My Ubuntu CAD station

[dalani]

AS long time autocad user, I am evaluating CAD 3D apps on Linux for Architectural visualizations: Contrary to what one might think, it is possible to find killer apps for LInux. For hth e longuest time autocad was king app for Win32. I know this has been discussed before. But now after some search I found a few LINUX Cad 3d apps that run on native UNix (no wine required). Here are a few links I found that are quite good.

CYCAS and Aryam
CyCAS is classified as commercial software but makes a public version aviable for Deb. I installed this on my Hoary 5.04 easily and it runs as expected. Frequent Autocad users be prepeared to spend a brief time to familiariaze yourself with the welcome simplicity of its interface. It draws in 2d AND 3d with built-in archtecturals like openings for doors, windows and curtain walls complete with sizable mullions.
Its approach is a blessing after successive versions of feature bloated autodesk software. It exports to the renderer POVray and the reasonably priced 68euro BASIC version will exprot in DXF format. Nitpicks is that it does not yet output to RADIANCE (the phenomenal physics based radiosity-raytracer). The closest thing is this source code POV-RAD translator I found. If any programmer can make a decent LINUX front end to the RADIANCE or POVRAY app it would be much appreciated. (These OSS linux renderers can put apps costing thousands to shame).

Other 3d modelers are SCED and Ayam. Both of these are new to me but have been around a while. SCED is a constraint baed modeler that can export in RENDERMAN, POV and RADIANCE. If anyone have actualy used these or others post them here.

I am especially interested in hearing about real world applications in modeling and simulation FEA, lighting design etc...

[verbalshadow]

I haven't tried most of this apps but there is a list at Gnome Files Graphic/Design section and you might also look at Blender it exports to DXF and many other formats as well. It also Exports to
RADIANCE

[halfvolle melk]

Solid Edge is also available for Linux (according to Google).

[eMuNiX]

I’d like to more of the proper full-blown 3D CAD modelling systems move to Linux. I use Unigraphics, CATIA and Autodesk Inventor (plus a little ProE) and would love for these to move over to linux. Certainly UG, CATIA and ProE started life on Unix workstations and may even still be supported so the transition would not be so great. I believe that there is a version of ProE available for linux already. Obviously none of these products would be available for free.

[LKRaider]

The CAD area is one that I miss in Linux, specially on the Architectural side.

Software like Autocad and SketchUp that are of daily use on my WinXP install just don't have up-to-par alternatives on the Linux world. And I blame the same companies that make them. Autodesk latest releases could be considered as simple bloatware. If they would spend half the time they do in developing new annoying popups in a cross-platform application we could be using Autocad on Linux for years now. Instead they seem to drive further away from this at every release they make.
And I am not even going to mention the dreaded DWG closed-format market dominance...

Can't Mark Shuttleworth just buy these companies and OpenSource them?


Note: here is a Novell poll for software that you must use and would like to see on the Linux platform: Take Novell Linux Apps Survey

[nitao]

Originally Posted by LKRaider The CAD area is one that I miss in Linux, specially on the Architectural side. Software like Autocad and SketchUp that are of daily use on my WinXP install just don't have up-to-par alternatives on the Linux world. And I blame the same companies that make them. Autodesk latest releases could be considered as simple bloatware. If they would spend half the time they do in developing new annoying popups in a cross-platform application we could be using Autocad on Linux for years now. Instead they seem to drive further away from this at every release they make. And I am not even going to mention the dreaded DWG closed-format market dominance... Can't Mark Shuttleworth just buy these companies and OpenSource them? Note: here is a Novell poll for software that you must use and would like to see on the Linux platform: Take Novell Linux Apps Survey

I just found out about this discussion so I am a bit late.
Anyway, I just wanted to mention that we agree with you in the fact that CAD for Linux are hard to find and when you do, they never think about the architectural side. This is why we started Archimedes which is an open source CAD software for architects being developed with architects.
It is still very young and therefore uncomplete. Unstable versions are released weekly and stable ones about each month so check it out and please send us your feedback.

Thanks,
Hugo

[Efrain Valles]

YEah Marky... just Buy Adobe and Buy the rights to Autocad...


Free at last free at last thank god almighty they will be Free software...

Ok... back to reality...

NEVER GONNA HAPPEN

[MontanaMax]

Originally Posted by LKRaider Software like Autocad and SketchUp that are of daily use on my WinXP install just don't have up-to-par alternatives on the Linux world. ... And I am not even going to mention the dreaded DWG closed-format market dominance... Can't Mark Shuttleworth just buy these companies and OpenSource them?

That would be the coolest thing ever!!

AutoDesk is one of the largest and most influential companies behind groups like the Software Business Alliance who specialize in investigating and closing down companies for software license violations along with Micro$oft, so I don't think they will come over to the FOSS world on their own.

[hizaguchi]

Originally Posted by eMuNiX I’d like to more of the proper full-blown 3D CAD modelling systems move to Linux. I use Unigraphics, CATIA and Autodesk Inventor (plus a little ProE) and would love for these to move over to linux. Certainly UG, CATIA and ProE started life on Unix workstations and may even still be supported so the transition would not be so great. I believe that there is a version of ProE available for linux already. Obviously none of these products would be available for free.

Catia still runs on Unix, and I've heard it works on Linux too. Wish I could say the same for SolidWorks.

[Ijump2]

I'm curious, has anybody installed PTC ProE Wildfire 3 on Ubuntu and if so, how?