Other names | CADuntu |
---|---|
Original author(s) | Ries van Twisk |
Developer(s) | Armin Stebich, Dongxu Li, Rallaz, Ravas and others |
Initial release | December 15, 2011 |
Stable release | |
Preview release | |
Repository | LibreCAD on GitHub |
Written in | C, C++, Lua |
Operating system | Windows, macOS, Unix-like, Linux, Haiku |
Platform | x86-64 |
Included with | CAELinux; UALinux: Ubuntu Education Pack |
Predecessor | QCAD CE 2.0.5 |
Size | 40 MB |
Standard(s) | ANSI/ACME, ISO 3098, ISO 7200 |
Available in | 64 languages |
Type | Computer-aided design |
License | GPL-2.0-only |
Website | librecad |
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.
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.
Around 2010, the QCAD Community Edition 2.0.5
was forked to start the development of what is now known as LibreCAD. Originally, the GUI was based on Qt3 libraries. [2] [3]
CADuntu — was the initial QCAD CE fork project name. It used for a short period of time and, after discussion with users, has been replaced by LibreCAD, to not be associated with Ubuntu and Canonical Ltd.
LibreCAD 1 main feature was porting of GUI to Qt4, so it can run on several platforms in the same way. [4] [5]
LibreCAD 2 implements Qt5 and Qt6 libraries support.
As on 2024, LibreCAD development split into 3 branches:
2.2.0.x
— actual LTS release with bug fixes updates;2.2.1_rc
— release candidate for the next release, with new features and code cleanup;2.2.2_alpha
— alpha version of the future release, with many new experimental feature, not for regular use yet.LibreCAD 3 — is an experimental fully rewritten from scratch LibreCAD version, designed to be GPLv3 compatible with LibreDWG, with Lua-scripting, Ribbon UI.
Development mostly done during 2018–2023 GSoC sessions, in the collaboration with BRL-CAD team.
Latest commits and test builds built in September 2023, and since development stalled. LibreCAD team is actually frozen this project, and are focusing on LibreCAD 2 and libdxfrw
library development.
Data taken from official website, project pages on Sourceforge and GitHub
LibreCAD is available in over 60 languages. [6]
It uses the AutoCAD DXF file format internally for import and save files, as well as allowing export to many other file formats.
As of version 2.2.0, LibreCAD is capable of reading and writing the following file formats:
Open File or Import Block
Import Image
Save File
Export
Due to the GNU LibreDWG library is released under GPLv3, it cannot be used by GPLv2-licensed LibreCAD (and FreeCAD) [7] [8] because their licenses are incompatible. [9] A request also went to the FSF to relicense GNU LibreDWG as GPLv2, which was rejected. [10] The problem was eventually resolved by writing a new GPLv2-licensed library called libdxfrw, [11] with more complete DWG support, which is now also used in other software (e.g., in SolveSpace, that is also uses LibreCAD's unicode.lff
font as built-in default font for UI and dimensions labels).
Due to copyright issues with QCAD CE's fonts in CXF format, initially used in LibreCAD, it was decided to create own font format.
LibreCAD Font Format — is a plain text file fomat (with *.lff
file extension) for single stroke vector fonts. [12]
There is a way to edit LFF fonts directly in LibreCAD or create fonts from fonts in other formats. Converters to LFF format are designed for the next formats:
LibreCAD Font Format adopted in SolveSpace CAD, and LibrePCB software designed FontoBene (*.bene
) font format for PCB, which is derived from LFF. [12]
LibreCAD is in use in many countries for education purposes at schools and universities, in production at firms and factories for design and manufacturing various items, architecture design, garden and landscape design, etc. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
In some countries LibreCAD, thanks to free licensing, is used for decreasing budget expences on software licensing by replacing commercial CAD at state and governmental organizations, public schools, etc. Also, LibreCAD is chosen in cases where there is no reachable official dealers of commercial software, or all available commercial CAD solutions are too expensive.
