Creating and Using Barcodes with Inkscape

Barcodes provide a simple, reliable, machine-readable way to read numbers or addresses into your computer (or smartphone or tablet) so that information can be looked up online or in a database.

Barcodes are used in a variety of industries such as in library systems, in blood banks, for labeling telecommunication equipments, ISBN codes in books, on packaged products - just to name a few.

Inkscape - A noteworthy open source vector graphics software

Inkscape is an open source, feature-full vector graphics environment with capabilities similar to Adobe Illustrator. Inkscape uses the W3C standard SVG file format. It supports many advanced SVG features like markers, clones, alpha blending and so on.

What is more, Inkscape is cross platform and is available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X platforms.