wmayer)
[Bug] Spreadsheet WB does not respect number of decimal settings
[Bug] Spreadsheet workbench does not respect locale for decimal separator
[Bug] Material editor: Meta -> Source property not saved (berndhahnebach)
[Bug] non-ASCII characters incorrectly displayed in material cards (wmayer)
[Bug] Debian bug #920971 - C++ exception on DXF import (wmayer)
[Bug] STEP export with BaseFeature does not hide BaseObject (wmayer)
[Bug] Preferences dialog not fully visible (wmayer)
[Bug] After "Create a hole with the selected sketch" the model disapers (wmayer)
[Bug] Scrolling on length inputs with "Building Euro" unit system has max value (wmayer)
[Bug] registration of pointer in navigation cube/cluster is off, makes clicking difficult (wmayer)
[Bug] missing file type filter for saving FCMat files (wmayer)
[Bug] unexpected result in building RuledSurface (wmayer)
[Bug] file location not stored when opening/saving materials (yorik)
[Bug] Shortcut-Key is executed in edit field of a constraint (Combo View) (wmayer)
[Bug] missing tooltip in mesh preferences dialog (wmayer)
[Bug] FC freezes when editing export STEP preferences (wmayer)
[Bug] Incorrect extension FCstd instead fcstd (wmayer)
[Bug] crash on importing .scad file (yorik)
[Bug] New SubList property Py API messes up the order of linked elements (DeepSOIC)
[Bug] Box selection does not select dimension or text (wmayer)
[Feature] Assign already assigned keyboard shortcuts without searching old assigned action (wmayer)
[Feature] "tube" as basic solid (wmayer)
[Feature] It is impossible to get to the ShapeMaterial field without gui (wmayer)
[Feature] AddonManager should inform of the need to restart FreeCAD for changes to take effect (yorik)
[Bug] Invert zoom setting is not respected in paper/page mode
[Bug] REGRESSION: FreeCAD 0.17 does not export color information with STEP files (wmayer)
[Bug] Tree view and Property view are no longer available in View --> Panels menu (normandc)
[Bug] Property Editor Angle Fields Do Not Respect Units (wmayer)
[Bug] Image Scaling tooltip is untranslatable and should be reworded (wmayer)
[Bug] Drag-dropping bug that can make a Part contain itself (wmayer)
[Bug] Export (Ctrl+E) doesn't check to make sure that object being exported is a model at all (wmayer)
[Bug] Fails to build with Boost 1.69 (develop snapshot) (wmayer)
[Bug] automatic rotation (wmayer)
[Bug] Improve VRML export for more complex structures (wmayer)
[Bug] Drawing lines on top of an image will not save the work (Reason: ' &' in the file name) (wmayer)
[Feature] Translate Labels in Arch and Draft (yorik)
[Feature] FreeCAD should ignore 'create new document at startup' if given files at command-line (wmayer)
[Bug] Crash on creation of vertical dimension with Shift + V (wmayer)
[Bug] 0.17 Regression: recompute will make parts lose color and take a longer delay compared to FC0.16 (wmayer)
[Bug] Broken start page in Ukrainian language (wmayer)
[Bug] Import.export not preserving placement of Part Features in STP file export (wmayer)
[Bug] Color information lost in STEP export (wmayer)
[Bug] Linear pattern, mirrored and polar pattern feature not working on a hole just on pocket (wmayer)
[Bug] Groups breaking dependency graph (wmayer)
[Bug] Exported models do not include Body Object transformations
[Bug] Measurement tool measures wrongly (wmayer)
[Bug] "Save a copy" of a document with a spreadsheet mark the document as touched (wmayer)
[Bug] Zooming out causes part to orbit when rotating (wmayer)
[Bug] Can't open file - some exceptions are shown in the log (wmayer)
[Bug] Keeping "Display properties" window open affects naming of objects/bodies, persistent thru new file creation. (wmayer)
[Bug] stp file import name mismatch (due to some limitation into UTF-8 support & naming convention) (wmayer)
[Bug] The path to the Addons does not allow special characters (wmayer)
[Bug] Program crashes when user try to add (by mistake) the origin to a group (wmayer)
[Bug] Update the debian folder in FreeCAD (kkremitzki)
[Bug] App test cases require Part module (wmayer)
[Bug] App::PropertyStringList not python3 ready (wmayer)
[Bug] Python objects: updateData calls to proxy instance that should have been deleted (wmayer)
[Bug] Cannot compile head of FreeCad (peterl94)
[General] MacOSX 10.13 not in the 'About FreeCAD' dialog (blacey)
