 | |
 | |
| Developer(s) | LibreCAD community |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 15 December 2011; 12 years ago (2011-12-15) |
| Stable release |
2.2.0.2[1] |
| Repository | |
| Written in | C, C++, Lua |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Unix-like, Linux |
| Type | Computer-aided design |
| License | GPL-2.0-only |
| Website | librecad |
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.[2][3]
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.
Around 2010, the QCAD Community Edition v2.0.5.0 was forked to start the development of what is now known as LibreCAD. Originally, the GUI was based on Qt3 libraries.
LibreCAD relies on a GUI based on Qt5 libraries, so it can run on several platforms in the same way.[4][5]
The GNU LibreDWG library is released under GPLv3, so it cannot be used by GPLv2-licensed LibreCAD (and FreeCAD)[6][7] because their licenses are incompatible.[8] A request also went to the FSFtorelicense GNU LibreDWG as GPLv2, which was rejected.[9] The problem was eventually resolved by writing a new GPLv2-licensed library called libdxfrw,[10] with more complete DWG support.
LibreCAD is available in over 30 languages. It uses the AutoCAD DXF file format internally for import and save files, as well as allowing export to many other 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
Export
[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."
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.
[...]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."
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