In some countries LibreCAD used to avoid international sanctions, for example in Russia it used to avoid international sanctions implemented for the invasion of Ukraine. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
LibreCAD has been included into CAELinux distribution, targeting engineers and makers. [29] [30]
In 2011, for the e-LIFE education project, organized by European Commission for disabled people, there was a manual book provided with few chapters on learning LibreCAD and other free CAD, [31] which has been translated into Greek, Spanish, Slovak, Turkish and Romanian. [32]
Since 1990s, most of the Ukrainian schools, universities and factories has been used licensed Russian CAD KOMPAS, [33] that is designed for GOST standards, but after the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War since 2014, and after sanctions on Russian software has been implemented by the President of Ukraine since 2017, [34] Ukrainian users are switching from KOMPAS to other CAD, including LibreCAD. [35] [36]
During 2016—2019, in Ukraine there was reviewed and declined use of GOST standards, that is the base of the Unified System for Design Documentation, and since then most of GOST standards was replaced by State Standards of Ukraine and by adopted ISO standards, [37] [38] [39] which LibreCAD is adapted for.
At educational institutions of Ukraine LibreCAD often used in such courses like Geometry, Descriptive geometry, Technical drawing, Graphic design, Engineering graphics, Informatics, Mechanics, Analytical mechanics, Design and Technology, Materials science, Woodworking, Metalworking, Automation, etc. [14] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49]
Since 2019, LibreCAD is included in the list of permitted software to install on computers at departments of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine as the only CAD software permitted to use, according to SESU Head's Order №425 (Appendix 1, p.2), signed on 19 July 2019. [50] [51]
Ukrainian scientists, researchers, design bureaus, freelancers, and single and small manufactures use LibreCAD. [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57]
LibreCAD has been included into educational edition of the Ukrainian Linux distribution for schools UALinux: Ubuntu Education Pack . [58] [59]
In 2021, LibreCAD has been used for student research works challenge CELERE (Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory Research Experiments) organized by NASA for the collecting and choosing experiments on research into capillary action to be tested in low gravity conditions on ISS. [60] For the participants there was a handbook on LibreCAD use has been created and provided by employees of NASA Glenn Research Center. [61]
AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software application developed by Autodesk. It was first released in December 1982 for the CP/M and IBM PC platforms as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers. Initially a DOS application, subsequent versions were later released for other platforms including Classic Mac OS (1992), Microsoft Windows (1993) and macOS (2010), iOS (2010), and Android (2011).
AutoCAD DXF is a CAD data file format developed by Autodesk for enabling data interoperability between AutoCAD on different platforms.
DWG is a proprietary binary file format used for storing two- and three- dimensional design data and metadata. It is the native format for several CAD packages including DraftSight, AutoCAD, ZWCAD, IntelliCAD, Caddie and Open Design Alliance compliant applications. In addition, DWG is supported non-natively by many other CAD applications. The .bak, .dws, .dwt and .sv$ files are also DWG files.
QCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software application for 2D design and drafting. It is available for Linux, Apple macOS, Unix and Microsoft Windows. The QCAD GUI is based on the Qt framework.
AutoSketch is a 2D vector drawing program by Autodesk. It is less powerful than Autodesk's AutoCAD and does not support 3D models.
Rhinoceros is a commercial 3D computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD) application software that was developed by TLM, Inc, dba Robert McNeel & Associates, an American, privately held, and employee-owned company that was founded in 1978. Rhinoceros geometry is based on the NURBS mathematical model, which focuses on producing mathematically precise representation of curves and freeform surfaces in computer graphics.
SketchUp is 3D modeling software that is used to create and manipulate 3D models. It is used in architecture and interior design.
Open Design Alliance is a nonprofit organization creating software development kits (SDKs) for engineering applications. ODA offers interoperability tools for CAD, BIM, and Mechanical industries including .dwg, .dxf, .dgn, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, and .ifc files and additional tools for visualization, web development, 3D PDF publishing and modeling.
