How To Install LibreCAD on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

LibreCAD stands as a powerful, free, and open-source 2D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) application that serves as an excellent alternative to commercial CAD software. With the recent release of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat), many designers, engineers, and architects are looking to install this versatile drafting tool on their updated systems. This comprehensive guide will walk you through multiple methods to install LibreCAD on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, configure it properly, and start creating professional 2D technical drawings.

Whether you’re a mechanical engineer, architect, or hobbyist, LibreCAD provides all the essential tools needed for precise 2D drafting without the hefty price tag of proprietary alternatives. Its cross-platform compatibility and robust feature set make it an excellent choice for Ubuntu users seeking powerful CAD functionality.

What is LibreCAD and Why Choose It?

LibreCAD is a free, open-source 2D CAD application designed for creating technical drawings such as architectural plans, mechanical parts, diagrams, and schematics. Developed as a fork of QCAD, LibreCAD has evolved into a mature application with a dedicated community of developers and users.

The software offers several compelling advantages that make it worth considering for your CAD needs:

LibreCAD supports industry-standard file formats, allowing you to read DXF files and export your work to DXF, PDF, and SVG formats. This compatibility ensures seamless collaboration with colleagues using different CAD systems. The application provides a comprehensive set of drawing tools, including precise dimension tools, layers management, and block functionality essential for technical drafting.

As an open-source application, LibreCAD is entirely free to use without licensing fees or subscription costs, making it an economical choice for individuals and organizations. LibreCAD’s user interface will feel familiar to those who have used other CAD software, with customizable toolbars and workspaces that can be arranged to suit your workflow.

Unlike many commercial alternatives, LibreCAD works across multiple operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, providing flexibility for cross-platform environments. LibreCAD can be extended with plugins to add new functionality, allowing you to customize the software to meet specific requirements.

System Requirements and Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the installation of LibreCAD on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensure that your system meets the following requirements and that you’ve completed the necessary preparation steps:

Hardware Requirements

While LibreCAD is relatively lightweight compared to 3D CAD applications, it still benefits from decent hardware specifications:

A modern dual-core processor is sufficient for basic usage, though a quad-core processor will provide smoother performance with complex drawings. LibreCAD operates comfortably with 2GB of RAM, but 4GB or more is recommended for larger projects. The application requires approximately 200MB of free disk space for installation. A display resolution of at least 1366×768 pixels is recommended for comfortable use of the interface.

Software Prerequisites

Before installing LibreCAD, ensure your Ubuntu 24.04 system is up-to-date and has the necessary dependencies:

Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and run the following commands to update your system:

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade

Verify your Ubuntu version to confirm you’re running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS:

lsb_release -a

Install essential packages that may be required during the installation process:

sudo apt install wget apt-transport-https gnupg2

With these prerequisites in place, you’re now ready to install LibreCAD using one of several methods available on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Method 1: Installing LibreCAD Using Ubuntu Software Center

The simplest and most user-friendly way to install LibreCAD is through the Ubuntu Software Center, Ubuntu’s graphical package manager. This method requires no command-line interaction and is ideal for users who prefer a visual interface.

Step-by-Step Installation Using Ubuntu Software Center

1. Click on the Activities button in the top-left corner of your screen or press the Super key (Windows key).
2. In the search bar, type Ubuntu Software and click on the icon to launch the application.
3. Once Ubuntu Software opens, click on the search icon in the top-right corner.
4. Type LibreCAD in the search field and press Enter.
5. In the search results, you should see LibreCAD listed with its icon. Click on it to open the app details page.
6. Click the Install button to begin the installation process.
7. You may be prompted to enter your password to authorize the installation.
8. Wait for the download and installation to complete. The progress will be displayed on screen.
9. Once installed, you can launch LibreCAD directly from the Ubuntu Software Center by clicking the Launch button, or find it in your Applications menu.

This installation method automatically handles dependencies and creates desktop shortcuts, making it the most convenient option for most users. If you encounter any issues with this method, such as LibreCAD not appearing in search results or installation errors, try the command-line methods described below.

Method 2: Installing LibreCAD Using Command Line (APT)

For users who prefer the terminal or need to install LibreCAD remotely, the command-line method using APT (Advanced Package Tool) provides a straightforward alternative. This method is often faster and can be more reliable when troubleshooting installation issues.

