Build LEGO models with LDraw and LeoCAD
Tutorial – LDraw and LeoCAD
LDraw and LeoCAD help you become a virtual LEGO architect.
For decades, young and old alike have enjoyed the well-known bricks by Danish toy manufacturer LEGO. The success story began in 1932 with wooden toys. In 1949 the first plastic bricks went into production, and since 1958 they have been available in the form that remains popular. Today, LEGO is far more than just a children's toy; there are also many adult LEGO fans. LDraw and LeoCAD help you plan your own LEGO models on your PC.
Before you get started, there are two things you need to do. First, install LDraw [1] on your system. This is an open standard for LEGO CAD programs. The tool comes with 3D models of the bricks and a file format for the notation of the models you build with the bricks. Download the complete brick list [2] and unzip the ZIP file to the ~/ldraw/ folder or another directory. The bricks included in LDraw are constantly updated.
The second step is to install a LEGO CAD program, which you use to turn the virtual bricks into digital models. Of the various programs that use the LDraw standard [3], we chose the current 21.06 version of LeoCAD [4] for this article. For the sake of simplicity, it is a good idea to download the AppImage variant [5], which you can launch directly without installing. Alternatively, pick up the source code from GitHub and compile the program yourself [6].
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.
-
Linux Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.
-
United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
A new open source portal seeks to coordinate and scale open source efforts across the United Nations system.
-
KDE Linux Drops AUR
KDE Linux developers have dropped the Arch User Repository from the build pipeline due to security concerns; other distributions should consider doing the same.
-
California May Exempt Linux from Its Age-Verification Law
After backlash from the Linux community, California may be backing off on its promise to force all operating systems to verify age, but one platform may still have to comply.
-
Another Logic Bug Found in Linux Kernel
Qualys has discovered a vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be used to elevate standard user privileges.
-
Ubuntu Core 26 Offers Game-Changing Enterprise Features
Ubuntu Core 26 could be a game-changer for organizations looking for increased security and reliability.
-
AI Flooding the Linux Kernel Security Mailing List
AI is giving Linus Torvalds a headache, but not in the way you might think.
-
Top Priorities for Open Source Pros Seeking a New Job
Professional fulfillment tops the list, according to LPI report.
-
Container-Based Fedora Hummingbird Designed for Agent-First Builders
Fedora Hummingbird brings the same approach to the host OS as it does to containers to level up security.