[cad-linux] cad application for linux

I have been following the various threads about starting a new CAD
project over the last week, so here are a few thoughts...

I am an architect, and because of the necessities of making a living (in
New York City), I have worked in AutoCAD extensively, both 2d & 3d, for
years, at the level of semi-expert...for the last several years, I have
tried to find a suitable CAD application to run on my personal debian
system, gpl licensed if possible. Something I would willfully substitute
for AutoCAD, or other major commercial "product", in circumstances where
my ability to produce drawings was meaningful to me. In other words, as
much as I wish to support, and benefit from, the FSF, my work (drawings)
is a higher priority.

Despite a great deal of effort, I, together with everyone else, have yet
to find a CAD application which performs at that level (for an
architect). The reason for this long post, however, is that, in my
experience, one application is far superior to all the others, for both
2d & 3d work, again, for architectural work, and since it hasn't been
mentioned much, I thought to do so. That is Octree, http://www.octree.de.

I have tested many others, especially cycas and qcad, and they are not,
as I see it, nearly as versatile and useful, though there are still
plenty of problems with Octree. Development of Octree seems pretty
dormant, but from one user's perspective, it provides a very sound
foundation for further development.

It can be downloaded for free, there are a few tutorials (by users) which
can help get you started and drawing, and, if you are patient enough to
learn the interface, you will be able to get quite productive. Give it a
try...and see whether it's not a good starting point for a new or
revised application.

RB

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