I'd like to announce the fifth release of PythonCAD, a CAD package for open-source software users. As the name implies, PythonCAD is written entirely in Python. The goal of this project is to create a fully scriptable drafting program that will match and eventually exceed features found in commercial CAD software. PythonCAD is released under the GNU Public License (GPL).

PythonCAD requires Python 2.2. The interface is GTK 2.0 based, and uses the PyGTK module for interfacing to GTK. The design of PythonCAD is built around the idea of separating the interface from the back end as much as possible. By doing this, it is hoped that both GNOME and KDE interfaces can be added to PythonCAD through usage of the appropriate Python module. Addition of other interfaces will depend on the availability of a Python module for that particular interface and developer interest and action.

The fifth release adds the first appearance of a global and user preferences file. Dimensions can now display endpoint markers like arrows and slashes, though the size these objects are displayed at is currently fixed. This limitation should be removed in one of the next two releases. The first implementation of leader lines has been added as well. This release also has many internal changes in preparation for adding hatching. There are also new methods for finding entities in a drawing. Finally, the usual assortment of bug fixes and code tweaks are included. By the way, a screenshot showing the dimension endpoints and leader line has been added to the screenshot page at the web site.

In response to user feedback, drawing files are now saved with a '.gz' extension. The files have always been saved in a compressed format, but the name did not indicate this. With this change it should be more evident that the PythonCAD files are not stored in an uncompressed format.

With this release I am also making a request for help in setting up a mailing list. The lack of a mailing list for people interested in working on PythonCAD to find one another and discuss development issues is a hindrance in adding developers to the project. I do not have the hardware or connection to set up a mailing list on my own, so I would appreciate a few suggestions for sites willing to provide this service.

Visit the PythonCAD web site for more information about what PythonCAD does and aims to be:

http://www.pythoncad.org

Come and join me in developing PythonCAD into a world class drafting program!

Art Haas