Overview
QCAD Professional is a powerful, lightweight 2D computer-aided drafting (CAD) application for creating technical drawings, floor plans, architectural layouts, mechanical schematics, and engineering documentation. Developed by RibbonSoft, QCAD combines professional-grade drafting capabilities with an intuitive interface and full DWG/DXF compatibility at a fraction of the cost of mainstream CAD solutions.
The Professional edition adds native DWG read/write support (via the Open Design Alliance Teigha libraries), advanced dimensioning tools, associative hatches, block management, a comprehensive part library with thousands of symbols, ECMAScript scripting for automation, and high-precision scale printing. The Community edition (GPL-licensed) provides the core 2D engine with DXF support.
Core Capabilities
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| 2D Drafting | Points, lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, splines, polylines, and advanced modify tools |
| Layer Management | Color, line type, line weight, transparency, and layer state control |
| Dimensioning | Linear, aligned, radial, diametric, angular, arc length, and ordinate dimensions |
| Block & Group Management | Reusable drawing components with attribute support |
| DWG/DXF Compatibility | Native read/write DWG R2.5–2026, DXF R12–R2018 via ODA Teigha libraries |
| ECMAScript API | JavaScript-based scripting for automation, custom tools, and batch processing |
| Part Library | Thousands of architectural, mechanical, and electrical symbols |
| Print/Plot | Scale control, paper sizes, multi-viewport layouts, batch plotting |
| Cross-Platform | Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD with consistent UI |
Why Professionals Choose QCAD
QCAD delivers professional 2D CAD capability in an exceptionally lightweight package (under 100 MB) that starts in seconds even on modest hardware. Its native DWG/DXF compatibility ensures seamless file exchange with AutoCAD users, while the ECMAScript API enables deep workflow automation. The comprehensive part library dramatically reduces start-from-scratch drafting time, making it ideal for architects, engineers, educators, and independent professionals who need precise technical documentation without the overhead of heavyweight CAD platforms.
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