LibreCAD

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.

CADuntu

CADuntu — was the initial QCAD CE fork project name. It was used for a short time and, after discussion with users, has been replaced by LibreCAD, as to not be associated with Ubuntu and Canonical Ltd.

LibreCAD 1

The main feature of LibreCAD 1 was porting of its graphical user interface (GUI) code to Qt4, so it can run identically on several platforms.

LibreCAD 2

LibreCAD 2 implements Qt5 and Qt6 library support.

As of 2024, LibreCAD development split into two branches:

• 2.2.1.x — actual release with bug-fix updates;
• 2.2.2_alpha — alpha version of the future release, with many new experimental feature, not for regular use yet.

LibreCAD 3

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 has actually frozen this project, and are focusing on LibreCAD 2 and libdxfrw library development.

Version history

Version history data are taken from official Web site, project pages on Sourceforge and GitHub.

Features

LibreCAD is available in over 60 languages.

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

• CAD: DXF, DWG, , Shapefile (deprecated)
• CAD font: LFF, CXF

Import Image

• Vector image: SVG, SVGZ
• Bitmap image: BMP, CUR, GIF, ICNS, ICO, JPEG, JPG, PBM, PGM, PNG, PPM, TGA, TIF, TIFF, WBMP, WebP, XBM, XPM

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

As the GNU LibreDWG library is released under GPLv3, it cannot be used by GPLv2-licensed LibreCAD and FreeCAD, because their licenses are incompatible. A request also went to the FSF to relicense GNU LibreDWG as GPLv2, which was rejected. The problem was eventually resolved by writing a new GPLv2-licensed library called libdxfrw, 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 dimension 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 format (with *.lff file extension) for single stroke vector fonts.

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 available online on official site and as a CLI utility;
• 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.

Usage

LibreCAD is in use in many countries for educational purposes at schools and universities, in production at firms and factories for design and manufacturing various items, architecture design, garden and landscape design, etc.

Due to free licensing, in some countries LibreCAD is used for decreasing budget expenses on software licensing by replacing commercial CAD at state and governmental organizations, public schools, etc. Also, LibreCAD is chosen in cases where there are no reachable official dealers of commercial software, or all available commercial CAD solutions are too expensive.

In some countries LibreCAD is used to circumvent international sanctions; for example, in Russia it has been used in light of international sanctions implemented in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

LibreCAD has been included into CAELinux distribution, targeting engineers and makers.

European Union

In 2011, for the e-LIFE education project, organized by European Commission for disabled people, a manual was provided with few chapters on learning LibreCAD and other free CAD programs, which has been translated into Greek, Spanish, Slovak, Turkish and Romanian.

Ukraine

Since 1990s, most of the Ukrainian schools, universities and factories have used licensed Russian CAD KOMPAS, 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 in 2017, Ukrainian users are switching from KOMPAS to other CAD software, including LibreCAD.

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 and by adopted ISO standards, 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.

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 No.425 (Appendix 1, p. 2), signed on 19 July 2019.

Ukrainian scientists, researchers, design bureaus, freelancers, and single and small manufactures use LibreCAD.

LibreCAD has been included into educational edition of the Ukrainian Linux distribution for schools .

United States

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. For the participants a user handbook on LibreCAD was created and provided by employees of NASA Glenn Research Center.

