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Domain: opendwg.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to opendwg.org.

Comments · 9

  1. Re:Free software and owned infrastructure by vbraga · · Score: 1 · on US Government Begins Largest IT Consolidation in History

    Your prediction is right.

    A consortium of software companies already provides an alternative framework for reading DWG files. (link)

  2. Re:Same reason classical music is often overlooked by idommp · · Score: 5, Interesting · on Open Source Engineering Tools?
    Humorous but true. I've spent 25 years writing engineering (and other scientific applications) software. The development cycle is LONG because the problems being addressed are complex. Most any idiot can program a text processor. Programming a complex mathematical analysis that guarantees the bridge won't fall down in a stiff wind is a bit harder. It requires a bit of skill and esoteric knowledge. Having that knowledge, I whore my services out to the highest bidder. Companies pay me to design programs that make their engineers more efficient. Why would they want to share that knowledge with the competition?

    There is also liability involved when doing engineering software.

    But OpenSource is alive and well in this arena. http://www.opendwg.org/ is just one example.

  3. Re:It's about apps, not the OS/distribution by digitect · · Score: 1 · on Rise of the 'Consumer' Linux Distribution

    Yes, and with organizations like OpenDWG, we wouldn't even have to argue much about file formats. I personally don't think parts libraries are an issue since so many manufacturers already offer free drawing files. Plus there are public efforts like CADD/GIS Technology Center which offer complete symbol libraries along with their CAD Standard. Many municipal governments offer standard site details, too. Our office spends more time trying to organize library details than we do actually drawing them.

    The environment is ripe for open source CAD, we just need to get an enterprise level effort rolling!

  4. Why not do it like OpenDWG? by mikael · · Score: 3, Interesting · on StarOffice 6.0 Beta Available

    I don't understand why the makers of Office-like applications haven't done like the CAD-business. They created the OpenDWG alliance in order to reverse-engineer Autodesk's proprietary .dwg-format for storing CAD-drawings and succeeded with the task. Mabye an OpenDOC (no pun intended, Apple) alliance would speed up the acceptance and usability of open alternatives to MS-Office.

    Mikael

  5. See OpenDWG for success by mikael · · Score: 1 · on Abiword, wvWare And KWord Authors To Collaborate

    Idon't understand why the makers of Office-like applications haven't done like the CAD-business. They created the OpenDWG alliance in order to reverse-engineer Autodesk's proprietary .dwg-format for storing CAD-drawings and succeeded with the task. Mabye an OpenDOC (no pun intended, apple) alliance would speed up the acceptance and usability of open alternatives to MS-Office.

    Mikael

  6. the real opendwg url... by T.Hobbes · · Score: 1 · on Why Can't We Reverse Engineer .DOC?

    ... is http://www.opendwg.org, not http:///www.opendwg.org as is given in the article.
    there should be a policy of the minimum number of cups of coffee the poster has to drink before posting...

  7. Visio/M$ implications to Open Source by UnanimousCoward · · Score: 1 · on Visio to be bought by Microsoft

    Visio is a founding member of an effort to have AutoCAD open its DWG standard (see Open DWG). I wonder what will happen now.

    As has been noted by several /.ers, it was reported that Visio was going to release its code for IntelliCAD 2000. See this article from upfront.eZine. The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) supposedly will have a website up and running (www.intellicad.org) soon, but now, who knows?

    Finally, there is an OpenCAD effort that can be found here.

  8. AutoDesk locks-in customers with its DWG format... by birchallr · · Score: 1 · on Feature:Alternative View of Microsoft Monopoly
    Many, many engineering CAD drawings are stored in the AutoCAD file format. It is a similar problem.

    The solution taken by the The OpenDWG Alliance is interesting.

    Perhaps we need a OpenDOC Alliance?

    There is a background paper here:

    http://www.opendwg.org/bac kground/wtpaprs/allwtpapr.html

  9. Unfortunately, I can believe it... by rho · · Score: 1 · on Workstations: Unix losing to NT

    Depending on how you define "workstation", I can see how NT is beating Unix. Architects and engineers use "workstations" -- defined as bigger, badder, faster than your standard box -- and they overwhelmingly use AutoCAD, which is Win32 only. There are a *lot* of architects, engineers, contractors, specifiers, etc. out there.

    Kinda sad that there isn't an AEC package for Linux (yet). It would do gangbuster business. An ironclad Unix app beats a fru-fru, half-assed 95/98/NT app any day.

    An open source drafting program that incorporates the OpenDWG movement would reverse this NT "workstation" trend, IMHO.

    Even better, if the CAD package would read and understand the current AutoLISP tools that people have spent so much time and money on, with the stability and power advantage of Unix, AutoCAD would have very little to stand on.

    Just my opinion....