• QuickLook icon
  • Affinity Photo icon
  • Notion icon
  • Rhinoceros icon
  • PDF-XChange Editor icon
  • +2

Architect's apps

qualanque7 appsUpdated
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List of useful and intuitive apps to improve creative thinking and project management. Some are quite affordable too.

  1. QuickLook icon
     Like

    The Quick Look feature from Mac OS X, which allows users to preview file contents quickly by pressing the Space key, is missed. Windows doesn't have this feature. While alternatives like WinQuickLook and Seer exist, the decision was made to create a new version because the...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Preview of a shapefile (.shp) using the shapefile viewer plugin https://github.com/birderyu/QuickLook.Plugin.ShapefileViewer
    Preview of a PDF file
    Preview of a .docx file using the office plugin at https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook.Plugin.OfficeViewer
    +16
    Preview of an excel .xlsx file using the office plugin at https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook.Plugin.OfficeViewer
    qualanque’s note

    Quick preview files in Windows Explorer with the spacebar. Very efficient.

  2. Real-time raster graphics editor with non-destructive edits, unlimited layers, and workspace for RAW editing, supporting major colour spaces and formats.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Affinity Photo screenshot 1
    Affinity Photo screenshot 1
    Affinity Photo screenshot 2
    +7
    Affinity Photo screenshot 3
    qualanque’s note

    Not just an alternative to Photoshop, it's probably even better.

  3. Notion icon
     Like

    Streamline teamwork with real-time collaboration, drag-and-drop content organization, and visual simplicity across notes, tasks, wikis, and databases.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Notion screenshot 1
    Notion screenshot 1
    Notion screenshot 2
    +12
    Notion screenshot 3
    qualanque’s note

    Flexible tool for project management, knowledge base, quality control, client contact etc...

  4. Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS* curves, surfaces, and solids, point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no limits on complexity, degree, or size beyond those of your hardware.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Rhinoceros screenshot 1
    Rhinoceros screenshot 1
    Rhinoceros screenshot 2
    +2
    Rhinoceros screenshot 3
    qualanque’s note

    Fully fledged 3D modeller with built-in visual programming for parametric design.

  5. An efficient PDF viewer and editor with advanced features like direct content editing, OCR by ABBYY, form filling, annotation, and offline access.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Wine
    Version 10 (2024)
    Viewing PDFs
    Commenting and Annotations
    +3
    Editing PDF files
  6. Miro icon
     Like

    A scalable tool for real-time and asynchronous team collaboration across devices with an infinite canvas, suitable for strategy planning and real-time feedback.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Miro screenshot 1
    Miro screenshot 1
    Miro screenshot 2
    +9
    Miro screenshot 3
  7. Concepts icon
     Like

    Concepts is the digital design sketchbook of the future. It’s powerful, flexible and smart, so you can go from quick sketches to beautiful and precise illustrations in a single app. Enhance your creative capabilities with our infinite canvas, flexible multi-touch shape guides...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Concepts screenshot 1
    Concepts screenshot 1
    Concepts screenshot 2
    +5
    Concepts screenshot 3
    qualanque’s note

    Intuitive drawing and sketching tool. Lacks a bit development in the Windows version, but still very usable.

A BIM program is missing in the list. As of now there are no really great alternatives. Someone please, make us a decent program... 🙏😬

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