DodoCAD: Free (GPL) AutoCAD tools!

Links

Outline

AutoCAD Tools
Drawing Libraries
CAD Community and Development
CAD for Linux
- General
- Free
- Non-Free
DataCAD
CAD Standards

AutoCAD Tools

While free, use of these tools continues to put CAD at AutoDesk's mercy. So it is with some trepidation that we maintain this list.

ACADX -- Collections of Lisp.
AcadUser -- Public postings for AutoCAD users.
AfraLisp -- A long time standard for free and excellent AutoCAD customizations, AfraLisp generally has most customizations you would care to need.
AutoCAD Applications -- Old collection of lisp and programs.
AutoLISP Programming, Ron Leigh
CADlantic
CAD Digest
CADinfo.net -- Search on " " for a complete listing of scripts.
CADMonkey
CAD Resource, Library Section -- Good Lisp and symbol repository.
CADalot --- Freely available, but not specifically licensed.
CADtech -- Lisp
cadMANdu -- Free lisps.
Complete Support -- Tutorials
Craig's AutoLisp -- v14 and v2000 Lisp
Dandy's Autolisp Codes -- Good collection of Open Source code.
DOSlib -- Excellent operating system functionalities made available in AutoLisp.
Draftsperson.net -- Terrific set of tips, blocks, and code.
DSXcad -- Good Lisp tool collection and links.
FileLibrary.com -- DOS\CAD\
Four Dimension Technologies Tech Center -- Good library of lisp functions.
FreeDist -- Free PS-to-PDF converter.
FreePDF -- Free PS-to-PDF converter.
JTB World has a number of free Lisp and VBA routines.
Lee County (FL) AutoCAD Users Group -- Good Lisp repository.
Lintang on the Web -- Includes the block thumbnailing utility Hotblocks.
Mark Middlebrook's free AutoLISP programs -- GPL
Paraglide
PIRS On-Line -- Lisp
PyAcad -- Python extension for AutoCAD.
Salt Lake Community College, ARCH 2330: CAD Customization (From SLCC Architecture Technology Dept.)
South Plains AutoCAD User Group (SPAUG)
Tee Square Graphics' Free Stuff Page
The Swamp -- AutoCAD coders forum.
Visual LISP Developer's Bible
Wichita Area AutoCAD Users Group -- Good Lisp
xarch -- Huge collection of AutoCAD resources.
- xarch's stdlib -- Immense Lisp library for AutoCAD, although somewhat hard to navigate.
- xarch Wiki -- User edited AutoCAD helps.

Drawing Libraries

CAD Block Exchange Network

CAD Community and Development

You might call these efforts to non-platform-specific CAD interest groups.

CAD Directory Database
cad-linux mailing list
cad-linux-dev mailing list
Dime -- A multi-platform C++ class library for reading, constructing, manipulating, and writing DXF file data
freearchitecture mailing list

CAD for Linux

These are CAD applications and tools that are specific (or mostly focused) to the Linux operating system.

General

CAD Forum, Linux -- General listing.
"CAD Programs for Linux", Linux Gazette
LinuxApps -- General Listing of the CAD/3D category.
LUnIx CAD Shrine, by Tech-EDV -- General Listing.
pfrostie's CAD pages
"Something Missing From Open Source [CAD]" -- Editorial by David Jacques on osOpinion.com

Free (GPL or at least OSI approved license)

BRL-CAD -- Mature 3D modeler and CAD software
EngyCAD -- Interesting CAD-ish software, BSD license, Russian focus.
exoTK -- "Extension for OpenCASCADE Tool Kit", 0.1beta, GPL.
Fandango -- 3D CAD, C++/Python/Qt based, GPL.
gEDA -- GPL Electronic Design Automation. Good start for Electronics oriented CAD, GPL.
JCad -- JavaCAD. Java based CAD, moderatly developed, GPL.
LignumCAD -- Furniture design.
PerlCAD -- Alpha.
PythonCAD -- Cross-platform, Python/GTK CAD, alpha, GPL. Under active, sustained development.
QCAD -- Developed, uses QT libraries. GPL.
QSCad -- Electrical design, TCL/Tk, alpha, Artistic License.
Xspace -- Prototype CAD utilizing files as entities written in Ruby.

Free but Inactive or Dead

FreeDraft -- Retired. Mechanical, GPL.
gCAD -- [broken link] Alpha, dead.
GTK-CAD -- Alpha, dead.
GNU-CAD -- Alpha, dead.
GNU CAD CAM -- Alpha, dead.
oCADis -- GTK, Imature, GPL.
PowerCAD -- Alpha, dead.
Varkon -- [broken link] Mature, more of a CAD framework than application
VeX net -- Alpha, dead.

Non-Free (Proprietary or closed-source)

ARCAD -- Mature, but very confusing web site
Cycas -- Mature, architectural
ICAADS -- 3D CAD/GIS
LinuxCAD -- Highly over-advertised product, at alpha quality. (Please read these reviews: "LinuxCAD Impressions" and "Why I don't like LinuxCAD".)
MicroStation -- Licensed only for academic use. (The greatest, most famous *nix CAD program, though!)
Octree -- Mature, free to non-commercial
OpenCascade -- Mature, cross-platform, 3D/CAD engine used in several other apps. License apparently free, but unclear.
VariCAD -- Mature, mechanical design

DataCAD

A one time user of DataCAD (for five years, versions 4 through 8.5) I would be remiss if I didn't provide the most important links I found during that time.