[Feature] Add Freecad version/platform to the main screen for display (Kunda1)
[Bug] import of openscad file fails (wandererfan)
[Feature] option for "random shape color" by default
[Bug] Unwanted deletion of objects from non-active document (wandererfan)
[Feature] Navicube - Experimental Navigational Cube addon
[Bug] import Draft is broken (yorik)
[Bug] Crash opening /Applications/FreeCAD.app/Contents/data/examples/RobotExample.FCStd (yorik)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 13509 (Apr 7, 2018)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 9284 Pre (Dec 19, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8870 Pre (Nov 7, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8774 Pre (Oct 24, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8762 Pre (Oct 23, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8754 Pre (Oct 21, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8751 Pre (Oct 21, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8750 Pre (Oct 20, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8702 Pre (Oct 17, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8686 Pre (Oct 15, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8668 Pre (Oct 10, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8202 Pre (Aug 12, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8048 Pre (Jul 28, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8046 Pre (Jul 27, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8034 Pre (Jul 24, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 8020 Pre (Jul 22, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 7714 Pre (Jun 11, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.16 Build 6703 (May 12, 2016)

HIGHLIGHTS:
Expression support has been introduced, which allows to define formula relationships between properties of objects. Expression support is a major leap forward for making better parametric models in FreeCAD. Expressions offer easy interface for making models controlled by spreadsheets.
Sketcher solver behavior has been majorly improved. Not only it became faster and more stable, it also doesn't hang anymore on unsolvable sketches. And automatic document recomputes triggered after each tiny tweak to the sketch can now be switched off, allowing smooth editing of sketches buried under deep dependencies.
FreeCAD now supports touchscreen 3D navigation. This makes it possible to use FreeCAD without a mouse on a convertible laptop with touchscreen and pen, away from a desk.
The FEM workbench has made tons of improvements. It has proven to be useabele for various kind of mechanical analysises.
GENERAL:
Support for expressions/formulas
Three new navigation styles: Gesture Navigation (with touchscreen support on Windows), Maya Navigation, and OpenCascade Navigation.
Customization of workbenches list (list can be reordered, and any workbenches can be made hidden from the list)
Recovery tool
New save options (Revert, save as a copy)
New homepage
PART WORKBENCH:
New tools for joining walled objects (e.g., pipes): Connect, Embed and Cutout
New feature: make face from a sketch (parametric)
PART DESIGN & SKETCHER WORKBENCH:
New Feature: Toggle Mode for Reference/Driving constraints
New Feature: Continuous creation mode
New Feature: Non-driving constraints (aka Driven constraints)
Major speedup
Advanced solver control
New features: tools for duplication, mirroring and rectangular array
Support for expressions/formulas in constraints and properties
SPREADSHEET WORKBENCH:
Added functions: round, trunc, ceil, and floor.
DRAFT WORKBENCH:
New DXF importer: The Draft Workbench now features a brand-new DXF importer, fully coded in C++, inherited from HeeksCad, which doesn't need anymore to download external components, and is now much faster and able to load much larger DXF files. An option in the DXF preferences allows to switch back to the old importer if needed.
A new Mirror tool allows to do mirroring of objects "the Draft way"
Many DXF templates have been added to the corresponding built-in SVG templates, making the export of Drawing pages to DXF much better.
Rectangles,wires and lines can now be subdivided, allowing all kinds of new shape combinations.
DRAWING WORKBENCH:
A new spreadsheet view tool allows to place a range of cells from a spreadsheet on a Drawing page.
