Cab-Club: Multiply the force, don’t replace the hand.
For schedulers, site managers, project owners and design teams who run construction projects.
„For those who run projects”
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22 selected projects, 3 articles and 9 tips · 1 article a month · 1 tip every 15 days
The club notebook
Cabestian selection: free tools, updated within the last year, useful on a construction project. Some also have a paid offer; the free version is enough to start. Check the licence on the project page.
Before installing anything, you can test several of them straight on the web: projects marked “Try it online” have a public demo site, nothing to install. Never put real site documents on a demo: it is open to everyone. A Cabestian test bench, to try out safely the projects that have none, is under study.
How to download and install a tool?
Click “Download”: you land on the project’s official site. Never download the same software from another site.
Pick the file for your computer: “.exe” or “.msi” for Windows, “.dmg” for Mac (“silicon” for Apple chips, “intel” for older Macs), “.deb” for Linux.
Open the downloaded file and follow the installation. On a company computer you often need your IT department’s approval. If Windows or the Mac shows a warning, first check that you came from the official site.
Tools “on a server” do not install on your own computer: your IT department or a provider sets them up. Start with the online trial when there is one.
OpenProject
Project scheduling
Schedule, tasks and progress tracking in Gantt charts. Not a full MS Project equivalent: try it on a pilot project first.
Replaces: MS Project, Primavera P6
On a serverLicense: GPL-3.016.4 k ★
Latest release v17.9.1 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Several features useful on a project are reserved for the paid Enterprise edition: resource management, portfolio management, team planner, single sign-on (SSO). source
Baseline schedule comparison is limited in the Community edition: only comparison with the previous day is free. source
Gantt PDF export is an Enterprise edition option; in Community, you have to use the browser's print function. source
Self-hosted installation requires a server to administer; the Cloud edition is hosted by the vendor for a subscription. source
Tips
Create dependency links (predecessor / successor) directly in the Gantt chart with a right-click: a successor cannot start before its predecessor finishes, and moving a predecessor moves the linked tasks. source
Mark milestones (handover, snagging list clearance) with work packages of the milestone type, shown as a diamond, so you can read them at a glance. source
Save your Gantt views as favourites (private or shared) for each project, to get the same filter back at every site meeting. source
Publisher
Developed by OpenProject GmbH (Germany). The Community edition is free; Enterprise subscriptions and cloud hosting fund development. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
The vendor states that GanttProject does not reproduce all the high-end features of MS Project. source
Desktop application that works offline; teamwork goes through WebDAV or through the optional commercial service GanttProject Cloud (pay as you go). source
Reads MS Project MPX, MPP and XML/MSPDI files, but exports only to XML/MSPDI. source
The stable version remains 3.3 (released in January 2024, last updated on 30 January 2025); a 3.4 exists only as a beta (September 2026). source
Tips
To exchange files with a site manager who uses MS Project, import their MPP or XML file rather than re-entering the schedule, then send back an XML/MSPDI file. source
The application handles milestones, dependencies and baselines, and exports to PDF, HTML and PNG. source
Publisher
BarD Software s.r.o, a company founded in 2012 in Prague (Czech Republic). GanttProject is free and open source (GPL v3); the company also earns revenue from other products (Papeeria) and from the pay-as-you-go GanttProject Cloud service; you can also pay voluntarily for the download. source
Windows: .exe file. Mac: .dmg file, “silicon” (Apple chips) or “intel” (older Macs). On Mac, Java is already included.
A shared document space you host yourself: files, sharing, calendar.
Replaces: SharePoint, Box, Dropbox
On a serverLicense: AGPL-3.037.1 k ★
Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Online document editing requires a separate office server (Nextcloud Office or Collabora Online), installed in addition. source
SQLite is acceptable for testing only: in production you need PostgreSQL or MariaDB, and a server to maintain. source
Tips
Switch background jobs to system Cron mode: this is the method recommended by the documentation, otherwise the jobs depend on users visiting the site. source
Publisher
Developed by Nextcloud GmbH (Germany): AGPL open source core, Enterprise subscriptions to fund development. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
Sync and share large volumes of files between teams, very fast.
