QCad is a CAD software for 2D design and drafting released as Open Source by Ribbonsoft. Development started in 1998, based on Ribbonsoft’s CAM Expert code.
The application natively uses Autodesk ubiquitous DXF format. QCad has been ported to Windows, Mac OSX, Linux and Solaris.
Having learned CAD on Audocad, I am used to the interface of Autodesk’s best seller. I must say that the interface of QCad is a little bit different, but then again Autocad’s interface is infamous for being unfriendly. So it only took me a quarter of an hour to figure out how to use QCad. The interface makes a clever use of the mouse button to move back and forth between commands.
The Linux version comes free of charge, but Ribbonsoft asks a minimum of 24,00€ for the Windows and Mac binaries. There is a demo version available, which has all the features of the full version, except that it will automatically shut down after 10 minutes; prior to what if will give one the possibility to save one’s work. When it will have been opened 100 times, the demo version will refuse to work.
I give it a three star.
Post a Comment