Need help finding an open source sketching and area calculation program

[Surf314]

I'm searching as we speak but if anyone knows of one please post it here.  I use Apex through work but you wanna talk about draconian licensing.  We license the program and pay annually we can't buy it outright.  Also everyone in the office needs to buy a license.  This is literally so I can tell a program draw a building with x sides measuring x and close it and tell me the area.  Most of the people in my office don't need a very powerful program.  At the most complicated we need something that we can draw walls at different angles and then for it to calculate the area for us after.

[HeK]

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&safe=o...AD&spell=1

Try:

http://brlcad.org/
http://www.cademia.org/frontend/index.php?sub=29
http://www.stevekallestad.com/blog/open_source_cad.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Open-Source-CA...&id=408192
http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html
http://avocado-cad.sourceforge.net/

[Surf314]

Yea I was trying to find the right search term to use.  What we use is called sketching software but that brings up all sorts of art programs.  CAD is a bit more advanced than what we need but I will look through and see if I can use any of those.  Thanks Hek.

[Surf314]

Damnit the one of the ones you listed that would have been perfect is not free - QCAD.

I need a 2d CAD program I guess.  I will continue looking.  In the meantime I think my boss might be renewing the license with Apex.

[copulatingduck]

I have no idea if the feature is actually available in GoogleSketchup, but that might be right down your alley...

http://sketchup.google.com/product/gsu.html

[HeK]

Damnit the one of the ones you listed that would have been perfect is not free - QCAD.

Sure it is: ftp://anonymous:anonymous@ribbonsoft.com...src.tar.gz
Please note, this is offered by the developer, it is not war-aez.

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

is protocad too old/not full of features enough for ya?  It's the old free alpha of autocad if I remember.  But it's ancient.  Might not even run in vista.

[Surf314]

All I need is a program I can draw lines to specific dimensions in 2d and sometimes specify angles other than 90.  Then get area calculations based on that.

I would definitely rather not pay an annual license for that if possible.

[Luinbariel]

[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=1426.msg39395#msg39395 date=1221659348]
Damnit the one of the ones you listed that would have been perfect is not free - QCAD.

Sure it is: ftp://anonymous:anonymous@ribbonsoft.com...src.tar.gz
Please note, this is offered by the developer, it is not war-aez.
[/quote]

[Surf314]

[quote author=HeK link=topic=1426.msg39485#msg39485 date=1221688695]
[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=1426.msg39395#msg39395 date=1221659348]
Damnit the one of the ones you listed that would have been perfect is not free - QCAD.

Sure it is: ftp://anonymous:anonymous@ribbonsoft.com...src.tar.gz
Please note, this is offered by the developer, it is not war-aez.
[/quote]


[/quote]

Yea I know I just need to teach myself how to compile it for windows.

[HeK]

Alternatively you could search for 'freeware' cad programs, as 'open source' is more likely written for posix (ie Linux) platforms.

[Surf314]

Alternatively you could search for 'freeware' cad programs, as 'open source' is more likely written for posix (ie Linux) platforms.

Yea I just sort of realized that.  I'm not too worried about it now because I don't need it any more.  I was able to track down some plans and talk to some architects.  Research FTW!

Also I did the rest on paper.

[A. Crow]

I was going to suggest using the back of a napkin, but it seems you've settled things.