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MLCad Source Code - x64 / ARM, multithreading optimizations? - Printable Version

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MLCad Source Code - x64 / ARM, multithreading optimizations? - tom alphin - 2025-08-05

I still prefer MLCad because I am extremely familiar with the XY/YZ/XZ/Preview format which I grew up with developing Quake levels as a teenager.  I know it is pretty dated software, but I was wondering if anyone has reached out to the developer to see if they are open to releasing the sourcecode.

I am not a professsional developer, but I suspect that it would be possible to recompile an x64 and/or ARM build with minimal changes if the source code were available.  I also expect that some of the worst performance bottlenecks (ex: loading the "Select Part" dialog) could be addressed with minor coding optimizations, such as keeping the partlist in memory, or optimizing the code to make use of multithreaded CPU's.

Has this been explored in the past? Is anyone else interested in helping?

Sincerely,
---Tom


RE: MLCad Source Code - x64 / ARM, multithreading optimizations? - Orion Pobursky - 2025-08-05

Unfortunately, we've asked Micheal several times to release the source but so far he has declined.


RE: MLCad Source Code - x64 / ARM, multithreading optimizations? - tom alphin - 2025-08-05

(2025-08-05, 4:40)Orion Pobursky Wrote: Unfortunately, we've asked Micheal several times to release the source but so far he has declined.

Good to know. 

We could certainly ask again - he might be more (or less) interested in sharing the code now that it is so much easier to imporve performance and address known issues using AI-assisted coding tools.  He would also be able to help (if he wanted) if it were on a public Github repo.

----Tom


RE: MLCad Source Code - x64 / ARM, multithreading optimizations? - Roland Melkert - 2025-08-05

(2025-08-05, 2:05)tom alphin Wrote: I still prefer MLCad because I am extremely familiar with the XY/YZ/XZ/Preview format which I grew up with developing Quake levels as a teenager.  I know it is pretty dated software

fyi, you can configure LDCad to use a similar layout.


RE: MLCad Source Code - x64 / ARM, multithreading optimizations? - Willy Tschager - 2025-08-05

(2025-08-05, 2:05)tom alphin Wrote: I still prefer MLCad because I am extremely familiar with the XY/YZ/XZ/Preview format which I grew up

Sounds like you never tried the 4-pane view in LDCad, which does the same?

w.