DraftSight

the best alternative to autocad

Pluspunten:

What I like most about the program is that for the little money the license costs you have access to a very complete CAD drawing assistant. The functionalities and tools are very well developed and the interface is quite accessible if you are used to working in similar programs.

Minpunten:

Perhaps what I like least about the program is that it uses a lot of RAM, especially in complex drawings with a lot of shading.I also found it a little complicated to be able to print several sheets at the same time from the plotter.I would really like it if more tutorials were included on their official website, since they are sometimes difficult to find.

DRAFTSIGHT IS A GREAT TOOL

Opmerkingen: Easy to use and great tool sets. My go to choice for CAD software now.

Pluspunten:

I love the ease of use when transition between Draftsight and Autocad, the command structure is very similar and the drawing output is compatible. When I am working from home I have purchased a Draftsight license for odd drawings and projects, as I could not justify the cost of Autocad for occasional use. I now prefer the Draftsight tool over Autocad.

Minpunten:

I was using a freeware version for a number of years, this disappeared and when I tried to log in I needed to purchase. As an occasional part time user (from home) I was trying not to purchase, however the cost is negligible in the end.

Good for Small scale drawing projects --- until it stops working

Opmerkingen: Was great when it was workingWished they could go easy on the security to users who purchased it legally. Your security shouldn't be so strict that it hinders legitimate users from using the product --- at all

Pluspunten:

Clone commandsAnyone familiar with AutoCad can simply use this

Minpunten:

The fact that it stops working unpredictablyI was using this only very occasionally to mark up drawings or tune up designsHowever after having worked on the same machine for years, it did stop working (or activating) a few timesB had bought a lifetime copy, but sadly it seems to check with their servers occasionally and lock me outAt the moment I haven't used it for three years and have contacted support, but feel that it has been blocked by them. I've reinstalled my copy on the same and other machines

Much cheaper option for 2D CAD needs than AutoCAD

Opmerkingen: I had used AutoCAD at work off and on for years. So I'm very familiar with it. Once I retired, I had needs to create drawings, but couldn't afford an AutoCAD license ($$$$). I tried many free (or cheap) drafting packages and struggled to learn them well enough to really create a good drawing. And most of the free ones were just unintuitive and difficult to use.
Then I found DraftSight and it is reasonably priced and uses the same commands as AutoCAD! I've now been using it for about 5 years and have created dozens of useful drawings for myself. Building a new house, I was able to provide several drawings to the builder for how we wanted certain rooms built. These are full engineer drawings, to scale with dimensions, etc. I also designed our pool and entire back yard with drawings that were then followed by the pool builder and sub contractors.

Pluspunten:

Reasonably priced 2D CAD package - meets my needs. Mimics AutoCAD in both commands and functions.

Minpunten:

Have struggled with licensing here and there and found their support difficult, as there is no one to call. You wait for a response from an email and they may or may not actually address the issue, as licensing problems sometimes require dialog. Printing setup/layout are not easy to get right and keeping them configured is touch-and-go. With persistence, you can eventually get it close to what you need, but don't expect it to be perfect and you should be okay.

Probably the best CAD software for GNU/Linux (if you only need 2D drawings)

Opmerkingen: As an architect that uses GNU/Linux I have been struggling to find a good piece of software for CAD drawing, and only Draftsight has been able to fulfill my needs (Except by the fact that it is not possible to work with 3D).

Pluspunten:

* Open and saves dwg files without problems * Multi-plattform software (Windows, Mac, and GNU/Linux) * Feature rich * Known interface for AutoCAD users: you can use GUI + CLI. For those using command line, most commands are exactly the same as AutoCAD, so transitioning from there is extremely easy * Price. Even free version is great for most user cases

Minpunten:

* It just works for 2 Dimension drawings, which may be a big limitation for some, yet nothing relevant for others. * Printing is slightly more cumbersome than printing in AutoCAD (and there's no option to print in batches)