LDraw - Lego CAD
Created | Updated Oct 2, 2002
LDraw is a piece of computer software written by James Jessiman that can be used to create computerized models or building instructions for use with Lego - the highly popular Danish plastic building bricks.
LDraw was originally written as a DOS command line program, that is, it has no user interface other than series' of typed commands. Currently the LDraw file format that Mr. Jessiman created can now be used interchangably by more advanced software that will run on one of several operating systems including Microsoft's Windows, Linux, and Apple Computers' MacOS.
Software also exists to allow users to export or render the LDraw format into image or 3D formats such as bitmaps or POVRay files.
LDraw and a variety of related software including the MLCad and LeoCad Windows interfaces can be downloaded for free at LDraw's website.