Installation Steps Using APT

Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or searching for “Terminal” in the Applications menu. First, ensure your package lists are up-to-date:

sudo apt update

Then, install LibreCAD using the apt install command:

sudo apt install librecad

During the installation, you may be asked to confirm the installation by typing ‘Y’ and pressing Enter. The terminal will display the progress of the download and installation process. When the installation completes, you’ll be returned to the command prompt.

To verify that LibreCAD was installed correctly, you can run:

dpkg -l | grep librecad

This should display the package information, confirming that LibreCAD is installed on your system. You can now launch LibreCAD from the Applications menu or by typing librecad in the terminal.

The APT method installs the version of LibreCAD that’s available in the official Ubuntu 24.04 repositories. This version is typically stable and well-tested but might not include the latest features available in newer releases.

Method 3: Installing LibreCAD Using Snap Packages

Snap packages are containerized software packages designed to work across many different Linux distributions. They include all the dependencies needed to run the application and are automatically updated. Installing LibreCAD as a snap can provide the latest version with automatic updates.

Installing LibreCAD via Snap

First, ensure that snapd (the system that manages snap packages) is installed on your Ubuntu 24.04 system:

sudo apt install snapd

Once snapd is installed, you can install LibreCAD using the following command:

sudo snap install librecad

The system will download and install the LibreCAD snap package. When the installation completes, LibreCAD will be available in your Applications menu or can be launched from the terminal by typing librecad.

Potential Issues with Snap on Ubuntu 24.04

It’s worth noting that some users have reported issues with the Snap system on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. According to search result #6, there have been reports of snapd being slow and occasionally experiencing failures on this version of Ubuntu. If you encounter problems such as slow application startup or snapd service failures, you might want to consider one of the alternative installation methods.

If you do experience issues with the snap installation, you can check the status of the snapd service with:

systemctl status snapd.service

And view detailed logs with:

journalctl -xeu snapd.failure.service

A potential workaround for snapd issues on Ubuntu 24.04 might involve restarting the snapd socket:

sudo systemctl restart snapd.socket

Due to these potential issues, the APT installation method (Method 2) might be more reliable for Ubuntu 24.04 users until the reported snap issues are resolved in future updates.

Method 4: Installing LibreCAD via PPA (Advanced)

Personal Package Archives (PPAs) provide an alternative way to install software on Ubuntu systems. For LibreCAD, there are community-maintained PPAs that may offer newer versions than those available in the official Ubuntu repositories. This method is more advanced and should be used cautiously.

Adding the LibreCAD PPA and Installing

Based on the search results, there are different PPAs available for LibreCAD. One commonly used PPA is maintained by “alex-p”. To add this PPA and install LibreCAD:

First, add the PPA repository to your system. Note that we need to adapt the repository for Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat) instead of Jammy (22.04):

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/alex-p.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/alex-p/librecad/ubuntu noble main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librecad.list

Next, import the GPG key for the repository:

sudo gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring /usr/share/keyrings/alex-p.gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 8529B1E0F8BF7F65C12FABB0A4BCBD87CEF9E52D

Update your package lists to include the new repository:

sudo apt update

Finally, install LibreCAD:

sudo apt install librecad

Considerations for Using PPAs

While PPAs can provide newer versions of LibreCAD, they come with several considerations:

PPAs are maintained by community members rather than the official Ubuntu security team, which may introduce potential security risks. The PPA version might include experimental features that aren’t as thoroughly tested as the official repository versions. If the PPA isn’t maintained for Ubuntu 24.04 specifically, compatibility issues might arise.

For most users, the official repository version (Method 2) provides the best balance of stability and features. Consider using a PPA only if you need specific features available in newer versions of LibreCAD.

Post-Installation Configuration

After successfully installing LibreCAD on your Ubuntu 24.04 system, there are several configuration steps you might want to perform to optimize the application for your needs.

First-Time Setup

When you launch LibreCAD for the first time, you’ll be presented with a default interface. Here are some initial configuration steps to consider:

The first time you launch LibreCAD, you may need to select your preferred language. Go to Edit → Application Preferences → Language to choose your language. LibreCAD allows you to set your default units of measurement. Navigate to Edit → Drawing Preferences → Units to select your preferred unit system (metric, imperial, etc.).

The default workspace layout may not suit your workflow. You can customize the interface by going to View → Toolbars and selecting which toolbars you want to display. You can also rearrange toolbars by dragging them to different positions around the interface.