Replaces: SharePoint, Dropbox
On a serverLicense: AGPL-3.015.3 k ★
Latest release 13.0.28 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Audit logs (logins, file access, modifications, permission changes) are reserved for the Professional edition. source
The manual marks as Professional: cluster, SAML 2.0, antivirus, advanced user management (multi-institution, roles, multi-tenancy) and the LDAP integration of the Pro version. The Community edition has basic LDAP, OAuth and Shibboleth. source
Tips
Organise your documents by library: each one synchronises separately and can be encrypted with a password chosen by the user. source
The manual installs Seafile Community with Docker, using the seafile-mc 13.0 image: start from this method. source
Publisher
Seafile Ltd (China, Beijing office) and SeaCloud Labs Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), a team split between Singapore and China with partners in Europe. Model: free open source Community edition, paid Professional edition priced per user, Plus cloud offer. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
Edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents together in the browser.
Replaces: Google Docs, Office 365
On a serverLicense: AGPL-3.07 k ★
Latest release v10.0.0 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
The Community edition is licensed under AGPL v3 and has no clustering; the Enterprise and Developer editions are proprietary and offer it. source
The repository recommends Community for up to 20 users. This is a recommendation, not a stated technical limit. source
Document Server is an editing engine: it is used with ONLYOFFICE DocSpace, Workspace or a third-party file-sharing solution. source
Tips
Install it with the Docker image, the method presented as the simplest. source
Connect it to Nextcloud with a connector: the website announces more than 50 ready-to-use connectors. source
Publisher
Ascensio System SIA, a company registered in Riga (Latvia); holding company ONLYOFFICE Capital Group Pte. Ltd. registered in Singapore. Community is free under AGPL; Enterprise and Developer are paid proprietary editions. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
A team messenger hosted at your place, like Slack or Teams. Rougher to get used to.
Replaces: Slack, Teams
On a serverLicense: MIT / AGPL-3.039.3 k ★
Latest release v11.11.1 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Free offer (Entry edition, installed by default without a licence): history limited to 10,000 channel messages across the whole server; older ones stay in the database but are no longer visible or searchable. source
Entry has no compliance features (exports, legal hold, retention), no high availability, no delegated administration roles, and support is community-only. source
Other announced Entry limits: 1000 board cards, 5 playbook runs per month, 250 agent requests per month, 40-minute calls. They will apply in a future version. source
Entry suits teams of fewer than 50 users; beyond that, the vendor advises a paid subscription. source
Professional and Enterprise subscriptions are annual and priced per seat; exceeding the number of activated users is settled by buying additional seats quarterly. source
Mattermost runs as a single Linux binary and relies on PostgreSQL. source
Tips
Before installing, follow the deployment guide: prepare the database, file storage, NGINX proxy and TLS, and decide whether you need high availability. source
A compiled version under the MIT licence is released every month, on the 16th: plan your updates on that schedule. source
A team of fewer than 250 users with no need for SSO can also look at Team Edition, free under the MIT licence. source
Publisher
Mattermost, Inc., a US company based in Palo Alto (California). Model: open core, free Entry edition, annual Professional, Enterprise and Enterprise Advanced subscriptions per seat. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
Encrypted messaging that also works between different companies (Matrix network).
Replaces: Slack, Teams, WhatsApp
On a serverLicense: AGPL-3.013.6 k ★
Latest release v1.12.30 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Synapse requires a server name chosen before installation, which cannot be changed afterwards. source
Synapse with SQLite is accepted for testing only; PostgreSQL is required in production, with a reverse proxy, SMTP and a TURN server for voice. source
Tips
To communicate with other companies, check federation: correct DNS and access to the other Matrix servers. source
Configure SMTP before opening the service, so that invitations and password resets work. source
Publisher
Developed by Element Creations Limited (formerly New Vector Ltd), United Kingdom, with subsidiaries in Germany, France and the United States. Model: SaaS subscriptions and Enterprise licences; open source core. source
Video meetings with no account to create: send a link, join.
