LibreCAD

Free and open-source 2D CAD software
LibreCAD
LibreCAD icon
LibreCAD 2.2.2 screenshot
Other namesCADuntu
Original author(s)Ries van Twisk
Developer(s)Armin Stebich, Dongxu Li, Rallaz, Ravas and others
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)
Preview release
2.2.0-rc1[2] Edit this on Wikidata
2.2.2_alpha
RepositoryLibreCAD on GitHub
Written inC, C++, Lua
Operating systemWindows, macOS, Unix-like, Linux, Haiku
Platformx86-64
Included withCAELinux;
UALinux: Ubuntu Education Pack
PredecessorQCAD CE 2.0.5
Size40 MB
Standard(s)ANSI/ACME, ISO 3098, ISO 7200
Available in64 languages
TypeComputer-aided design
LicenseGPL-2.0-only
Websitelibrecad.org

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.

History

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.[3][4]

CADuntu

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 It used for a short period of time and, after discussion with users, has been replaced by LibreCAD, to not be associated with Ubuntu and Canonical.

LibreCAD Welcome screen

LibreCAD 1

LibreCAD 1 main feature was porting of GUI to Qt4, so it can run on several platforms in the same way.[5][6]

LibreCAD 2

LibreCAD 2 with AEC drawing

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

LibreCAD 3 test build screen

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.

Version history

Data taken from official website, project pages on Sourceforge and GitHub

Features

LibreCAD is available in over 60 languages.[7]

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

Import Image

Save File

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

Export

  • PDF (or sent drawing to printer for direct print)
  • Vector image: SVG, CAM (Plain SVG)
  • Bitmap image: BMP, CUR, ICNS, ICO, JPG, PBM, PGM, PNG, PPM, TIF, WBMP, WEBP, XBM, XPM

libdxfrw

Due to the GNU LibreDWG library is released under GPLv3, it cannot be used by GPLv2-licensed LibreCAD (and FreeCAD)[8][9] because their licenses are incompatible.[10] A request also went to the FSF to relicense GNU LibreDWG as GPLv2, which was rejected.[11] The problem was eventually resolved by writing a new GPLv2-licensed library called libdxfrw,[12] 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).

LFF (LibreCAD Font Format)

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.[13]

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:

  • TTF (TrueType fonts) — converter availalbe online on official site and as a CLI utility;[14]
  • JHF (Hershey fonts) — converter implemented as CLI utility;
  • SHX (Shapefile Index fonts) — converter designed by 3rd party developer.

LibreCAD Font Format adopted in SolveSpace CAD, and LibrePCB software designed FontoBene (*.bene) font format for PCB, which is derived from LFF.[13]

Usage

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.[15][16][17][18][19]

In some countries LibreCAD, thanks to free licensing, used for decreasing budget expences on software licensing by replacing commercial CAD at state and governmentalt organizations, public schools, etc. Also, LibreCAD is choosen 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.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

LibreCAD has been included into CAELinux distribution, targeting engineers and makers.[30][31]

EU

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,[32] which has been translated into Greek, Spanish, Slovak, Turkish and Romanian.[33]

Ukraine

Since 1990s, most of the Ukrainian schools, universities and factories has been used licensed russian CAD COMPAS,[34] 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,[35] Ukrainian users are switching from COMPAS to other CAD, including LibreCAD.[36][37]

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 [uk] and by adopted ISO standards,[38][39][40] 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.[15][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]

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.[51][52]

Ukrainian scientists, researchers, design bureaus, freelancers, and single and small manufactures use LibreCAD.[53][54][55][56][57][58]

LibreCAD has been included into educational edition of the Ukrainian Linux distribution for schools UALinux: Ubuntu Education Pack [uk].[59][60]