To optimize performance, go to Edit → Application Preferences → Performance and adjust settings based on your system capabilities. If you have a high-performance system, you can increase the “Auto regeneration” and “Preview entities” settings for a smoother experience.

Setting Up Templates

Templates can save you time by providing pre-configured drawing setups:

LibreCAD comes with some built-in templates, which you can access by going to File → New from Template. You can create your own templates by setting up a drawing with your preferred layers, styles, and dimensions, then saving it as a template via File → Save as Template.

You can also import templates from other sources. To do this, save the template files in the LibreCAD templates directory, typically located at ~/.local/share/librecad/templates/ or /usr/share/librecad/templates/.

Basic Usage of LibreCAD

Now that LibreCAD is installed and configured, let’s explore some basic usage to help you get started with the application.

Creating Your First Drawing

To create a new drawing in LibreCAD:

Launch LibreCAD from the Applications menu or terminal. Select File → New to create a new drawing, or choose File → New from Template to start with a template. Set up your drawing preferences by going to Edit → Drawing Preferences and configuring units, paper size, and other settings.

The drawing area is the main workspace where you’ll create your design. Use the navigation tools in the toolbar to zoom, pan, and adjust your view as needed. The left side of the interface contains various drawing tools, organized by function. Common tools include Line, Circle, Arc, and Dimension tools.

Layers help organize your drawing elements. Use the Layer list (typically on the right side) to create, modify, and manage layers. Use the Properties toolbar to set entity properties like color, line type, and line width.

Saving and Exporting Your Work

LibreCAD supports various file formats for saving and exporting your work:

To save your drawing in the native LibreCAD format, select File → Save or File → Save As and choose the DXF format. For sharing with others who may use different CAD software, you can export your drawing as a PDF by selecting File → Export → Export as PDF.

Other export options include SVG (for web graphics), images (PNG, JPG), and others, accessible through the File → Export menu. If you need to print your drawing, select File → Print and configure the print settings according to your requirements.

Updating LibreCAD

Keeping LibreCAD up-to-date ensures you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. The update method depends on how you installed the application.

Updating LibreCAD Installed via APT

If you installed LibreCAD using the APT method from the official Ubuntu repositories:

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade

This will update LibreCAD along with other system packages when updates are available in the repositories.

Updating LibreCAD Installed via Snap

Snap packages update automatically by default, but you can manually check for updates with:

sudo snap refresh librecad

To view information about the currently installed snap version:

snap info librecad

Updating LibreCAD Installed via PPA

If you installed LibreCAD from a PPA, update it using:

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade

This will include updates from the PPA if they’re available.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Despite the straightforward installation process, you might encounter some issues when installing or using LibreCAD on Ubuntu 24.04. Here are solutions to common problems:

Dependency Issues During Installation

If you encounter errors related to unmet dependencies during installation, such as those mentioning libqt4 components:

Attempt to install the specific dependencies first, then try installing LibreCAD again:

sudo apt install libqt4-help libqt4-qt3support sudo apt install librecad

If the above approach doesn’t work, you might need to resolve broken packages:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

Then try again with:

sudo apt install librecad

LibreCAD Fails to Launch

If LibreCAD doesn’t start after installation:

Try launching it from the terminal to see error messages:

librecad

Check if all dependencies are installed correctly:

sudo apt install --reinstall librecad librecad-data

If you’re using the snap version and experiencing issues, try switching to the APT version:

sudo snap remove librecad sudo apt install librecad

Interface or Rendering Issues

If you experience problems with the LibreCAD interface, such as missing toolbars or rendering artifacts:

Reset LibreCAD preferences by renaming or removing the configuration directory:

mv ~/.config/LibreCAD ~/.config/LibreCAD.backup

If you’re experiencing graphics issues, try launching LibreCAD with software rendering:

LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 librecad

Uninstalling LibreCAD

If you need to remove LibreCAD from your system, the process varies depending on how you installed it.

Uninstalling APT Installation

To completely remove LibreCAD installed via APT, including all configuration files:

sudo apt autoremove --purge librecad

For a basic removal that keeps configuration files:

sudo apt remove librecad

Uninstalling Snap Installation

To remove LibreCAD installed as a snap package:

sudo snap remove librecad

Uninstalling PPA Installation

If you installed LibreCAD from a PPA, first remove the package:

sudo apt remove librecad

Then, you might want to remove the PPA as well:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librecad.list sudo apt update

Congratulations! You have successfully installed LibreCAD. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing LibreCAD on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official LibreCAD website.