Bricscad

What is Bricscad?

BricsCAD was first released in the mid‑2000s by Bricsys, a company that grew out of the engineering software division of Dassault‑Systèmes. It was designed to bring a familiar AutoCAD‑like experience to Linux, Windows and macOS, and has evolved through several major releases, adding 3‑D modeling, BIM tools and a scripting interface.

The target audience is mainly engineers, architects and designers who need DWG compatibility but prefer or require a Linux environment. The interface is similar to AutoCAD’s, with a command line, ribbon‑style toolbars and a focus on keyboard shortcuts.

Compared with the Windows AutoCAD suite, BricsCAD feels lighter and faster on Linux, but some advanced AutoCAD features (e.g., certain 3‑D rendering engines or plug‑in ecosystems) are missing or less polished. The learning curve is moderate because most commands and shortcuts carry over from AutoCAD.

Best for: Engineers and designers who need DWG compatibility on Linux and prefer a familiar AutoCAD‑like interface.

Key features of Bricscad

• DWG/DXF import and export
• Command‑line interface with AutoCAD‑style commands
• 3‑D solid modeling and surface tools
• BIM‑ready workflows
• Scripting with Python and C#
• Cloud collaboration via Bricsys Cloud

Tips for Windows users

When moving from AutoCAD to BricsCAD, keep your DWG files in the same folder and use the ‘Import DWG’ command to bring them in. Most shortcuts are identical (e.g., ‘L’ for line, ‘C’ for circle). BricsCAD’s command line accepts AutoCAD syntax, so you can copy-paste scripts. Expect minor differences in the 3‑D viewport and in the way layers are managed—BricsCAD uses a similar layer manager but some properties may be named differently.