{"id":2699,"date":"2011-03-17T10:03:57","date_gmt":"2011-03-17T18:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=2699"},"modified":"2011-03-17T10:04:37","modified_gmt":"2011-03-17T18:04:37","slug":"strong-response-to-draftsight-for-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=2699","title":{"rendered":"Strong response to DraftSight for Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dassault Systemes dives head first into uncharted waters with its beta release of a no-cost Linux based 2D CAD application called <\/span>DraftSight for Linux<\/span><\/a>, announced earlier this month<\/a>.\u00a0 Though DraftSight for Linux is not open source, it is free to download and use, and the community of users will direct its development via <\/span>3D SwYm<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 There are two Linux versions available for download, Ubuntu and \u00a0Fedora\/Suse\/Mandriva.<\/span><\/p>\n

File compatibility<\/span><\/h4>\n

DraftSight reads and saves .dwg and .dxf file formats. \u00a0It can read those formats from any version 2.5 and after.\u00a0 It can save to any versions from R12 to R2007-2010.\u00a0 It can also export to PDF, PNG, TIF, SAT and STL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Free!<\/span><\/h4>\n

What makes this stand out in the Linux community is that DraftSight for Linux is the first non-GPL release of a 2D CAD application from a major corporation that is free for both commercial and personal use. \u00a0Even <\/span>ARES<\/span><\/a> does not offer that!\u00a0 DraftSight for Linux will have a paid subscription service for educational and commercial customers who want phone support, network licensing, and access to API.\u00a0 Other than that, free activation of DraftSight for Linux is required to access certain functions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Linux community response<\/span><\/h4>\n

The response from the community has surprised Dassault Systemes\u2019 Aaron Kelly, Senior Director of DraftSight, who states,<\/span><\/p>\n

Over 11,000 [downloads] since yesterday (3\/16\/2011).\u00a0 A little over 1,000 a day on average.\u00a0 80% choose the Ubuntu download.\u00a0 I am surprised by this number as it is about what the MAC uptake was.\u00a0 These are not users we typically reach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

An article about DraftSight for Linux appeared on <\/span>Slashdot<\/span><\/a>, and threads are appearing on Linux related <\/span>forums<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 (These have generated a substantial amount of traffic to SolidWorks Legion.)<\/span><\/p>\n

System requirements<\/span><\/h4>\n

Ubuntu 9.10 Gnome, Fedora 14 Gnome, Suse 11.2 Gnome, Mandriva 2010 Gnome and KDE, or higher versions, 32-bit<\/span><\/p>\n