ARCH WORKBENCH:
Materials support: Arch objects can now have a material attached, which uses FreeCAD's builtin materials framework. These materials are shared among other workbenches. These materials are fully supported by IFC import and export.
The Section plane can now do clipping of the 3D view, showing the section in realtime.
Several improvements to the IFC importer such as new options for treating large IFC files, better support for extrusions (now detected on import) and curved segments, and support of 2D annotation objects. The import of Analytical IFC has been added. At the moment import of geometrical representations off all analytical objects is supported.
Better meshing options for DAE and IFC formats.
A new Arch Schedule tool allows to create different kinds of schedules from a BIM model.
IFC attributes can now be imported, edited and exported. This is basically a spreadsheet object attached to an Arch object.
FEM WORKBENCH:
GUI FEM commands have keyboard short cuts now. An preference dialog for FEM was introduced. The binary path of CalculiX is one of the preference settings.
GUI analysis container Analysis member uses drag & drop. They can be moved in and out of a analysis container. Since there is now support for multiple analysis, member can be moved into another analysis too. Multiple constraints can be created in an analysis.
GUI one click analysis A one click analysis button has been added to the GUI. It does purging results, writing CalculiX input file and does the analysis for the selected solver. It is detected if multithreading is available for CalculiX and uses the maximum possible threads.
Input file FreeCAD's build-in editor supports editing CalculiX input files (*.inp). Syntax highlighting was implemented too.
Netgen mesh object The GUI and property editor of the Netgen mesh object has been reworked. Tetraeder meshing off one order and second order elements is supported as well as adjusting meshing parameter.
Constraint force and constraint fix objects It is now possible to add Forces and Fixes on edges and Vertexes.
Constraint pressure object A new object for pressure load on faces has been added. The pressure (load per area) is passed directly to CalculiX which means the node loads are not calculated by FreeCAD but CalculiX instead.
Constraint prescribed displacement object A new object for prescribed displacements has been added. The prescribed displacement can be added to vertexes, edges and faces. For shell and beam analysis’s it is possible to fix the rotational degrees of freedom.
Beam section object The new beam section object allows to define rectangle cross section for beam FEM. There is support for different beam sections in one analysis by defining reference shapes for each cross section
Shell thickness object The new shell thickness object allows to define thicknesses of shell plates. Like in beam section there is support for multiple shell thicknesses in one analysis by defining reference shapes.
Material object Multiple materials are supported for edge, shell and solid meshes. Like for the beam section and shell thickness objects a appropriate FEM Mesh is needed to use the multiple material.
Solver object As a base for multiple solver a solver object has been implemented. All analysis properties moved from analysis to solver.
Frequency analysis A frequency analysis can be made. The number of eigenvalue or eigenshape to calculate can be adjusted in preference GUI.
View provider Shell and beam FEM-Meshes can be viewed in FreeCAD and thus the results of such analysis too.
Python API Methods for working with FEM-Meshes and making an Analysis from python have been added.
GMSH Macro An interesting external developing is the Macro_GMSH which makes it possible to use GMSH for meshing. Very useful for all not able to compile FreeCAD with Netgen or for meshing shell- or edge meshes.
General Improvements Due to the heavy development taking place, there have been tons of improvements on the code base of FEM module.
PATH WORKBENCH:
A new Path Workbench has been added to FreeCAD. This workbench, although still under development, already implements some CAM operations, and allows to export full G-code programs for a variety of CNC machines.
In its current state, the workbench allows to create profiles and pockets around Part-based objects, create complex paths by joining several partial paths, inspect and edit the g-code contents of paths, manage tooltable, and choose between different pre-processing and post-processing scripts when importing and exporting G-code. It also already provides a complete python API.
ADDITIONAL MODULES:
A couple of new addons workbenches have been created by community members. These workbenches are easily pluggable into an existing FreeCAD installation. Among them are:
An Animation Workbench allows you to create animations from your FreeCAD models, by defining the movement of a camera and exporting a sequence of images.
A Kerkythea exporter macro permits to export your FreeCAD documents to the free Kerkythea renderer.
