Open Source CAD Software for Mac, Linux and Windows, AutoCAD Alternatives

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AutoDesk AutoCAD is the most used computer aided design (CAD) software in the market, not only AutoCAD is most popular CAD software in the building construction, it is by far the most expensive and rich in features. In short, it is the most powerful CAD software in the market, to an extend it is over-powerful, how many times do we actually use all of the features in AutoCAD?

Archimedes – Windows, Linux, Mac and Java

Archimedes is a computer aided design (CAD) software focusing on the architectural industry users. Unlike AutoCAD, Archimedes is relatively new software and may not be mature enough for experience user. However, the software has all the needed tools for beginners like students.

It already has many of the most common and advance drawing features you will find in a commercial CAD solution. However, the only drawback is it’s interoperability with other CAD software. Visit the Archimedes official website and download the free software.

Open Source AutoDesk AutoCAD Alternatives for Mac, Linux and Windows

QCad Community Edition – Linux and Unix

QCad Community Edition is an open source edition of RibbonSoft’s CAD system. Unlike AutoCAD, QCad is a 2D CAD application with the aims at providing a free simple CAD tool for everyone minus the price tag. QCad may not be the ideal solution for heavy user because it lacks many features that can be found in other free alternative CAD software, this is probably intentionally done to protect the QCad Professional Edition that is jammed packed with features. Visit RibbonSoft’s QCad website. Look for the QCad Community Edition!

Open Source AutoDesk AutoCAD Alternatives for Mac, Linux and Windows

BRL-CAD – Windows, Mac, Linux and Unix

BRL-CAD is an open source cad systems based around constructive solid geometry (csg) modeling. This is perhaps the most powerful AutoCAD alternative. BRL-CAD offers parallel ray-tracing, path-tracing, image and signal processing tools.

What amazed me is the ability to distribute the ray-tracing process over a vast network of computers, this can only be found in the original version of most CAD software, another reason for those using pirated edition to switch over to the open source camp! BRL-CAD official website!

Open Source AutoDesk AutoCAD Alternatives for Mac, Linux and Windows

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Author: . This entry is filed under Reviews and was updated on May 19, 2012.

 




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Citations And Footnotes:


  • ^ Architecture - Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.
  • ^ Architect - An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.
  • ^ Pritzker Architecture Prize - The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honour "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture".
  • ^ - Le Corbusier, Towards a New Architecture, Dover Publications(1985). ISBN 0-486-25023-7
  • ^ - Rondanini, Nunzia Architecture and Social Change Heresies II, Vol. 3, No.

Comments:


  1. Andrés
    1

    http://www.bitacoravirtual.cl/2006/12/21/programas-gratuitos-para-dibujo-cad-final/

    Bye.

  2. CAD Solutions
    2

    These days, Computer aided design (CAD) software focuses more on the architectural industry users. Unlike AutoCAD, this is relatively new software and may not be mature enough for experience user.

  3. Nicholas Seward
    3

    Too, bad these are not mature yet. Hopefully the day that open source 3D and 2D CAD overtake commercial CAD is near.

  4. Shane
    4

    Who needs a thing like QCAD or BRL-CAD, when you get freeware like DraftSight, DoubleCAD XT, Medusa4 Personal and Google Sketchup?

    BRL-CAD has no GUI, only command line, and QCAD is no competition for the likes of DoubleCAD XT.

  5. Jodie
    5

    @^^ Some of those only work on Windows…

miragestudio7 admin
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