The table below provides an overview of notable computer-aided design (CAD) software. It does not judge power, ease of use, or other user-experience aspects. The table does not include software that is still in development. For all-purpose 3D programs, see Comparison of 3D computer graphics software. CAD refers to a specific type of drawing and modelling software application that is used for creating designs and technical drawings. These can be 3D drawings or 2D drawings.
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Richard Stallman on October 4, 1985. The organisation supports the free software movement, with the organization's preference for software being distributed under copyleft terms, such as with its own GNU General Public License. The FSF was incorporated in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, where it is also based.
FreeCAD is a general-purpose parametric 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modeler and a building information modeling (BIM) software application with finite element method (FEM) support. It is intended for mechanical engineering product design but also expands to a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or electrical engineering. FreeCAD is free and open-source, under the LGPL-2.0-or-later license, and available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. Users can extend the functionality of the software using the Python programming language.
SprutCAM X is a high-level Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software that provides off-line features for programming of various CNC machines used for cutting, wire electrical discharge (EDM), 2, 3, and multi axial machining.
TranslateCAD is a tool for computer-aided translation software, designed to extract translatable text from CAD drawings saved in the industry-standard DXF format - regardless of the CAD software used to create such drawings - so that professional translators are able to translate in plain text using a number of CAT tools available.
GstarCAD is a CAD software platform, using the Open Design Alliance DWG libraries to read and write the DWG file format made popular by the AutoCAD CAD package.
AGi32 is a simulation tool used for designing lighting projects and calculating the amount of light that will be delivered based on user-set parameters. The resulting calculations are commonly referred to as lighting layouts or point-by-points. AGi32 can calculate the amount of light that will be delivered in any kind of design, interior or exterior, and incorporate surrounding objects, obstructions, and varying shapes like vaulted ceilings or rooms in non-linear shapes. It aids lighting designers, engineers, and electrical contractors in the evaluation of lighting designs for projects before they are built.
Digital Geometric Kernel, is a software development framework and a set of components for enabling 3D/CAD functionality in Windows applications, developed by DInsight.
Alibre Design is a 3D parametric computer aided design software suite developed by Alibre for Microsoft Windows. Available in fifteen languages. Alibre is a brand of Alibre, LLC, a company based in Texas.
SolveSpace is a free and open-source 2D/3D constraint-based parametric computer-aided design (CAD) software that supports basic 2D and 3D constructive solid geometry modeling.
Landscape Express is a CAD software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It is used primarily by landscape designers. The software is developed, sold and supported by the British company 'Trial Systems Ltd' based in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. The software was first released in 2012, developed by Peter Boyce and Steven Pearce in conjunction with Anton Heymann. The software is based on the Drawing Express CAD system which utilizes tablet and pen interface. A graphics tablet, pen and overlay are used to select, use and manipulate commands thus mimicking the draughtsman's drawing board. This differs from the traditional CAD software ‘drop-down’ menu structures on-screen as the menu system is laid out in front of the user. The method of drawing in this way is aimed at being intuitive allowing the user to create and amend drawings as quickly as possible.
GNU LibreDWG is a software library programmed in C to manage DWG computer files, native proprietary format of computer-aided design software AutoCAD. It aims to be a free software replacement for the OpenDWG libraries. The project is managed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
[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."
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.
[...]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."
Студенти знають сучасні програми для моделювання та програмування PowerShape, PowerMILL, FeatureCAM, ArtCAM, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, LaserGRBL, LaserCAD, VectricAspire та інші.
Безушко О.А., викладач ВПУ № 29 смт Володимирець, ознайомив присутніх з досвідом використання системи автоматизованого проектування LibreCAD при вивченні предмету "Інформаційні технології" та представив розроблений ним навчальний посібник "Основи роботи в LibreCAD".
Робота з кресленнями: LibreCAD.
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(help)Students create their own experiments using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) with a provided template and tutorial for the freely downloaded version of LibreCAD Software
It is strongly recommended that you go through all of this tutorial's steps at least once, especially if you are not familiar with LibreCAD!