A work-in-progress Menu is also already available.
Finally, an addons repository has been created to gather all the interesting workbenches, modules and other macros that are flourishing around FreeCAD. This repository features a installer that takes care of the installing and updating of these addons for you.

New in FreeCAD 0.17 Build 7515 Pre (May 10, 2016)

New in FreeCAD 0.16 Build 6702 (Apr 25, 2016)

Fixed issues:
0002414: [Merge request] Implement continuous integration for Mac OS X builds (blacey) resolved.
0002483: [Bug] Undo in spreadsheet breaks alias linkage (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002476: [Bug] [v0.16] Stylesheets not packaged into Windows builds closed.
0002440: [Bug] 0.16 Build rev 6395 Several display issues (wmayer) closed.
0002466: [Bug] Sketcher sign issue with Expressions (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002433: [Bug] Window weirdness after changing constraint value in sketcher (wmayer) closed.
0002273: [Bug] Part: Chamfer edges and fillet edges dialog does not "remember" the type (wmayer) closed.
0002468: [Bug] freecad-0.15.4671/src/Base/Handle.cpp:61: bad test ? (wmayer) closed.
0002202: [Bug] Crash when selecting an item in Model Tree (wmayer) closed.
0002376: [Bug] FreeCAD Unable to Save Files Properly closed.
0002154: [Bug] Crash on delete measurements (every time for me) (wmayer) closed.
0002223: [Bug] Units not displaying correctly (wmayer) closed.
0002200: [Bug] Application crash when modifying fillet (wmayer) closed.
0002049: [Bug] 0.15 and 0.16 Part Revolve ignores unit accuracy setting beyond 2 decimals (wmayer) closed.
0001996: [Bug] Fillet radius assumes metric even after all preferences and defaults changed to english (wmayer) closed.
0002443: [Feature] Path make Path Workbench translatable (yorik) closed.
0002450: [Bug] FreeCAD v0.16 (development), Addons installer installs addons, but dialog hangs. (yorik) closed.
0002388: [Bug] Spreadsheet::SheetObserver::slotChangedObject(const App::DocumentObject&, const App::Property&): Assertion `name != 0` (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0000987: [Feature] Trigonometric Functions in Sketch module closed.
0002238: [Bug] Python: Environment Variable 'path' with mutated vowel (german: Umlaut [äöüß]) (wmayer) closed.
0002451: [Bug] FreeCAD crashes on selecting Mirrowed Part closed.
0002389: [Bug] Crash systematic on the 10th sketch when employing a cavity. (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002442: [Bug] FreeCAD 0.16: Expressions accross files are not saved (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002436: [Bug] Crash when using mirror tool on items made with freecad prior to at least rev5808 (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002418: [Bug] Draft.scale causes segfault. (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002420: [Bug] error with ccx_2.9 closed.
0002445: [Feature] Add link to the Help:Formatting page on the Editing page in the Wiki (yorik) closed.
0001437: [Feature] Global parameters closed.
0002417: [Bug] console autocomplete runs python properties (wmayer) closed.
0002355: [Bug] spreadsheet slows down when among several objects (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002407: [Bug] References to other spreadsheets only work with their original default names (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002402: [Bug] Ambiguous alias names (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002176: [Feature] 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator only works on self-build FreeCAD (ian.rees) closed.
0002002: [Bug] Mesh Faces Not Conforming With Tessellation Settings (ian.rees) closed.
0002208: [Bug] DXF output error problem with arcs (yorik) closed.
0002175: [Bug] Arch Base sketch of walls is not placed in the current working plane (yorik) closed.
0002138: [Feature] Arch improvements to axes (yorik) closed.
0002326: [Feature] Arch make base walls independent from windows (yorik) closed.
0002276: [Feature] Drawing::PythonFeatureView (yorik) closed.
0002373: [Bug] When Measuring in the distance between two external geometry Freecad crashes (wmayer) closed.
0002372: [Bug] Application terminates on attempt to change external geometry from a sketch (wmayer) closed.