USA

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 reasearch capillary action to be tested in low gravity conditions on ISS.[61] For the particapants there was a handbook on LibreCAD use has been created and provided by employees of NASA Glenn Research Center.[62]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Release 2.2.0.2". 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ . 16 February 2018 https://github.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD/releases/tag/2.2.0-rc1. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "LibreCAD the only major free Computer Aided Design program". Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  4. ^ Dube, Ryan (2 March 2012). "6 Tips To Get The Most Out of LibreCAD Free CAD Software". Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  5. ^ Wallen, Jack (27 January 2012). "DIY: LibreCAD offers basic CAD tools for free". Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Review about Linux LibreCAD and Linux Inkscape". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  7. ^ "LibreCAD - Free Open Source 2D CAD". librecad.org. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  8. ^ 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."
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses – Is GPLv3 compatible with GPLv2?". The official site. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  11. ^ 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."
  12. ^ "libdxfrw". sourceforge.net. 6 March 2024.
  13. ^ a b "LFF Font Format". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  14. ^ "LibreCAD - Font Converter". librecad.org. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  15. ^ a b "Development of Computer Skills to Draw in the LibreCad from Virtual Learning Environments". ouci.dntb.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  16. ^ "Projekty techniczne". naturaprojekt.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  17. ^ "Digital devices (bring your own) - Normanhurst Boys High School". normanhurb-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  18. ^ Gustavsen, Nicole. "LibGuides: Engineering & Applied Science Research Guide: Online Platforms and Toolkits". researchguides.gonzaga.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  19. ^ "Architecture Archives". Data Science at UWM. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  20. ^ "САПР-замещение: что использовать вместо AutoCAD?". ИТ Медиа | Продукты и технологии (in Russian). 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  21. ^ "В российских вузах хотят запретить AutoCAD - CNews". CNews.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  22. ^ "Обзор бесплатных 2D САПР". Хабр (in Russian). 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  23. ^ "Импортозамещение, или как «Вертолеты России» сделали что-то не так". Habr. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  24. ^ "После шести лет разработки вышла новая стабильная версия свободного 2D САПР LibreCAD — 2.2.0". Habr. 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  25. ^ "Чем заменить AutoCAD? Альтернативные САПР". bim-portal.ru (in Russian). 2023-04-25.
  26. ^ Report, Digital (2024-04-18). "Блокировка AutoCAD в России: конструкторы и студенты ищут альтернативы". Digital Report (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  27. ^ Разумовский, Дмитрий. "Философия кода". N + 1 — главное издание о науке, технике и технологиях (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  28. ^ "Обойдемся без AutoCAD? / Журнал «Промышленные страницы Сибири» (№98 апрель 2015 год) / Единый промышленный портал Сибири". www.epps.ru. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  29. ^ З.х, Оздоева; П.и, Бостанова (2022). "ЦИФРОВАЯ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ НАЛОГОВОГО АДМИНИСТРИРОВАНИЯ В РОССИИ". Естественно-гуманитарные исследования. Vol. 44, no. 6. pp. 370–372. ISSN 2309-4788. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  30. ^ "CAELinux". www.caelinux.com. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  31. ^ "CAELinux". DistroWatch.
  32. ^ "E life handbook en". SlideShare. 2014-01-05. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  33. ^ "e-Life". elife-eu.net. Європейська комісія. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14.
  34. ^ "Число участников образовательной программы АСКОН в Украине достигло рубежа в 100 пользователей". edu.ascon.ru. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  35. ^ Порошенко, П. О. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №133/2017". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України. Archived from the original on 2020-07-11.
  36. ^ "Національне агентство із забезпечення якості вищої освіти". public.naqa.gov.ua. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  37. ^ Осадча, Катерина; Чемерис, Г. Ю. (2017). "Добір засобів тривимірного моделювання для формування графічної компетентності майбутніх бакалаврів комп'ютерних наук". Інформаційні технології і засоби навчання. pp. 70–85. ISSN 2076-8184. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  38. ^ "Мінекономрозвитку звільнило бізнес від майже 13 000 радянських ГОСТів". Міністерство економічного розвитку і торгівлі України. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20.