References

References

1. "Releases · LibreCAD/LibreCAD".
2. "LibreCAD the only major free Computer Aided Design program".
3. Dube, Ryan. (2 March 2012). "6 Tips To Get The Most Out of LibreCAD Free CAD Software".
4. Wallen, Jack. (27 January 2012). "DIY: LibreCAD offers basic CAD tools for free".
5. "Review about Linux LibreCAD and Linux Inkscape".
6. "LibreCAD – Free Open Source 2D CAD".
7. Prokoudine, Alexandre. (26 January 2012). "What's up with DWG adoption in free software?". librearts.org.
8. Larabel, Michael. (24 January 2013). "FSF Wastes Away Another "High Priority" Project". [[Phoronix]].
9. "Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses – Is GPLv3 compatible with GPLv2?". The official site.
10. Prokoudine, Alexandre. (27 December 2012). "LibreDWG drama: the end or the new beginning?". librearts.org.
11. (6 March 2024). "libdxfrw". [[sourceforge.net]].
12. "LFF Font Format".
13. "LibreCAD – Font Converter".
14. "Development of Computer Skills to Draw in the LibreCad from Virtual Learning Environments".
15. "Projekty techniczne".
16. "Digital devices (bring your own) – Normanhurst Boys High School".
17. Gustavsen, Nicole. "LibGuides: Engineering & Applied Science Research Guide: Online Platforms and Toolkits".
18. "Architecture Archives".
19. (9 June 2022). "САПР-замещение: что использовать вместо AutoCAD?".
20. "В российских вузах хотят запретить AutoCAD – CNews".
21. (10 October 2018). "Обзор бесплатных 2D САПР".
22. (3 April 2019). "Импортозамещение, или как «Вертолеты России» сделали что-то не так".
23. (18 December 2022). "После шести лет разработки вышла новая стабильная версия свободного 2D САПР LibreCAD — 2.2.0".
24. (25 April 2023). "Чем заменить AutoCAD? Альтернативные САПР".
25. Report, Digital. (18 April 2024). "Блокировка AutoCAD в России: конструкторы и студенты ищут альтернативы".
26. Разумовский, Дмитрий. "Философия кода".
27. "Обойдемся без AutoCAD? / Журнал «Промышленные страницы Сибири» (№98 апрель 2015 год) / Единый промышленный портал Сибири".
28. (2022). "ЦИФРОВАЯ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ НАЛОГОВОГО АДМИНИСТРИРОВАНИЯ В РОССИИ". Естественно-гуманитарные исследования.
29. "CAELinux".
30. "CAELinux".
31. (5 January 2014). "E life handbook en".
32. "e-Life". [[Європейська комісія]].
33. "Число участников образовательной программы АСКОН в Украине достигло рубежа в 100 пользователей".
34. Порошенко, П. О.. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №133/2017".
35. "Національне агентство із забезпечення якості вищої освіти".
36. (2017). "Добір засобів тривимірного моделювання для формування графічної компетентності майбутніх бакалаврів комп'ютерних наук". Інформаційні технології і засоби навчання.
37. "Мінекономрозвитку звільнило бізнес від майже 13 000 радянських ГОСТів".
38. "Роз'яснення щодо дії міждержавних стандартів (ГОСТ) в Україні".
39. (18 January 2019). "Інформація щодо скасування усіх стандартів ГОСТ та про використання ДСТУ. Каталог держстандартів України – Укрлегпром".
40. (2018). "Використання графічних комп'ютерних систем при вивченні інженерної графіки".
41. (2019). "Аналіз графічних редакторів для розробки технічних креслеників".
42. (2024). "Аналіз можливостей графічних комп'ютерних систем для виконання завдань з нарисної геометрії".
43. "Програмне забезпечення – Кафедра образотворчого та декоративно-прикладного мистецтва".
44. "Спеціальність: Галузеве машинобудування (Industrial machinery engineering)".
45. (23 December 2021). "Використання САПР у проектуванні систем автоматизації.". Computer-Integrated Technologies: Education Science, Production.
46. (18 October 2013). "Відбулося засідання обласної методичної секції педагогічних працівників комп'ютерних дисциплін".
47. Ліскін, В. О.. (20 August 2020). "Комп'ютерна графіка".
48. Завгородній, В. В.. (16 March 2020). "Освітня програма: 26427 Інженерія програмного забезпечення". [[НАЗЯВО]].
49. "DSpace at KDPU: Теорія та методика електронного навчання. Випуск IV".
50. (19 July 2019). "Про затвердження Порядку використання інформаційних та інформаційно- телекомунікаційних систем і Порядку використання та обліку комп'ютерних програм".
51. (18 June 2019). "ПЕРЕЛІК комп'ютерних програм для встановлення на серверах і комп'ютерах ДСНС".
52. "Програмне забезпечення на NT-Plasma 3015".
53. (17 October 2022). "Програми для лазерного верстата {{!}} Принт Фактори".
54. "Топик для поиска контрибьюторов GitHub".
55. "Reconstructing CNC platform for EDM machines towards smart manufacturing".
56. "Універсальний програмний пакет «LibreCAD» для виконання архітектурних 2D-креслень під час проєктування будівель та споруд".
57. "Программы для 3D и 2D моделирования и визуализации объектов. Обзор — Будівельний портал ПрофіДОМ".
58. "LibreCad – система автоматизованого проектування".
59. "Ubuntu EducationPack".
60. (2021). "CELERE – Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory Research Experiments".
61. (21 July 2021). "CELERE 2021 Tutorial". [[Glenn Research Center]].