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+
+WHAT IS IT?
+===========
+
+OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. It is free software
+and available for Linux/UNIX, MS Windows and Mac OS X.
+
+Unlike most free software for creating 3D models (such as the famous
+application Blender) it does not focus on the artistic aspects of 3D modelling
+but instead on the CAD aspects. Thus it might be the application you are
+looking for when you are planning to create 3D models of machine parts but
+pretty sure is not what you are looking for when you are more interested in
+creating computer-animated movies.
+
+OpenSCAD is not an interactive modeller. Instead it is something like a
+3D-compiler that reads in a script file that describes the object and renders
+the 3D model from this script file (see examples below). This gives you (the
+designer) full control over the modelling process and enables you to easily
+change any step in the modelling process or make designs that are defined by
+configurable parameters.
+
+OpenSCAD provides two main modelling techniques: First there is constructive
+solid geometry (aka CSG) and second there is extrusion of 2D outlines. As data
+exchange format format for this 2D outlines Autocad DXF files are used. In
+addition to 2D paths for extrusion it is also possible to read design parametes
+from DXF files. Besides DXF files OpenSCAD can read and create 3D models in the
+STL and OFF file formats.
+
+
+PREREQUISITES
+=============
+
+To build OpenSCAD, you need some libraries and tools. The version
+numbers in brackets specify the versions which have been used for
+development. Other versions may or may not work as well..
+
+* Qt4 (4.4 - 4.7):
+  http://www.qt.nokia.com/
+
+* CGAL (3.6 - 3.9):
+  http://www.cgal.org/
+
+* GMP (5.0.x):
+  http://www.gmplib.org/
+
+* MPFR (3.x):
+  http://www.mpfr.org/
+
+* boost (1.35 - 1.47)
+  http://www.boost.org/
+
+* cmake (2.6 - 2.8, required by CGAL and the test framework)
+  http://www.cmake.org/
+
+* OpenCSG (1.3.2):
+  http://www.opencsg.org/
+
+* GLEW (1.6 ->)
+  http://glew.sourceforge.net/
+
+* Eigen2 (2.0.13->)
+  http://eigen.tuxfamily.org/
+
+* GCC C++ Compiler (4.2 ->):
+  http://gcc.gnu.org/
+
+* Bison (2.4):
+  http://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
+
+* Flex (2.5.35):
+  http://flex.sourceforge.net/
+
+
+BUILDING OPENSCAD
+================
+
+First, run 'qmake' from Qt4 to generate a Makefile. On some systems you need to
+run 'qmake4', 'qmake-qt4' or something alike to run the qt4 version of the tool.
+
+Then run make. Finally you might run 'make install' as root or simply copy the
+'openscad' binary (OpenSCAD.app on Mac OS X) to the bin directory of your choice.
+
+
+DOCUMENTATION
+=============
+
+Have a look at the OpenSCAD Homepage (http://openscad.org/) for documentation.
+