| Open source vector graphics app turns 0.5 |
May 28, 2006
After only nine weeks of operation, the open source Xara Xtreme project -- which is building a commercial-standard vector graphics program -- has reached a 0.5 version status with Xara LX for Linux. All tools are fully functional, and users can now save and export files as bitmaps, according to the project team.
While work remains to bring the program up to the polish of the commercial Xara Xtreme, the Xara team estimates it is more than halfway to an official 1.0 release.
An example of a commercial-standard vector graphics program is Adobe Illustrator.
The features deemed most critical to the 0.5 milestone were "save" and "export" of designs as bitmaps, according to the project. A number of additional features also reached completion since the 0.4 version, including:- New auto package installer
- Bitmap import Bitmap Gallery
- Color gallery
- Layer gallery and operational layer system
- Guidelines, guide snap and magnetic object snap
- Simple color editor
- Status line and progress bar
- Clipviews -- path clipping
- Improved combo boxes, toolbars, drop down menus, buttons and sliders
- Freehand tool smoothing
- Comprehensive Help Desk now integrated
"Linux needs a top-tier commercial-standard graphics program," the team wrote in the release announcement. "The Linux desktop has come on leaps and bounds in the last year or so, but it still lacks any vector or general purpose graphics program to genuinely compete with Windows and Mac commercial products.
"And although desktop Linux is evolving at a rapid rate, the platform is behind in the graphics market. We intend to change that," the team added.
This milestone was achieved due to the contributions of open source developers across the globe, who contributed numerous hours of time to over 1,000 builds in the past several weeks, the team said.
You can download your own copy of Xara Xtreme 0.5 here.
You can view some screenshots here.
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
