[cad-linux] Re: Base file format for our efforts...

ok, you are much better at rambling than me.

>
> nah... this is rambling..
>
> I think as a viewer it is fine, you're right, once you put on drawing
> options and everything to go with it, it's no longer going to be a nippy
> DWG file viewer/converter. From my layman's perspective, I would have
> thought that Qcad or Varkon etc would be a better starting block of
> code, as Lx-Viewer isn't an editor currently.

lx-viewer is not an editor, but there will be people that will not change 
systems unless we give them something that does dwg native.

i had hoped we would have seen more from intellicad, but they have been 
concentrating on getting support for solids. 

>
> If you really are starting up a new project then I'd be happy to do some
> website work for you guys if you like. Do you mind if I encourage a bit
> of planning though? Like:
>
> 1. Is it going to be 100% GPL? If so that's great but you won't be able
> to link to things like the OpenDWG libraries for manipulating DWG files
> or the Autodesk code for doing the same with DWF, hence they'll be more
> work involved writing your own way of dealing with these files. You
> will, however, have a simple clean license.
>
> If you go the amended GPL route, you'll always have the FSF people (as
> well as others) pointing out that you aren't 100% free. You'll have less
> work to do but the license will be annoying and full of amendments.
>
> 2. Who are you aiming at? Is it a clone/alternative of AutoCAD or is it
> going to have more of a 3D and solid modeling lean to it? Just as a
> really simple example, are you aiming at people making 2D drafting
> drawings or people doing a lot of 3D drafting etc?
>
> 3. Are you going to aim to be cross platform or are you platform
> dependent with faster and smaller code?
>
> 4. What's the projects main reason for being? For instance, are you:
> * Compatible with a wider range of files that Qcad, Blender etc
> * providing a better alternative to a certain commercial product than
> any other free project currently does?
>
> phrostie mentioned the word "niche". That's good, I would look for one
> for the project. Find something that a GPL product doesn't currently do
> and focus on that target, once there, you can spread the project out
> more to cover other areas/functionality.
>
> Planning it properly now might be tedious compared to starting writing
> code but it may save you a lot of time in the future, and you'll always
> know where you're heading.
>
> Guy

-- 
Oh i've slipped the surly bonds of DOS 
and danced the skies on Linux silvered wings.
http://pfrostie.freeservers.com/cad-tastrafy/
http://www.freelists.org/webpage/cad-linux

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