  39. ^ "Роз'яснення щодо дії міждержавних стандартів (ГОСТ) в Україні" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  40. ^ "Інформація щодо скасування усіх стандартів ГОСТ та про використання ДСТУ. Каталог держстандартів України - Укрлегпром" (in Ukrainian). 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  41. ^ Слободянюк, Ю. О.; Слободянюк, О. В. (2018). "Використання графічних комп'ютерних систем при вивченні інженерної графіки" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  42. ^ Слободянюк, О. В.; Слободянюк, Ю. О. (2019). "Аналіз графічних редакторів для розробки технічних креслеників" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  43. ^ Слободянюк, О. В.; Кропив'янська, А. О. (2024). "Аналіз можливостей графічних комп'ютерних систем для виконання завдань з нарисної геометрії" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  44. ^ "Програмне забезпечення – Кафедра образотворчого та декоративно-прикладного мистецтва" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  45. ^ "Спеціальність: Галузеве машинобудування (Industrial machinery engineering)". Світловодський політехнічний фаховий коледж ЦНТУ. Студенти знають сучасні програми для моделювання та програмування PowerShape, PowerMILL, FeatureCAM, ArtCAM, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, LaserGRBL, LaserCAD, VectricAspire та інші.
  46. ^ Troyanchuk, B.; Fedik, L. (2021-12-23). "Використання САПР у проектуванні систем автоматизації". Computer-Integrated Technologies: Education Science, Production (in Ukrainian). No. 45. pp. 39–43. doi:10.36910/6775-2524-0560-2021-45-06. ISSN 2524-0560. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  47. ^ "Відбулося засідання обласної методичної секції педагогічних працівників комп'ютерних дисциплін". НМЦ ПТО у Рівненській області. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 2024-08-17. 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".
  48. ^ Ліскін, В. О. (20 August 2020). "Комп'ютерна графіка" (PDF). МАУП (Силабус навчальної дисципліни). Київ.
  49. ^ Завгородній, В. В. (16 March 2020). "Освітня програма: 26427 Інженерія програмного забезпечення" (PDF). Державний університет інфраструктури та технологій (Відомості про самооцінювання освітньої програми). НАЗЯВО.
  50. ^ "DSpace at KDPU: Теорія та методика електронного навчання. Випуск IV". elibrary.kdpu.edu.ua. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  51. ^ "Про затвердження Порядку використання інформаційних та інформаційно- телекомунікаційних систем і Порядку використання та обліку комп'ютерних програм". ДСНС України (Наказ). 19 July 2019.
  52. ^ "ПЕРЕЛІК комп'ютерних програм для встановлення на серверах і комп'ютерах ДСНС" (ODT). ДСНС України (Додаток 1 до Порядку використання та обліку комп'ютерних програм (пункт 1.6)). 18 June 2019. p. 2. Робота з кресленнями: LibreCAD.
  53. ^ "Програмне забезпечення на NT-Plasma 3015". ntma.com.ua.
  54. ^ "Програми для лазерного верстата | Принт Фактори". printfactory.com.ua (in Ukrainian). 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  55. ^ "Топик для поиска контрибьюторов GitHub". DOU (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  56. ^ "Reconstructing CNC platform for EDM machines towards smart manufacturing". ouci.dntb.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  57. ^ "Універсальний програмний пакет «LibreCAD» для виконання архітектурних 2D-креслень під час проєктування будівель та споруд" (Програма 82 Міжнародної науково-практичної конференції). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  58. ^ "Программы для 3D и 2D моделирования и визуализации объектов. Обзор — Будівельний портал ПрофіДОМ". profidom.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  59. ^ "LibreCad - система автоматизованого проектування". ualinux.com. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  60. ^ "Ubuntu EducationPack". ualinux.com. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  61. ^ "CELERE – Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory Research Experiments". NASA (An ISS Research Design Challenge). 2021. Students create their own experiments using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) with a provided template and tutorial for the freely downloaded version of LibreCAD Software
  62. ^ Hatch, Tyler; Hall, Nancy (21 July 2021). CELERE 2021 Tutorial (PDF). Glenn Research Center. 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!
Wikimedia Commons has media related to LibreCAD.
  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata
  • LibreCAD User Manual
  • LibreCAD Forum
  • LibreCAD on GitHub
  • LibreCAD on SourceForge
  • ttf2lff (online TTF to LFF font converter)
  • v
  • t
  • e
CAD software
Free and open-source
Mechanical
Electrical
Proprietary
Mechanical
Electrical
File formatsModeling kernelsOld

This computer-aided design software article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e
Stub icon

This Classic Mac OS and/or macOS software–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e
Stub icon

This Microsoft Windows software-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e