Abstract Certain software applications are broadly considered essential for use in architectural design education. Proprietary software applications can be expensive for students. Given this context, we are interested in identifying core functions of software for architectural education, and on this basis, in identifying possible free software applications as alternatives to proprietary ones. We define and implement several simple tests to evaluate alternative applications such as Blender, GIMP, Canva, and Inkscape. We conclude that certain freely available software applications can effectively fulfill core functions, acknowledging challenges in adoption and interoperability but underscoring cost benefits for students.
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Christenson et al. (2024) studied this question.
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