Replaces: Zoom, Google Meet, Webex
On a serverLicense: Apache-2.030.1 k ★
Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
The public instance meet.jit.si requires a Google, Facebook or GitHub account to host a meeting. source
Self-hosting requires a domain name, open ports (443 TCP, 10000 UDP) and a valid TLS certificate; a self-signed certificate prevents the mobile apps from connecting. source
Tips
If participants cannot hear or see each other, check the firewall and NAT first (UDP 10000), as the documentation advises. source
For on-demand use, Android and iOS apps exist: the guest joins with a simple link. source
Publisher
Technology owned and maintained by 8x8, Inc. (United States), with an open source community. Model: free software and a paid managed service, JaaS. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
Video built for training and long meetings, with whiteboard and breakout rooms.
Replaces: Zoom, Webex
On a serverLicense: LGPL-3.09.2 k ★
Latest release v3.0.39 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
A dedicated, clean server running 64-bit Ubuntu 22.04, with at least 16 GB of memory, 8 cores and 250 Mbit/s symmetric bandwidth. source
Designed for online teaching, but the vendor says it can be used for other purposes. source
A domain name and a valid SSL certificate are required, otherwise browsers refuse access to the camera and microphone. source
Tips
For long coordination meetings, use breakout rooms and shared notes. source
To manage rooms, use Greenlight, the default interface described in the documentation. source
Installation is done with the bbb-install script on Ubuntu 22.04 (version 3.0). source
Publisher
BigBlueButton Inc., a company based in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada); free software under LGPL-3.0, born in 2007 at Carleton University. The website points to commercial hosting and support; the company's business model is not detailed. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
Record, transcribe and summarise your meetings on your computer. The audio never goes online.
Replaces: Otter, Fireflies
On your computerLicense: MIT31.6 k ★
Latest release v0.4.1 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Young project: versions are 0.x, the latest being 0.4.1 from September 2026. source
Speaker identification, PDF, DOCX and Markdown export, and custom summary templates are reserved for the paid Pro offer; the Community edition has only one default summary template. source
On Windows, the installer requires an x64 processor compatible with AVX2. source
On Linux, there is no installer: you must build the application from source (the native Linux application is under development). source
Tips
To keep everything on the computer, keep summaries local with Ollama: with an external API key, the transcript text (never the audio) goes to the provider. source
On macOS, Metal and CoreML acceleration is enabled automatically. source
Publisher
Zackriya Solutions, an AI automation agency based in Bengaluru (India) according to its website zackriya.com. Model: free MIT Community edition, paid Pro and Enterprise plans. source
Download the file for your system (Windows, Mac or Linux), open it and follow the installation.
Dictate text anywhere on your computer, without going online.
On your computerLicense: MIT33.5 k ★
Latest release v0.9.8 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Two model families: Whisper (Small, Medium, Turbo, Large) takes advantage of a GPU when there is one; Parakeet V3 is designed for the processor. source
On macOS, shortcuts using the fn key work only with an Apple keyboard, and a Bluetooth headset microphone can degrade playback during recording. source
On Linux, reliable text insertion requires xdotool (X11) or wtype (Wayland); without them Handy falls back to a less compatible method, especially on Wayland, where support is limited. source
Tips
Set the shortcut: either hold the key to speak, or toggle (press to start, press to stop) to dictate for a long time; hold-only and toggle-only modes exist. source
Installation: the downloaded package is enough; Homebrew (macOS) and winget (Windows) exist but are not maintained by the Handy team; on Debian and Ubuntu, install the .deb with apt. source
Publisher
Free project under the MIT licence, published by an individual developer (no organisation or company shown); funded by sponsorships and donations. Country not stated. source
Download the file for your system (Windows, Mac or Linux), open it and follow the installation.
Take notes that link to each other, kept on your computer.
