What is your favorite PCB software?
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From: DJ Delorie on 8 Apr 2008 16:15 Grant Edwards <grante(a)visi.com> writes: > I believe that was me. What I couldn't figure out how to do > was to get the gEDA/PCB stuff to work together: how to export a > netlist from the schematic editor and then auto-route it, http://www.delorie.com/pcb/docs/gs/ You want the "blinker board" tutorial. > then modify the layout and back-annotate the schematic. Sorry, no back-annotation yet. Forward annotation is pretty easy though. What I do is use pcb to determine the changes I need, then make them in gschem and forward annotate.
From: Robert Adsett on 8 Apr 2008 23:12 In article <7dGdnfFvs-K3UmbanZ2dnUVZ_sbinZ2d(a)visi>, Grant Edwards says... > On 2008-04-08, rickman <gnuarm(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > On Apr 7, 10:19 am, "Joel" <joelben...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Just curious about what everyone uses. I've been using Orcad PCB editor. > > > > I use FreePCB. It is an open source package under Windows only. > > > > I looked at Eagle and found it to be incredibly arcane and difficult > > to learn. I find it interesting that one person says that gEDA was > > too hard to learn, but didn't find Eagle to be awkward. > > I believe that was me. What I couldn't figure out how to do > was to get the gEDA/PCB stuff to work together: how to export a > netlist from the schematic editor and then auto-route it, then > modify the layout and back-annotate the schematic. > > In Eagle, all that stuff "just works". I've heard people > complain about the Eagle UI. The library-related stuff is a > bit clunky, but the basic schematic capture and board layout > stuff seemed fine to me. I'l go further and say I found it very straight forward, even easy. Their non-rectangular group selection is unusual but I find it better than the standard windows convention (which they also have). The biggest thing I find missing is the lack of hiearchy in the schematics, a rather curious blind spot on their part. Robert ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
From: Simon Clubley on 9 Apr 2008 07:37 On 2008-04-08, John Devereux <jdREMOVE(a)THISdevereux.me.uk> wrote: > Simon Clubley <clubley(a)remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> writes: > >> On 2008-04-07, Joel <joelbenway(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>> Just curious about what everyone uses. I've been using Orcad PCB editor. >> >> Has anyone here looked at Vutrax (http://www.vutrax.co.uk) and if so, >> what did you think of it compared to the alternatives ? >> >> (I'm not associated with them, I have just used the free version >> occasionally in the past.) > > I use it and am pretty happy with it. > > Pros: Does what I need, runs on linux and windows. (I use the linux > one). It is pretty flexible and complete. Scriptable. Free version up > to n pins (256?). Stable, no problem reading files I did 15+ years > ago. Still actively supported and updated. Good technical > support. Buzzword compliant, e.g. Heirarchical schematics, > forward&back annotation/modification, 3D view, autoplace, > autorouters. DXF import(?)/export. Design rule checking. Gerber > RS274X, drill file generation. Export of parts lists, pick and place > files. Extensive control of plotting and on-screen display. > > Cons: It has a steep learning curve and unfamiliar interface. > Development has slowed in recent years. The best autorouter is 3rd > party (Elektra), windows only(?) although quite good and reasonably > priced IMO. Some lack of integration with operating system, more so on > linux. > Thanks for the reply. Yes, it's free up to 256 pins. The steep learning curve and unfamiliar interface is what keeps me from using it more often, especially, since this is for hobbyist use, I am not using it every day. I do find some of the other free packages easier to pick up again when I haven't done any circuit design for a while. As you have noted, it does appear to be feature rich however. Simon. -- Simon Clubley, clubley(a)remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP Microsoft: Bringing you 1980's technology to a 21st century world
From: Robert Lacoste on 9 Apr 2008 07:59 "Joel" <joelbenway(a)gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news: pOidnUGOS6oVsGfanZ2dnUVZ_ramnZ2d(a)giganews.com... > Just curious about what everyone uses. I've been using Orcad PCB editor. Proteus (www.labcenter.co.uk), for its very good mixed signal simulation tools as well as its solid PCB design features, well adapted to complex manually routed boards (rf, etc). Moreover I like the look of its schematics, far more pretty on a customer report than Eagle's I think. Robert
From: Jon on 11 Apr 2008 15:05
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:19:52 -0500, "Joel" <joelbenway(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Just curious about what everyone uses. I've been using Orcad PCB editor. I've been using Eagle for more than 5 years now. A little tricky to use it. You don't select an object, and then choose what to do with it. You first select what you want to do, and then you select objects to apply that action to. That is a little odd at the beginning, but once you get used to it, you work faster. Copy&Paste and Cut&Paste are somewhat odd. Cadsoft should improve that. The C scripting language that it includes is very powerful. For instance, if you need to place pads for LEDs, tracks, etc, with circular symmetry (every 22.5�, for instance), you can easily program that. By hand, it would by a hell, not to say impossible. Best, Jon |