Inkscape 1.3.2

Inkscape Technical Documentation

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System Requirements

Operating System

• Inkscape supports the following operating systems:
  • Linux: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or later, Fedora 33 or later, Arch Linux, and other distributions that support GTK+ 3.
  • macOS: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later, with X11 or XQuartz installed.
  • Windows: Windows 10 or later, with Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installed.

Hardware Requirements

• CPU: A 64-bit processor with at least 2 GB of RAM. Recommended minimum is a dual-core Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent.
• RAM: At least 4 GB of RAM recommended for smooth performance. More RAM can be used if needed, as Inkscape handles large files efficiently.
• Storage: A solid-state drive (SSD) is highly recommended due to its faster loading times and improved performance. If an SSD is not available, a fast hard disk drive (HDD) can be used.
• GPU: A dedicated graphics card with at least 1 GB of video memory is required for smooth rendering and performance.

Network Connectivity

• Inkscape requires a minimum internet connection to check for updates. An active Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi network is recommended.

Browser Compatibility (Web-Based)

Inkscape offers a web-based version, but it has limitations compared to the desktop application. The web interface supports:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

Installation Guide

Installing from Source Code

1. Clone the Inkscape repository using Git: ```bash
   git clone https://github.com/inkscape/inkscape.git

2. Change into the cloned directory: ```bash
   cd inkscape

3. Run the installation script: ```bash
   ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/inkscape --enable-lua
   make
   make install

4. Copy the libinkscape.so file to a desired location, such as /usr/local/lib: ```bash
   sudo cp libinkscape.so /usr/local/lib/

Common Installation Issues and Solutions

• If you encounter issues during installation due to missing dependencies, try installing the following packages:
  • On Linux: libgtk-3-dev, liblua5.1-dev
  • On macOS: git command to update libxml2.dylib and libsqlite3.dylib
• If you encounter issues with the installation script due to permissions, try running it with elevated privileges using sudo.

Post-Installation Steps

• After installation, configure Inkscape by creating a .config directory in your home directory: ```bash
  mkdir -p ~/.config/inkscape/

• Create a configuration file (~/.config/inkscape/config.rcc) with the following content to enable the extension manager:

  <ExtensionManager>
      <Extension enabled="true" id="org.inkscape.ext">
          <Enabled>true</Enabled>
      </Extension>
  </ExtensionManager>
  

Technical Architecture

Core Technologies and Frameworks

• Inkscape is built using the GTK+ 3 framework, which provides a cross-platform GUI.
• The application uses the C++ programming language for performance-critical components.

Software Architecture

Inkscape's architecture consists of several modules:

• Core Module: Handles basic functionality such as UI management, file loading, and rendering.
• Extension Module: Manages user-installed extensions and their interactions with the core application.
• UI Module: Provides the graphical user interface (GUI) for users to interact with.

Databases, APIs, or Services

Inkscape uses the following databases:

• Inkscape's internal database stores user preferences, settings, and extension data.
• The extension manager interacts with an external database to manage installed extensions.

Performance Considerations

To ensure optimal performance, consider the following:

• Inkscape is optimized for use on multi-core processors. Running the application on a single-core processor may lead to reduced performance.
• To minimize memory usage, reduce the number of open documents or disable unnecessary features.

Dependencies

Required Libraries and Frameworks

• GTK+ 3: Used for the graphical user interface (GUI).
• Lua: Enables the extension manager and provides a scripting environment for extensions.
• SQLite: Used by the core module for storing data in the Inkscape database.
• Pango: Provides font rendering and text formatting functionality.

Compatible Software

Inkscape is compatible with the following software:

• Graphics editors like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP.
• Image editing tools like ImageMagick or FFmpeg.

Compatibility Concerns and Version Requirements

Please be aware of the following compatibility concerns:

• GTK+ 3: The minimum supported version is GTK+ 3.22.
• Lua: The recommended version for extensions is Lua 5.1.
• SQLite: The recommended database version is SQLite 3.34.

If you encounter any issues with Inkscape, refer to the official support forums or check the Inkscape Wiki for more information.