Bricscad announced today, after a couple of years since version 7, a beta version of Bricscad classic 10 for linux.
Packaged as DEB, red hat RPM and TGZ.
For me CAD is the last missing piece for a windows-free environment. I ardently hope it works.
On Tue, 2010-05-18 at 22:26 +0000, brunomcl wrote:
> Bricscad announced today, after a couple of years since version 7, a
> beta version of Bricscad classic 10 for linux.
>
> Packaged as DEB, red hat RPM and TGZ.
>
> For me CAD is the last missing piece for a windows-free environment. I
> ardently hope it works.
>
>
I have used the original Briscad (wine) port for Linux in the past. It
was reasonable.
The beta installed OK from RPM. It encloses all dependencies in the package, although it’s 32-bit it runs OK is OS 11.1 64-bit.
At start a dialog box informs it will run only up to the end of the month (May 31).
It crashed opening a drawing with complex solid entities, I think (not sure) it has to do with ACIS modeling not being part of this version - there is (or will be) a pro version. However the solid commands work OK: primitives, boolean operations, etc.
Other drawings with 3dfaces and such open and save OK. Shading does not work with thickened polylines, only faces/meshes.
I suppose it will be improved in the commercial release.
It runs (open files, pan and zoom) perceptively faster than AutoCAD in a VM. Some glitches with the display list system, but nothing major.
A number of options are not implemented yet, but it’s very complete as an AutoCAD clone. I hope when it sells well when it’s released. I’ll most probably buy a couple licenses. I hope other CAD users consider using it,it’s a great step for enterprise linux.
Considering the alternative, QCad, I’d say this version of Bricscad is way more than reasonable. 
Thanks brunomcl for bringing this app to our attention and for your educated evaluation of it. I last used VariCAD on suse 10, so haven’t had any decent CAD app since then. This may be it!
@deano
+1. I’m (cautiously) optimistic. It seems very usable as an AutoCAD replacement for serious work. No relevant features missing, if you include what is obviously disabled for commercial or development reasons, like exporting to PDF and such. It can open/edit/save DWG files up to version 2010.
i have tried bricscad and so far so good… im also testing ARES from graebert.com
its beta too… but better than bricscad imho
you can have a beta test by asking a download link to melanie{dot}labes{at}graebert{dot}com and then for a test key… just follow the wizard when starting the program.
hope this helps
Thanks Isak. I sent them a request.
The display problems I have experienced seem related to kwin4 in opensuse 11.1. In another install of oS 11.1 with Kwin3.5 there are no such problems.
Also runs OK in 11.2/KDE4.4.x if Mesa-32 bit package is installed.
No display problems in 11.1 (kwin or kwin4) and 11.2 (kwin4) with Nvidia graphics. It might be related to the ATI board on the problematic 11.1 install.
There’s probably an ATI-related setting in xorg.conf to fix it, but I’m not pursuing this ATM.
If anyone is interested, I posted a HOWTO for BricsCAD on OpenSUSE 13.1 (in the unreviewed HOW TO section, obviously ;))