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LibreCAD

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Developer(s)LibreCAD community
Initial release15 December 2011;
12 years ago (2011-12-15)
Stable release
2.2.0.2[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 29 July 2023 (29 July 2023)
Repository
Written inC, C++, Lua
Operating systemWindows, macOS, Unix-like, Linux
TypeComputer-aided design
LicenseGPL-2.0-only
Websitelibrecad.org Edit this on Wikidata

LibreCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) application for 2D design. It is free and open-source, and available for Unix/Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems.[2][3]

Most of the interface and handle concepts are analogous to AutoCAD, making it easier to use for users with experience in this type of commercial CAD application.

History

Around 2010, the QCAD Community Edition v2.0.5.0 was forked to start the development of what is now known as LibreCAD. Originally, the GUI was based on Qt3 libraries.

LibreCAD relies on a GUI based on Qt5 libraries, so it can run on several platforms in the same way.[4][5]

The GNU LibreDWG library is released under GPLv3, so it cannot be used by GPLv2-licensed LibreCAD (and FreeCAD)[6][7] because their licenses are incompatible.[8] A request also went to the FSF to relicense GNU LibreDWG as GPLv2, which was rejected.[9] The problem was eventually resolved by writing a new GPLv2-licensed library called libdxfrw,[10] with more complete DWG support.

Features

LibreCAD is available in over 30 languages. It uses the AutoCAD DXF file format internally for import and save files, as well as allowing export to many other file formats.

File formats

As of version 2.2.0, LibreCAD is capable of reading and writing the following file formats:

Open File or Import Block

  • CAD: DXF, DWG, JWW
  • CAD font: LFF, CXF

Import Image

Save File

  • CAD: DXF (2007), DXF (2004), DXF (2000), DXF (R14), DXF (R12)
  • CAD font: LFF, CXF

Export

  • PDF
  • Vector image: SVG, CAM (Plain SVG)
  • Bitmap image: BMP, CUR, ICNS, ICO, JPG, PBM, PGM, PNG, PPM, TIF, WBMP, WEBP, XBM, XPM

See also

References

  1. ^ "Release 2.2.0.2". 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ "LibreCAD the only major free Computer Aided Design program". Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  3. ^ Dube, Ryan (2 March 2012). "6 Tips To Get The Most Out of LibreCAD Free CAD Software". Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  4. ^ Wallen, Jack (27 January 2012). "DIY: LibreCAD offers basic CAD tools for free". Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Review about Linux LibreCAD and Linux Inkscape". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  6. ^ Prokoudine, Alexandre (26 January 2012). "What's up with DWG adoption in free software?". libregraphicsworld.org. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2013. [Assimp's Alexander Gessler:] "Personally, I'm extremely unhappy with their [LibreDWG's — LGW] GPL licensing. It prohibits its use in Assimp and for many other applications as well. I don't like dogmatic ideologies, and freeing software by force (as GPL/GNU does) is something I dislike in particular. It's fine for applications, because it doesn't hurt at this point, but, in my opinion, not for libraries that are designed to be used as freely as possible." [Blender's Toni Roosendaal:] "Blender is also still "GPLv2 or later". For the time being we stick to that, moving to GPL 3 has no evident benefits I know of. My advice for LibreDWG: if you make a library, choosing a widely compatible license (MIT, BSD, or LGPL) is a very positive choice."
  7. ^ Larabel, Michael (2013-01-24). "FSF Wastes Away Another "High Priority" Project". Phoronix. Archived from the original on 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2013-08-22. Both LibreCAD and FreeCAD both want to use LibreDWG and have patches available for supporting the DWG file format library, but can't integrate them. The programs have dependencies on the popular GPLv2 license while the Free Software Foundation will only let LibreDWG be licensed for GPLv3 use, not GPLv2.
  8. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses – Is GPLv3 compatible with GPLv2?". The official site. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  9. ^ Prokoudine, Alexandre (2012-12-27). "LibreDWG drama: the end or the new beginning?". libregraphicsworld.org. Archived from the original on 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2013-08-23. [...]the unfortunate situation with support for DWG files in free CAD software via LibreDWG. We feel, by now it ought to be closed. We have the final answer from FSF. [...] "We are not going to change the license."
  10. ^ "libdxfrw". sourceforge.net.
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