Argh!

[etherial]

So, I have this geometric figure I want to draw on my computer. It consists entirely of circles in proportionate sizes. This exercise would be downright trivial in Geometer's Sketchpad...if I had it. Since I don't, I'm looking for recommendations of programs that are free-ish that are a) precise enough to let me draw concentric and relational circles with proportional (a, 2a, 3a) radii but are b) simple enough that I can use without tutorial from another human being or trolling the internet for forums and help files.

Comments

[invader-haywire.livejournal.com]

Having CADKEY on my system, I can do it for you....

[etherial.livejournal.com]

I find it imminently likely that there are at least a dozen people on my flist who can do it for me. But that has nothing to do with a) being bored at work and b) the rather distressing feeling that technology left me rather behind a decade ago and I'm becoming a Luddite.

Thanks for the offer, though. CAD was second on my list of "programs I knew/know how to use that would do this in a snap if only I had one of them".

[shogunhb.livejournal.com]

Jackman pointed me at http://sketchup.google.com/ recently. I'm not sure what its capabilities are, but check it out!

[aleksandyr.livejournal.com]

Java-based: ran it and it -looks- sketchpaddy. Was able to make your construction in about six seconds.
http://www.geogebra.org/cms/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

More hardcore alternative, *nix and OSX only.
http://www.mit.edu/~ibaran/kseg.html

Both showed up for "open source Geometer's Sketchpad" alternatives.

[rosinavs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, got sketchpad at work. Which reminds me, I need to look for my CD of it.

re: sketchpad

[etherial.livejournal.com]

It's a pretty awesome program. I was able to build the Euler line in a matter of minutes while I was being "trained" in it last year, then set the points to move about the plane, displaying its permanence. Finished making the icon I wanted. FYI, it consists entirely of arcs from concentric and/or tangent circles.