Skencil / Resources

Python

From the python FAQ:

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic typing, very high level dynamic data types, and classes. Python combines remarkable power with very clear syntax. It has interfaces to many system calls and libraries, as well as to various window systems, and is extensible in C or C++. It is also usable as an extension language for applications that need a programmable interface. Finally, Python is portable: it runs on many brands of UNIX, on the Mac, and on PCs under MS-DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and OS/2.

These features make python an ideal candidate for writing a program like Skencil.

For more information about python have a look a the Python Homepage.

Link collections

Graphics Category of FSF's Free Software Directory.

CAD, Drawing & Painting Tools at Scientific Application on GNU/Linux.

Unfortunately they also list proprietory applications.

Drawing programs

There are some other projects to develop free drawing programs similar to Skencil.

One is Karbon (formerly known as Kontour and KIllustrator), which is a KDE program and part of KOffice. It's implemented in C++.

Another one is GNOME based Sodipodi. It's implemented in C and uses SVG as it's native file format.

There is also The GYVE, implemented in Objective C and Display Ghostscript. The project was discontinued in 2002.

Other Graphics Programs

The most well known Free Software graphics program is certainly the GIMP, a, no, the image manipulation program for Linux.

If you ever need to modify a postscript file, pstoedit is a tool to convert postscript files to a variety of vector graphics formats including Skencil's own file format.

Another conversion utility is AutoTrace, which traces the outlines of bitmaps and outputs them in vector form.

Other Interesting Places on the Net

If you're a free-software developer, check out Advogato.