Replaces: Notion, Confluence
On your computerLicense: AGPL-3.045.2 k ★
Latest release 2.0.2 (bêta, version DB) · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
The database (DB) version is in beta: data loss is possible, and the repository recommends automatic or regular backups of the SQLite database. source
Real-time collaboration (RTC) and the new mobile application are in alpha. source
Two lines coexist: the file-based version (Markdown and Org-mode, 0.10 series, latest 0.10.15 in December 2025) and the DB version (2.0 series, beta, latest 2.0.2 in October 2026). source
Tips
Try a dedicated test graph first, on a project that is not critical, before moving a real project into it. source
Set up automatic backups or regular exports of the SQLite database. source
Publisher
Logseq, an open source project under the AGPL-3.0 licence run by a company created around 2021, which raised 4.1 million dollars in seed funding in 2022; the project also receives donations via Open Collective. Country not established by the sources read. source
Download the file for your system (Windows, Mac or Linux), open it and follow the installation.
Run an AI assistant on your own computer: no subscription, your data stays with you.
Replaces: Paid online AI services
On your computerLicense: MIT182.7 k ★
Latest release v0.40.3 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
The default context length depends on video memory: 4k below 24 GiB of VRAM, 32k from 24 to 48 GiB, 256k above. On a standard workstation, 4k remains too short for long documents without adjustment (OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH). source
Ollama listens locally (127.0.0.1, port 11434) by default; opening it to the network with OLLAMA_HOST is your responsibility. source
A model stays loaded in memory for 5 minutes after use by default; models are large and quality depends on the model chosen. source
Tips
Start with « ollama run <model> » using a model from the official library. source
For long documents, increase the context length before starting: OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH=8192 ollama serve. source
To keep a model in memory longer or release it immediately, set keep_alive (or OLLAMA_KEEP_ALIVE); « ollama stop » unloads a model. source
In local use, Ollama sees neither your prompts nor your answers; only models hosted in Ollama's cloud process your data. source
Publisher
Ollama Inc., a company whose terms are governed by the law of the State of California (arbitration in San Francisco). Free local software under the MIT licence; paid cloud services as a complement. source
Download the file for your system (Windows, Mac or Linux), open it and follow the installation.
The engine that runs these AI assistants on an ordinary computer. For people comfortable with technical tools.
For technical staffLicense: MIT130.8 k ★
Latest release v0.6.0 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Technical tool: it is used from the command line (llama cli, llama serve), but the server includes a simple web interface. source
Models must be in GGUF format; a supplied script converts a model to GGUF and a tool quantises it. source
Performance depends on the hardware and the engine chosen: Metal (Apple Silicon), CUDA (Nvidia), Vulkan, SYCL, or the processor alone. source
Tips
Run « llama serve » to get an OpenAI-compatible API server on your machine. source
A more compact quantisation (from 1.5 to 8 bits) reduces memory use, with possible loss of accuracy; hybrid processor and GPU mode partly speeds up a model larger than the video memory. source
Publisher
ggml-org, a GitHub organisation that maintains llama.cpp and the ggml library (MIT). It relies on the company ggml.ai, founded in 2023 and, according to its website, acquired by Hugging Face in 2026. Country not stated. source
For technical staff only: ask a colleague or your IT department to install it.
Read and edit digital model files (IFC format). Mostly for technical teams.
For technical staffLicense: LGPL-3.02.8 k ★
Latest release 0.9.0 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Library for developers (C++ and Python API, command-line tools); for non-developers, the graphical interface is Bonsai, a Blender add-on. source
The "alpha" Bonsai releases in the repository are daily development builds. The library has one stable version: 0.9.0 (September to October 2026), announced as the last step before 1.0. source
Development is funded by donations; the project remains dependent on this community funding. source
Tips
Install the Python library with pip to read and query an IFC file. source
IfcConvert converts an IFC file to other formats from the command line; IfcClash detects clashes and IfcDiff compares two models. source
Publisher
Open source community project (library under LGPL-3.0, Bonsai under GPL-3.0), funded by donations through an Open Collective whose fiscal host is Open Source Collective. No publishing company or country identified. source
For technical staff only: ask a colleague or your IT department to install it.
A server to share and check digital models between the people on a project.
