CHILI3D is a browser-based CAD program that provides users with a range of tools for designing and modelling in 3D, and exports designs into a file format that is widely used in the sector.
While the software is currently in an alpha stage of development, and is not yet perfect, its existence demonstrates the potential for browser-based design tools to substitute for offline CAD apps.
The underlying technology that CHILI3D uses, WebAssembly, has enabled browser-based applications to grow in power and sophistication, allowing subscribers to make the most of the cloud, without having to download software.
One limitation of CHILI3D is that users currently need to pay $8,000 per year to use the software after a free trial period, which some commentators view as a “roach motel” application, locking customers in and then charging them. This is in contrast to the open-source approach that some other browser-based design tools are taking.
