QCAD

QCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software application for 2D design and drafting. It is available for Linux, Apple macOS, Unix and Microsoft Windows.^[4] The QCAD GUI is based on the Qt framework.

QCAD

QCAD in Ubuntu 19.10
Developer(s)	RibbonSoft
Stable release	3.29.3.0[1]  / 23 January 2024; 3 months ago (23 January 2024)[2]
Repository	github.com/qcad/qcad
Written in	C++ (Qt), JavaScript
Operating system	Windows, macOS, Unix-like, Linux
Type	CAD software
License	GPL-3.0-or-later with exceptions for plugins and add-ons[3]
Website	www.qcad.org/en/

QCAD is partly released under the GNU General Public License.^[5] Precompiled packages are available for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux platforms, Microsoft Windows OS and macOS.

QCAD is developed by RibbonSoft. Development on QCAD began in October 1999, starting with code from CAM Expert. QCAD 2, designed to "make QCAD more productive, more user friendly, more flexible and increase its compatibility with other products" began development in May 2002. QCAD 3 was first released in August 2011 with an ECMAScript (JavaScript) interface as major addition.

Some of the interface and concepts behind QCAD are similar to those of AutoCAD.

QCAD uses the DXF file format internally and to save and import files. Support for the popular DWG file format is available as a commercial plugin based on the Open Design Alliance DWG libraries.

Starting from version 3.7 QCAD is distributed as Professional Trial that works for a limited time, or as Community Edition as source code only, so users need to self compile or remove the QCAD Professional add-on running in trial mode.^[6]

Although much of the software source is under the GPL-3.0-or-later license there is also significant functionality^[7] not available under a free software license.

QCAD has a large library of different templates.^[8][9]