# Looking for Simple drafting software **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633 "2010-05-07T14:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/1 "2010-05-07T14:45:35Z")
I’m looking for (preferably free) drafting software. I found several versions of 2D and 3D Cad software from freebytes, but all of that is more complicated than what I need. Here’s my basic bullet list of what I’m looking for. [ul] [li]ability to know how long a line is as I’m drawing it[/li][li]ability to know what angle I’m drawing[/li][li]simple text box capability[/li][/ul] Basically I want to be able to draw simple home woodworking projects something like this: [http://www.horseshupit.com/Horseshoe\_Pit\_Builder/Plans\_files/Horseshoe%20Pit%20Plans-%20Rev.3.pdf](http://www.horseshupit.com/Horseshoe_Pit_Builder/Plans_files/Horseshoe%20Pit%20Plans-%20Rev.3.pdf) Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/2 "2010-05-07T21:10:10Z")
Google Sketchup is surprisingly versatile (and free!). I’ve done a bunch of carpentry-related and home architectural stuff with it. Plus, there’s a huge slew of user-generated content available in the online libraries. It’s very quick to learn and feel productive with. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/3 "2010-05-08T05:24:21Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Google Sketchup is surprisingly versatile (and free!). I’ve done a bunch of carpentry-related and home architectural stuff with it. Plus, there’s a huge slew of user-generated content available in the online libraries. > > It’s very quick to learn and feel productive with. I must be dense, because I don’t find it “quick to learn” at all. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/4 "2010-05-08T06:20:54Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > I must be dense, because I don’t find it “quick to learn” at all. Try the [training videos](http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos.html). ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/5 "2010-05-08T07:32:09Z")
ETA: I hope that didn’t come off as snarky. Sketchup is the easiest 3D modeling/floorplanning software I’ve used. It’s not quite as easy as “I want a house; give it to me now!”, but it certainly beats true CAD and/or modeling programs for ease of use with simple tasks. And it’s free! ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/6 "2010-05-08T07:42:28Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Google Sketchup is surprisingly versatile (and free!). I’ve done a bunch of carpentry-related and home architectural stuff with it. Plus, there’s a huge slew of user-generated content available in the online libraries. > > It’s very quick to learn and feel productive with. You know, I started to recommend Sketchup, and then I backed off because it also has a lot of content that **Enright3** doesn’t need, and it won’t print easily, nor will screenshots appear to scale. It’s a fantastic program but possibly unnecessary for this application. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/7 "2010-05-11T13:41:35Z")
I’m always willing to consider a Google solution. They seem to get a lot of things done ‘right.’ I found a product called DrawPlus SE that isn’t too bad either. I’m going to checkout Sketchup. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/8 "2010-05-12T01:16:55Z")
EasyCAD or FastCAD, by Evolution Computing, is quite good and pretty simple. Not free, though. ---
**Author:** ![moldybread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@moldybread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldybread)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/9 "2010-05-12T15:09:00Z")
You can download a demo of autocad. 30 days i think. Drawing lines is simple. As is measuring or dimensioning them. 30 days would be more than enough time to complete your project. Why not go with the best? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-simple-drafting-software/538633/10 "2010-05-12T19:44:24Z")
If you want an Autodesk app and don’t mind paying a bit of $ I’d go with Autosketch as opposed to the AutoCAD demo. You can download it from CNET for [$129](http://download.cnet.com/Autodesk-AutoSketch/3000-18496_4-19003.html).