0001805: [Feature] Spreadsheet Allow to place a spreadsheet on a Drawing sheet (yorik) closed.
0002205: [Feature] Draft Recode a DXF importer in C++ (yorik) closed.
0002394: [Feature] Help menu (website/documentation/forum) does not open localized pages (yorik) closed.
0002391: [Bug] DXF export not working (yorik) closed.
0002390: [Bug] VRML exporter using invalid names closed.
0002385: [Feature] unable to set value higher than 99.99 on Distance value in Part->Cross Sections (wmayer) closed.
0002347: [Bug] freecad fails to build with Boost 1.60.0 (wmayer) closed.
0001956: [Bug] FreeCAD 0.14.370x hangs when attempting to edit sketch containing ellipse (wmayer) closed.
0002245: [Bug] BRep File cannot be written (wmayer) closed.
0001854: [Bug] Draft Clone of Sketch, selection of sketch mistakenly produces a Pad on the Draft Clone closed.
0002177: [Bug] Draft: Problems in DXF export of Drawing pages (yorik) closed.
0001989: [Bug] "Open recent" not saved until exit. (wmayer) closed.
0002047: [Feature] Don't register recent files which can't be opened (wmayer) closed.
0001831: [Bug] FreeCAD can start only once (wmayer) closed.
0002065: [Merge request] DXF Drawing Templates (yorik) closed.
0001998: [Bug] For 32 px and 48 px the icons with a submenu in toolbars are not display at the good size. (wmayer) closed.
0001974: [Bug] Building problem nad outdated README.linux it's not clear how to build FreeCAD (yorik) closed.
0002075: [Bug] Analysis of FreeCAD by PVS-Studio static analyzer (wmayer) closed.
0002085: [Bug] Only one Toolbar Separator (wmayer) closed.
0002084: [Bug] Didnt work button Help (yorik) closed.
0002119: [Bug] can not add parts and set constrains in active Assembly (ickby) closed.
0002120: [Bug] can not add parts and set constrains in active Assembly (ickby) closed.
0002108: [Feature] Add OpenCascade navigation style (wmayer) closed.
0002140: [Bug] Intersection operation does not work (ickby) closed.
0002095: [Feature] Arch Assembly object (yorik) closed.
0002149: [Bug] Arch fix char encoding in IFC importer (yorik) closed.
0002134: [Bug] FreeCAD crashes when the window is restored and a plot is shown (wmayer) closed.
0002116: [Bug] FreeCAD crash when I click on treeview (wmayer) closed.
0001322: [Bug] Multple python versions in debian causing Python 2.6 (earlier Python version) linking and failing to install FreeCAD (wmayer) closed.
0002040: [Feature] Revert to saved (yorik) closed.
0002179: [Bug] Appdata screenshot link is incorrect (yorik) closed.
0002159: [Bug] Crash with DIV/0 exception (yorik) closed.
0002216: [Bug] Crash when exporting to OBJ from an imported STEP file (yorik) closed.
0002229: [Bug] some ttf fonts make Draft.makeShapeString crash (wandererfan) closed.
0002221: [Bug] FreeCADGui.export([object], "test.wrl") doesn't export object if it's not selected (wmayer) closed.
0002166: [Bug] Sketch to Draft DWire Not Making Face (yorik) closed.
0002062: [Bug] svg size different on import (yorik) closed.
0002219: [Bug] Exporting to DAE from STEP import crashes on these files. (yorik) closed.
0002258: [Bug] Silent uninstall blocks on MessageBox (wmayer) closed.
0002056: [Feature] Support silent (de)installation using NSIS (wmayer) closed.
0002197: [Bug] Buggy Placement dialog when using Euler angles (wmayer) closed.
0001941: [Bug] Refresh Property Editor (wmayer) closed.
0002209: [Bug] Files that have a dot in name do not get the extension (wmayer) closed.
0002160: [Bug] Customised keyboard shortcuts: "D", "U" conflic (wmayer) closed.
0002222: [Bug] Number of normals in exported VRML is wrong (wmayer) closed.
