Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by s1291 1518 days ago
Could you mention some CAD features that are available in Xfig but are missing in Inkscape?
1 comments

Arc from 3 points, add tangent/normal to a curve on a determined point, measure length of polylines and splines, measure area of polygons arcs and ellipses, measure angles, library of elements, all the 8 snapping modes and indication of what each mouse button will do.
* Arc from 3 points: There is a Live Path Effect for that.

* tangent/normal to a curve: there is an experimental Live Path Effect for tangent (You can get the normal by just rotating the tangent 90 degrees)

* Measure length: Many ways to get that: e.g. the measure tool. or you can use the Measure segments Live Path Effect.

* Measuring the area: There is an extension: Extensions > Visualize Path > Measure Path.

* Measuring angles: again, you can use the measure tool.

* Library of elements: Inkscape has symbols Objects > Symbols. You can also add you own symbols. See also https://github.com/PanderMusubi/inkscape-open-symbols

* Inkscape snapping is way better (See the new smart alignement snapping in version 1.2).

* Inkscape also prints instructions on how to use tools on the status bar

Nice! So, I think the UI must make these features more obvious.

Another thing I miss in inkscape (in case you know): I sometimes did some very interesting interactive live geometric demonstrations with Kig. Had inkscape had the same features, I'd use it.

Sorry, I don't know anything about Kig. It seems that it is similar to GeoGebra?

Anyway. You may find this post interesting: https://castel.dev/post/lecture-notes-2/

I am just curious to know. You need to know how to do that in Inkscape or just for the sake of sharing the link?
I just would like something that allowed me the get "the feel" of a technical drawing software.