[PythonCAD] ANNOUNCE: Twelfth release of PythonCAD now available

[Art Haas]

Hi.

I'd like to announce the twelfth development 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 or Python 2.3. 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 twelfth release of PythonCAD contains a large number of internal
changes to the program. The class hierarchy for the various entities
has been simplified, and the ability to hide or lock entities on
an individual basis has been added. The largest change to the code
is the incorporation of a messaging system between the entities similar
to that in Trolltech's QT framework. Another significant change in this
release is the introduction of quadtrees for storing the various
entities in a drawing, which should provide faster searching for
the location of the entities.

A number of code cleanups have also been applied to this release.
Numerous deprecated methods have been removed, and several Python
function calls that are deprecated or appear to be heading that way
have been removed. The code cleanup also exposed various bugs which
are now resolved. Changes due to the incorporation of the new messaging
system have made a number of entity methods deprecated, so warnings
messages will appear if they are called. These newly deprecated
methods will be removed in an upcoming release.

The mailing list for the development and use of PythonCAD is available.
Visit the following page for information about subscribing and viewing
the mailing list archive:

http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythoncad

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, and Happy New Year to everyone!

Art Haas
-- 
Man once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities
the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind.

-Thomas Jefferson to James Smith, 1822