0002106: [Feature] Add "Default" option in Preferences (wmayer) closed.
0002117: [Bug] problems with rendering an arc NAN (wmayer) closed.
0002150: [Bug] [Ctrl]+[Z] is buffered in a non-intuitive way, does not function in "edit mode" (wmayer) closed.
0001238: [Feature] Preferences: set temp files directory (wmayer) closed.
0002126: [Bug] Fails to load .FCStd file which contains many MultiByte-Char strings (wmayer) closed.
0001237: [Bug] the project file is not saved when the " /tmp " directory is full, but the user is not aware of it (wmayer) closed.
0001368: [Bug] Subclassing Matrix silently fails (wmayer) closed.
0002291: [Feature] Invalid sketch warning should allow to directly open sketch validation tool (wmayer) closed.
0002328: [General] Typo in http://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/?title=Screenshots [^] (wmayer) closed.
0002321: [Bug] Build failure on current (71be79e) master (wmayer) closed.
0002306: [Patch] Allow *.py files in the Customize/Macros/Macro dropdown (wmayer) closed.
0002329: [Bug] remove the 2 now obsolete Pivy versions distributed with FreeCAD source code (wmayer) closed.
0002318: [Bug] can't extrude "R" like sketch to solid (jmaustpc) closed.
0001652: [Feature] Proper support of units for all geometric primitives (wmayer) closed.
0001860: [Feature] Can not open a FreeCAD project in FreeCAD by double-clicking the project file on Macintosh (wmayer) closed.
0002000: [Feature] Arch allow to create a wall without baseline with the GUI (yorik) closed.
0000026: [Feature] Kuka post processor (Jriegel) closed.
0001993: [Bug] Draft Unable to offset arcs with numerical value (yorik) closed.
0002339: [Bug] Arch edit mode of Space object doesn't work anymore (yorik) closed.
0002215: [Feature] Draft Mirror tool (yorik) closed.
0002186: [Bug] Crash when changing window hole depth in arch module (yorik) closed.
0002340: [Feature] Draft Ability to subdivide a draft rectangle (yorik) closed.
0002198: [Bug] Draft interference with freehand placement (yorik) closed.
0002358: [Bug] can not import .csg file (yorik) closed.
0001975: [Bug] Draft DraftGeomUtils.offsetWire() gives wrong results when wire contains arcs (yorik) closed.
0002315: [Bug] Mirror Sketch error pops up "can't find property" (abdullah) closed.
0002352: [Bug] Spreadsheet bugs (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002293: [Bug] Eigen2 support is deprecated in Eigen 3.2.x and it will be removed in Eigen 3.3. (yorik) closed.
0002301: [Bug] Spreadsheet Tab button behaviour inconsistent (eivindkvedalen) closed.
0002331: [Bug] Sphere Radius does not follow Units Preference (wmayer) closed.
0002284: [Bug] Tangency (co-linear) constraint behavior is inconsistent and confusing. (abdullah) closed.
0002057: [Bug] BoundBox.h doesn't work with 2D objects (wmayer) closed.
0002272: [Bug] QuantitySpinbox sets wrong sizeHint (ickby) closed.
0002286: [Bug] Negative value nedded to increase sketchere contraint in positive direction (abdullah) closed.
0001098: [Feature] Add ability to use variables and forumulas (abdullah) closed.
0002278: [Bug] Python auto-completer crashes FreeCAD (Ubuntu Daily) (wmayer) closed.
0002274: [Bug] numpad edition for size, position failed (wmayer) closed.
0000175: [Feature] Auto save function (wmayer) closed.
0002053: [Feature] Support of themes (wmayer) closed.
0002152: [Bug] ascii codec cant decode byte 0xcf (wmayer) closed.
0002203: [Bug] Incorrect document is activated when working with multiple parts/documents (wmayer) closed.
0002122: [Feature] sketcher copy lines is not possible (abdullah) closed.
0002212: [Bug] Commit e744114 (-Wall) introduces build error on openSUSE closed.
0002237: [Bug] In 0.16 Rev 5432 (Git) Entering numbers is garbled, after first digit cursor jumps to end of field (yorik) closed.
