AutoDesk Replacement? (was: BSA Presentation?) (was Re: Ernie Ball Link)

[Tom Emerson]

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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