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We have an engineer who needs CAD software which can read and edit .dwg files (preferably that runs on Windows but I could probably argue for a *nix box if needed). Before buying a commercial license I'd like to see, what if any, freeware or opensource CAD software exists. I've read through this post but the software here all specifies a license for personal use only. Everything I have found up to this point is a .dwg viewer only, is licensed for non-commercial purposes, or is paid software (with the possible exception of FelixCAD which I'm still looking into).
There are some really cool CAD packages such as BRL-CAD or Archimedes but these don't have the capability to work with .dwg files. My question then is, am I right that there is no freeware (with a commercial license) or opensource CAD software which can work with .dwg files? Or am I wrong and there is just such a package out there?
These seem to be just what I'm looking for. Thank you harrymc. – Wagnarock – 2009-11-11T21:06:45.073
A9CAD's url is broken. The company website still works but is just a feed from a civil engineering news site. A9cad is still listed on a download page, however the release hasn't been updated since 2005. I wouldn't bother with it. HYCAD fares a little better, with it's latest release dated 2009. It doesn't have any dedicated web resources (home page, forums, etc.). DoubleCAD XT appears to be a more actively maintained product, listing Win7 and a release date in 2012. To get download link you need to withstand a barrage of marketing profile building questions.
– matt wilkie – 2013-06-25T18:04:42.910DoubleCAD direct download link is http://downloads.imsidesign.com/ESD/DoubleCAD_XT_v5.exe, but still requires a Serial # and Activation Code, which are provided "free", in exchange for the aforementioned marketing profile and voluntary submission to spam list. However all this may be moot as the download link gives me constant "The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading."
– matt wilkie – 2013-06-25T18:20:27.097@mattwilkie: This answer dates from 4 years ago and the world moves on. A newcomer is DraftSight, last release in 2013.
– harrymc – 2013-06-25T18:24:48.503Yes the world certainly does move on harrymc:) The point of my comments are to document some of that movement and give current searchers something to work with. Thanks for the DraftSight pointer. Maybe it should be edited into the answer at the top of the list (to indicate currency). – matt wilkie – 2013-06-25T18:31:09.560
@mattwilkie: Good idea. Done. – harrymc – 2013-06-25T18:56:34.427