Now that Bricsad for Linux is official, and not just beta, I thought I would try it out again.
As I noted in yesterday's post, the software is officially supported for specific dialects of Linux. That's because there is a different installer for each:
- Ubuntu uses DEB installer
- Fedora and OpenSuse use RPM
- All others use TGZ
This does not mean you are limited to these brand names of Linux. For instance, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu (which in turn is based on Debian Linux), and so uses the same installer. Just download the one whose installer matches the one(s) on your system.
Each download is 60MB. Note that this is the Classic version of Bricscad V10 you are getting, which is the cheaper one that loses some features found in the Pro version. (This was probably done to help speed the Linux version to market.) For instance, you can view 3D solid models in drawings, but cannot create or edit them.
I use Linux Mint, and so the install procedure followed these steps:
1. Using FireFox, I went to www.bricsys.com to register and access the download.
2. I choose the Ubuntu version to download.
3. Once the download was finished, I right-clicked its name in FireFox's Downloads window, and then chose Open.
4. This action launches the package installer. I clicked the Install Package button.
5. I provided my system password to permit installation to begin.
6. After some minutes, installation was finished. I clicked the Close button to close the installer.
7. In Linux Mint's application launcher, I found the new bricscadv10 item, and then clicked it to start the program.
Bricscad V10 for Linux looks like the Windows version but with the Mint skin applied. Everything else was the same: menus, command names and options, system variables, customization (albeit with some features missing due to this being the Classic version).
It installs and runs on my netbook computer effortlessly.
This is pretty much similar to my experience installing it on openSUSE 11.2 x86_64. It was supposed to be difficult to install on a 64-bit system, but I had no problems.
Posted by: Ricardo Graça | Sep 21, 2010 at 07:28 AM