[EDA] Kicad User Group

[Ian Bell]

Kicad is an powerful, easy to use, open source, cross platform schematic
capture and PCB layout package. The Kicad User Group is just over a month
old and already has over 100 members. Check out Kicad at:

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/index.html

It's free and runs on both Windows and Linux.

Ian

 

[Boris Mohar]

Kicad is an powerful, easy to use, open source, cross platform schematic
capture and PCB layout package. The Kicad User Group is just over a month
old and already has over 100 members. Check out Kicad at:

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/index.html

It's free and runs on both Windows and Linux.

Ian

Got to check this out. At 104 megs zipped it better be something.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place

 

[JeffM]

Kicad is an powerful, easy to use, open source, cross platform

Got to check this out. At 104 megs zipped it better be something.
Boris Mohar

Notes on Free Dog's test drive (Aug 2005):
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cach...rber+multiple+doesn't-build-nicely+scriptable

 

[Boris Mohar]

Notes on Free Dog's test drive (Aug 2005):
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cach...rber+multiple+doesn't-build-nicely+scriptable

Installed without any trouble. I opened a demo board and rerouted one track
through copperpour (zone) Copperpour would not back off. No amount of
refreshing, zooming, saving and reopening would get rid of the short.

Opened Help. Although it is indexed there is on search function.

Needs work. Will try again in about a year.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place

 

[Ian Bell]

Notes on Free Dog's test drive (Aug 2005):

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cach...rber+multiple+doesn't-build-nicely+scriptable

Note that the first three problems this reviewer found with the shematic
capture package Eschema have now been addressed.

Ian

 

[Ian Bell]

Installed without any trouble. I opened a demo board and rerouted one
track
through copperpour (zone) Copperpour would not back off. No amount of
refreshing, zooming, saving and reopening would get rid of the short.

Interesting. Did it actually *allow* you to route that track? Usually the
DRC flags it as you route it.

IAn

 

[Boris Mohar]

Interesting. Did it actually *allow* you to route that track? Usually the
DRC flags it as you route it.

IAn

Yes it did. I didn't see the drc flags. I use Orcad PCB386. Best by far
although Pulsonix is starting to look tempting. I just cannot justify
purchasing it.

 

[Dave Boland]

Kicad is an powerful, easy to use, open source, cross platform schematic
capture and PCB layout package. The Kicad User Group is just over a month
old and already has over 100 members. Check out Kicad at:

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/index.html

It's free and runs on both Windows and Linux.

Ian

Ian,

Would it be possible to have appends to the user group
echoed to this one? The reason for asking is that I really
don't care for web based news groups, so at least I would
have visibility to what is going on. The advantage to Kicad
is that it gets more exposure, which is good.

Also, would it be possible to put the documentation file on
the web site? I would like to look at it before taking the
time to try the program.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Ian Bell]

Yes it did. I didn't see the drc flags.

Interesting. I will pass this on to the developer. So far I have *always*
found that a DRC violation while routing is flagged immediately (a small
arrow pointing to the place where the violation occurred) and when you
click 'end track' the track is not drawn but erased.

I use Orcad PCB386. Best by far
although Pulsonix is starting to look tempting. I just cannot justify
purchasing it.

Fortunately Kicad is free.

Ian

 

[Ian Bell]

Ian,

Would it be possible to have appends to the Kicad user group
echoed to this one? The reason for asking is that I really
don't care for web based news groups, so at least I would
have visibility to what is going on. The advantage to Kicad
is that it gets more exposure, which is good.

I don't know if this is possible to be honest but I will check with yahoo.

Also, would it be possible to put the documentation file on
the web site? I would like to look at it before taking the
time to try the program.

Kicad documentation is available in several languages under the ftp section
of the web site. A direct link to the English documentation is:

ftp://iut-tice.ujf-grenoble.fr/cao/kicad/help/en/

Ian

 

[JeffM]

Would it be possible to have appends to [Yahoo's Kicad User Group]

echoed to this one?
Dave Boland

You do know that sci.electronics.cad is archived on groups.google.com.
Don't you?

You want Yahoo to allow their content to be mirrored on their
arch-rival?
Not bloody likely.

 

[samIam]

I nearly wet my pants when I saw this ... VERY GOOD news indeed.
Ill have to check it out later.

In my hobby proj, I use paper and orchad schematic capture THEN
PCB (open source) for layout

Nice to see an OSS that combines both

 

[Ian Bell]

I nearly wet my pants when I saw this ... VERY GOOD news indeed.
Ill have to check it out later.

In my hobby proj, I use paper and orchad schematic capture THEN
PCB (open source) for layout

Nice to see an OSS that combines both

That's why I started the user group. My designs are for a charity which has
very limited funds so I had tried a variety of free or open source
packages. Most had the quirky user interfaces that seem to be an
unfortunate hallmark of EDA. Eagle was probably the best but is limited for
zero cost use. When I found Kicad it was like a breath of fresh air. It is
by no means complete, the documentation is basic and the libraries need
expanding but in less than two months of its existence the user group has
begun to address all these.

Ian