Resources

Python

From the python FAQ:

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic typing, very high level dynamic data types, and classes. Python combines remarkable power with very clear syntax. It has interfaces to many system calls and libraries, as well as to various window systems, and is extensible in C or C++. It is also usable as an extension language for applications that need a programmable interface. Finally, Python is portable: it runs on many brands of UNIX, on the Mac, and on PCs under MS-DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and OS/2.

These features make python an ideal candidate for writing a program like Sketch.

For more information about python have a look a the Python Homepage.

Drawing programs

There are some other projects to develop open source drawing programs similar to Sketch.

One is KIllustrator, which is a KDE program and implemented in C++.

The other is The GYVE, implemented in Objective C and Display Ghostscript.

Other Graphics Programs

The most well known open source graphics program is certainly the GIMP, a, no, the image manipulation program for Linux.

If you ever need to modify a postscript file, pstoedit is a tool to convert postscript files to a variety of vector graphics formats including Sketch's own file format.

Another conversion utility is AutoTrace, which traces the outlines of bitmaps and outputs them in vector form.

Other Interesting Places on the Net

If you're a free-software developer, check out Advogato.