AutoDesk Replacement? (was: BSA Presentation?) (was Re: Ernie BallLink)

[John (EBo) David]

qcad http://www.qcad.org/ is one.  I've only played with it a little and
it seems to work well.

  EBo --


Tom Emerson wrote:
> 
> The BSA Arizona examples note AutoDesk software.  AutoDesk / AutoCAD is a
> tough software to replace with a GNU/Open Source equivalent.
> 
> In the case of a commercial package for AutoCAD, I don't see how it could
> be replaced by a GNU'd equivalent.  (for specific engineering and design
> disiplines, there are very sophisticated software packages that run on top
> of AutoCAD).
> 
> Does anybody on the list have experience with CAD/CAM/CAE GNU/Open Source
> software?
> 
> Doing a quick google, I found these, some that claim proper use of the
> DXF format (AutoDesk file formats):
> 
> Electric, GNU.
> http://www.gnu.org/software/electric/electric.html
> 
> LUnIx by Tech-EDV, collection of CAD links for Linux
> http://www.computer.privateweb.at/tech-edv/default.htm
> 
> LUnIx by Tech-EDV, another copy
> http://web.utanet.at/tech-edv/
> 
> GNU-CAD-CAM stalled project?
> http://gnu-cad-cam.sourceforge.net/
> 
> GNU-CAD, stalled project?
> http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnu-cad/
> 
> Some of the systems mentioned at by 'Tech-EDV' look for-real.  It's been
> several years since I had a need for AutoCAD, but thinking back, I would
> be hesitant to replace it with anything else.  It's a religious thing, not
> so different from the choice of vi vs. Emacs as a text editor.  (ah, that
> might not be such a good comparison ... let me say that the AutoCAD I am
> familiar with is a very powerful tool, but you do need to know how to
> use the tool!)
> 
>  - tom e.
> 
>   --------------------------------------------------------
> 
> On Sat, 13 Jul 2002, Tom Snell wrote:
> 
> Robert Bushman wrote:
> 
> >Thanks Derek!
> >
> >I think "BSA/FBI Licensing Raids - Is Your Corporation
> >Safe?", or something like that would be a fantastic
> >presentation topic for IF2. It would be a nice opportunity
> >for some info handouts as well. Anybody want to take
> >this one?
> >
> >Bob
> >
> Here's a link to the BSA's press release on the "voluntary software
> audits" in Arizona (read: raids in a velvet glove due to disgruntled
> employee "songbird" or other nefarious scenario):
> 
> http://www.bsa.org/usa/press/newsreleases/2002-01-16.854.phtml
> 
> These local examples should be hammered home to every company with ears
> and a tight budget.  The most pathetic comment was from the EVP of Ops.
> of one of the Phoenix companies, who said his company was "happy that we
> were able to work with the BSA to resolve the unintentional licensing
> issues identified by our audit".......excuse me, but if I were the owner
> or an investor in that company, and I'd just had to cough up $65K to
> cover my ass outside of court, I wouldn't be "happy": I'd be birddogging
> anything that didn't say "Microsoft" on the box.  Yes, presentations do
> need to be positive, but a little fear of losing major cash over
> licensing issues, which are always difficult to control anyway, would
> help (and already is helping) to push folks toward open source.  Ernie
> Ball is a great example, and we have examples right here in Phoenix as
> well (Maybe we should get the Presidents of the Phoenix companies that
> got stung to get special invitations...<grin>)......
> 
> Tom
> 
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