Re: advice on selecting new PCB design package

I would like to jump in on this discussion. I have been frustrated finding an EDA program that is:

* relatively easy to learn/use (I don't do cards very often)
* Can do a EuroCard sized card (4 in. by 6 in. I believe)
* 2 signal 2 power construction, 512 nodes
* Schematic capture and PCB design
* Low cost to free (for moderate use).

My review of various programs has found:

* Kicad -- can't be used on WinME, have not tried Linux (and won't for now)

* FreePCB -- no schematic capture, but seems good otherwise.

* gEDA -- This group of well meaning people just don't have a clue! Just read the most recent Circuit Cellar. An hour to install on Linux! I don't think so. gEDA needs a consistent interface from program to program, an installer such as an open version of Wise, and a Windows version. Most desktops are Windows, so why not a Windows version?? A good user guide is also needed. This is a lot of work I know (this is what I do for a living, so I fully get what is involved), but is a requirement for gEDA to soar to the heights that I believe it is capable of doing. I would settle for a Knoppix CD with all of the gEDA programs and a user guide. The user guide can be an updated version of the articles in CC for a start.

* ExpressPCB -- propriety data format. Not acceptable!!

* Eagle -- Not the most user friendly program I have seen, especially for a "professional" one. The free version is very limited as well, but will do. This is what I'm using until one of the ones above offer a better deal.

Dave,


Ales Hvezda wrote:
DMBPrescott@xxxxxxx wrote:

Look, common sense must tell you that you aren't going to get a product
to handle 6 layers for nothing.
You can buy good quality CAD for a reasonable amount nowadays so why
mess with a free product like gEDA?


Because products like gEDA aren't just about being free (although
that is nice). They are about giving you _full_ control over your
design. Common sense says that commercial entities are
interested in making money (right?) so they will do as much as
possible to retain control over your designs that you created using
their product (that is, lock you into using their product exclusively)
and make it as hard as possible to use a competitor's product. I
like to control the software I use.

Here's a good list of reasons why somebody would want to use
gEDA (or any free software/OSS for that matter):

http://geda.seul.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=geda:faq#why_what_makes_geda_so_different_from_other_eda_tools
(sorry about the long link)

[snip]

Rule of thumb: if you're a hobbyist, a technofreak, and/or design small
and very simple two sided boards with just a few standard components
then give the freebes a try. If you're doing any kind of commercial
level boards of any size above small and simple then expect to pay at
least $500 and upwards for something decent and reliable.


Here's a list of successful projects on the 'net (there are more out
there; I just haven't found them and some are commercial people
obviously do not post their designs ) that use gEDA:

http://geda.seul.org/links.html#projects

I would say that some of them are fairly non-trivial. It becoming
more and more evident that free software/OSS tools are capable
of being used to create complex designs.

-Ales

--
Ales Hvezda
ahvezda AT seul.org
http://geda.seul.org


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: advice on selecting new PCB design package
    ... You can buy good quality CAD for a reasonable amount nowadays so why ... Because products like gEDA aren't just about being free (although ... possible to retain control over your designs that you created using ... more and more evident that free software/OSS tools are capable ...
    (sci.electronics.cad)
  • Re: advice on selecting new PCB design package
    ... with all of the gEDA programs and a user guide. ... As a gEDA user I've gotten to know the developers, and as far as I can tell they just aren't Windows developers. ...
    (sci.electronics.cad)
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