QCad

Infobox_Software
name = QCad


caption = Screenshot of QCad
developer = [http://www.ribbonsoft.com RibbonSoft]
latest_release_version = 2.2.0.0 (community edition: 2.0.5.0)
latest_release_date = April 11, 2008
operating_system = Unix-like/Windows/Linux/Mac OS X
genre = CAD software
license = Non-free with limited-time free trial (professional edition) or GPL (community edition)
website = [http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html QCad Homepage]

QCad is a computer-aided design (CAD) software package for 2D design and drafting. It is available for Linux, Mac OS X, Unix and Microsoft Windows. The QCad Community Edition, which lacks functionality present in the full version [ [http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad_doc_faq.html#34 QCad FAQ 34] ] , is released under the GNU General Public License and is not (officially) available for Windows [ [http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad_doc_faq.html#35 QCad FAQ 35] ] , though unofficial builds do exist. Precompiled packages are available for some Linux platforms, such as Debian, via the distribution's package manager.

QCad is developed by RibbonSoft. Development on QCad began in October 1999, starting with code from CAM Expert. QCad 2, designed to "make QCad more productive, more user friendly, more flexible and increase its compatibility with other products" began development in May 2002.

Much of the interface and concepts behind use are the same of those of AutoCAD.

QCad uses the AutoCAD DXF file format internally and to save and import files.

Multiplatform support

QCad Professional operates on Linux, Mac OS X [10.4 (Tiger) Universal Binary for PPC and Intel, 10.3 (Panther), Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)] , UNIX (FreeBSD), Solaris for x86 and SPARC, and Windows [Vista, NT 4, Windows 98, Me, XP, 2000] . This is of importance for collaboration across a diverse computing environment.

ee also

* KAD (KDE aided design) is a version of QCad for the KDE Linux Desktop. See [http://kad.tuxfamily.org/ KAD - KDE aided design]
* A Comparison of CAD software

References

External links

* [http://www.qcad.org/ QCad Homepage]
*Screencast video tutorial: http://thecadtrain.com
*A good tutorial for QCad: http://linuxfocus.org/English/January2002/article132.shtml