0002192: [Feature] Add units support to the editor of PropertyVector (yorik) closed.
0000101: [Feature] Feature to generate NC code (yorik) closed.
0002193: [Bug] Crash when adding a window to a wall (yorik) closed.
0001450: [Bug] model refine corrupts solid with spherical edges. (tanderson69) closed.
0002163: [Bug] Crash when deleting a connected line in the sketcher (abdullah) closed.
0001868: [Feature] expose BRepExtrema_ShapeProximity to python (shoogen) closed.
0002099: [Bug] Spreadsheet: Subtraction and Power Expression Parsing closed.
0002161: [Bug] 0.16.5111 External Geometry Bug (abdullah) closed.
0002058: [Feature] Add the possibility to refresh the Graph Dependency closed.
0002130: [Feature] add hint whether registration for wiki is possible on login page (yorik) closed.
0002144: [Patch] Error message trying to open/edit a spreadsheet from the Python console/script (yorik) closed.
0002109: [Bug] Matrix4D add missing constructor body (wmayer) closed.
0002014: [Bug] Part offset with fill option produces an invalid shape (tanderson69) closed.
0002097: [Bug] fails to unite face when pad "up to face" is used. (tanderson69) closed.
0002073: [Feature] PartsLibrary.FCMacro Thumbnails (yorik) closed.
0000853: [Feature] Unicode Strings in Coin3D (yorik) closed.
0001977: [Feature] Upgrade webapps (yorik) closed.
0002020: [Bug] occ throws exception in model refine for spline surface. (tanderson69) closed.

New in FreeCAD 0.11 Build 3578 (May 11, 2011)

General:
The FreeCAD translation project has received huge help from many people around the world and FreeCAD now ships with no less than 15 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Norwegian, Afrikaans, Finnish, Simplified Chinese, Croatian and Dutch. And many more languages are being worked on for the next releases.
Several improvements have been brought all over FreeCAD, for example the hierarchy tree now allows complex object stacks, keeping all your geometry history clean and easily accessible and modifiable. New python API improvements also allow objects to interact better with the tree, defining their own behaviour, icons, etc.
The copy/paste mechanism has also been much improved, now allowing easy copy/pasting of objects between documents.
The Part Workbench features new tools such as mirroring and edge fillets and chamfers.
Sketch and part design
The constraint solver of the Sketcher Workbench has been totally rewritten and the Sketcher, even if still not complete, features already a good array of tools such as lines, rectangles, and constraints such as point coincidence, parallelism, fixed length or horizontal or vertical constraints.
In addition to the Sketcher, a new PartDesign workbench now allow you to quickly build solids on top of Sketches. As a rule now in FreeCAD, everything is parametric, you can go back anytime to change your sketch, and all geometry that depends on it will be adapted automatically
Robot simulation:
The Robot Workbench has been extended with many GUI tools and is now fairly functional and allows you to easily simulate industrial robot movements
2D drafting:
Snapping has been greatly optimized and now works pretty fast, even on complex objects
The "Trim/Extend" tool can now be called "Trim/Extend/Extrude", since it allows you to quickly extrude single faces, offering a convenient shortcut to the standard Part Extrude tool
The Draft-to-Drawing sheet workflow has also been enhanced, all the Draft workbench objects can now be placed on a Drawing page, and they all offer the same level of comfort as standard Part objects, offering the ability to change their position, rotation and scale on the fly. They also offer some extra features, such as hatch pattern fillings
The Draft workbench also offers new tools such as regular polygons and bSplines:
There is also a new Edit tool, allowing to edit the geometry of most of the Draft objects
Dimensions can now have their text edited and moved, and wires can have an end arrow, allowing to use them as leaders
Several commands such as move, rotate or dimensioning now allow you to do several copies without exiting the tool
The Draft workbench also gained a python API.
The DXF importer now support block attributes
Examples:
The image workbench now features an ImagePlane object, allowing you to display an image file inside the 3D scene, that can be used for example to construct geometry on top of scanned blueprints