This is the English reading version of the Dutch news item SolidCraft 0.19.0: veertien thema’s, en parameters die je zelf typt.
SolidCraft has released version 0.19.0, a minor release built around a reworked workspace. Two things stand out: themes to adjust the interface, and a new way of making parameters.
What is new
Most of the change is in the interface. There is a Compact layout that joins the panels with single borders so the model gets more room, and you can switch off the text under the ribbon buttons for a ribbon that is 24 points shorter. The Assistant and the History have been rebuilt, with a History you can place at the bottom, on the left or under the Browser.
Along with that come fourteen official themes: from SolidCraft 95 and Platinum 9 to Cupertino, Green Phosphor, Blueprint and One Dark, plus palettes such as Tokyo Night, Nord, Solarized Light and Catppuccin Mocha.
The most interesting part is in the sketch. If you type name = value into a dimension, SolidCraft turns it into a parameter of its own and dimensions with it. So you no longer have to go to the parameter panel first to name a dimension you want to adjust later.
Also: the camera can rotate freely, including over the poles (switch it on in the preferences under Navigation), the view can square up to whatever you select, and there is a series of fixes to the camera, the chamfer, the mirror and the sketch tools.
Mind your files
0.19.0 writes file format 30. It opens any older file, but 0.18.4 and earlier refuse a file saved with 0.19.0. If you work on several machines, they all have to move along.
My verdict: the themes and the new layout are the most visible work, but the parameter line is the biggest addition of this version as far as I am concerned. That is exactly where parametric modelling gets interesting: you start with a dimension, give it a name, and adjust it later without rebuilding your sketch. And SolidCraft is open source, so you can run it yourself on your own machine or host the browser version yourself.
The release is on GitHub.