On a serverLicense: AGPL-3.01.8 k ★
Latest release v1.5.188 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
Server designed for developers: it is not a file server but an IFC database with model checking, versions, project structure and merging. source
Written mostly in Java (98.6% of the code according to GitHub); AGPL v3 licence, with plugins and libraries under other licences. source
Latest version published: 1.5.188 of 31 July 2025; the repository received changes afterwards (last push in March 2026) without a new release. source
Tips
Load IFC models by project to benefit from version tracking and model merging. source
Rely on the repository's wiki and tickets for implementation. source
Publisher
Open source community "opensourceBIM" (GitHub organisation), behind the BIMserver.org website; copyright "by the contributors". No company, country or business model indicated. source
For technical staff only: ask a colleague or your IT department to install it.
Read and make maps: plots, networks, site surveys.
On your computerLicense: GPL-2.014.5 k ★
Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
General-purpose GIS software: long learning curve, not dedicated to construction site management. source
Two branches coexist: the current version and the long-term release (LTR), to be chosen according to your need for stability. source
No single vendor: support comes from communities and service providers. source
Tips
Start by setting the project's coordinate system before adding layers. source
Save the project (.qgz), export the map as an image with scale and north arrow. source
Publisher
Public project QGIS.org, attached to OSGeo, owned by its contributors. Funded by donations, sponsoring members and companies. GPL-2.0 or later licence. source
Download the file for your system (Windows, Mac or Linux), open it and follow the installation.
Follow your contacts, tenders and sales reminders.
Replaces: Salesforce, HubSpot
On a serverLicense: AGPL-3.03.5 k ★
Latest release 10.0.9 · · Repository activity
Limits, tips and publisher
Limits
The official extensions are largely sold separately (Advanced Pack, Sales Pack, project management with Gantt, etc.); only some are free (MCP, real estate). The cloud offers include the Advanced Pack. source
Self-hosted: PHP 8.3 to 8.5, and MySQL 8.0, MariaDB 10.6 or PostgreSQL 15 at minimum. source
Installation also requires setting file permissions and configuring a scheduled task (cron). source
The paid cloud requires a minimum of 3 users (Basic) or 5 (Enterprise). source
Tips
Follow the recommended file permissions: 755 for folders, 644 for files, 775 for the data folder; accept the cron configuration proposed by the wizard. source
Installation is possible by script or with Docker, in addition to manual installation. source
Publisher
EspoCRM, Inc., a company under US law (Delaware). Free edition under AGPL-3.0; paid cloud priced per user per month (several plans); extensions sold separately. source
Installs on a server: leave it to your IT department or a provider.
★: number of people who bookmarked the project on GitHub. Figures taken from GitHub on 11 Oct 2026.
One tip, two or three sentences, the source underneath.
Transcribe without the cloudMeetily transcribes and summarises locally. No audio file leaves the machine. One of the entry points the note mentions, with little friction.Local AISource : Running AI on the site’s own machine
Test it in a dead zoneAn AI that depends on a cloud API does not hold up on a poorly connected site. Check that it works offline before you roll it out.Local AISource : Running AI on the site’s own machine
Have something watch the flowsA domain agent can read mails, schedules and orders continuously and alert you when something needs a decision. The note puts it third, the most ambitious entry point.MailSource : Running AI on the site’s own machine
Don’t migrate everything at onceThe classic trap is replacing everything at once. The note suggests a sequence: transcription, messaging, documents, scheduling, then local AI.StackSource : An open source stack to run a construction project
A capstan is a vertical winch that several people drive together, through horizontal bars. It combines their efforts to multiply force and lift loads of several tonnes. It is not a substitute for the hand: it is one more lever.
Cabestian is what multiplies the force of the teams that run a construction project. Several people push together. The tool, the AI, adds one more lever.
Collective forceThe team pulling together is the site team.
MultiplicationA small human effort, a large result.
Stable pivotThe fixed point the work is organised around.
Proven toolA centuries-old instrument, not a fashion.
UniversalBeyond one language or one trade.
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