Does the number of free lite/starter EDA software really decrease last years? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jkVogel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 08:52:09 am
content: Nowadays there are some options for free EDA software packages suitable for hobbyist/DYI makers, namely:1. EasyEDA (Std/Pro) - nice but limited2. KiCAD - bad UI and UX3. Altium CircuitMaker - slow, buggy, not developingAnd speaking generally, is it all?It seems that 5-10 years ago there were more options because industry monsters tried to engage users to their ecosystems. There were OrCad Lite, EAGLE (Autodesk Eagle later), free Diptrace. Products like CircuitMaker or Fusion were evolving. IMO it is strange because hobby DYI industry grows substantially, and PCB orders, 3D printing become extremely affordable.Is it the case, or do I mess up things?

author: ftg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 04:34:27 pm
content: At least these come to mind:- Horizon EDA (ok, it's a Kicad fork)- UpVerter, bought by Altium. But it seems to be still available.- DipTrace still has it's free tier.- gEDA- PADS had a hobbled free tier, now apparently they have a 1year time limited "PADS Professional PCB Design Student Edition" student licence.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 04:52:05 pm
content: Quote from: jkVogel on March 11, 2025, 08:52:09 amsays who?

author: jkVogel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 09:33:51 pm
content: Sorry, it's just my humble opinion. I work with lots of different software and KiCAD feels so bad to me. It's not like a software you run with joy. Maybe it's a good tool, I don't know, but it's much better to use software that gives you positive feelings, especially when it's done for a hobby, not a paid job.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 09:47:01 pm
content: Fusion PCB is still free for educational or personal use, with limitations:https://www.autodesk.com/ca-en/products/fusion-360/choose-usageBut I don't think its worth considering over kicad.Quote from: jkVogel on March 11, 2025, 09:33:51 pmI prefer using the same tools for hobby and work.Most people use "worse" tools for hobby purposes because they are cheap. They don't care if it takes a bit longer, etc. Or they've never used other tools so they won't compare them (which is good for your sanity).

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2025, 12:22:31 am
content: Sometimes I wonder if we will get a generalized set of curves and traces in a big ass book (like a pace repair book, but 24 volume encyclopedia) with really good electrically conductive adhesive so its like making a sticker book. maybe some fishbone traces that are filed in with copper after you pour chemicals on them too, so you can make a curve shapeThe key would be to find useful shapesor really kick ass markers, so its like doing drafting on a big drafting table like 1960, if you had perfect control of ink films, where you have a whole bunch of 'rubber stamps' for different parts, and special magnets for shifting ink blobs around (which would not streak because its really advanced magnetic ink that only cures if you blast it with 499.51nm nanometer lightWould that not be refreshing? Then it would just be fighting with ink prices instead of license shenanigansthe lithography-punk generaor PCB's quilted in asbesthos-like super materials that are dipped in a vat of molten metal to fill them in.I am telling you, Altium may decide the final technological state of humanity after the first handful of devastating license rebellions. That's the real reason why they are analog in Dune, it had nothing to do with AI, they renamed Altium to CHOAM and made some bs up about AI

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2025, 07:48:20 am
content: Quote from: jkVogel on March 11, 2025, 09:33:51 pmspend a couple of minutes changing the stupid default settings. You can make kicad UI behave pretty much like most other EDAs, but the default are still the "old ones" so the grumpy trolls that infest any open source project community are happy, and then people that come from the industry and are used to a certain workflow are happy, too.

author: eugene
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2025, 03:55:20 pm
content: Quote from: jkVogel on March 11, 2025, 08:52:09 amIt's true that the number of casual hobbyists designing PCBs has exploded. The Keyword here is casual. Unlike you, I like KiCad; I do have positive feelings while using it. But it's too much for most casual users, and frankly I'm bored by casual hobbyists complaining that the UI is too difficult. I invite all of them to try Altium or Cadence or any other pro-level tool instead. Professional level tools require commitment when learning to use them. Yes, I do use KiCad professionally.What is it about EasyEDA that you find limiting?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2025, 10:54:28 pm
content: at least its not eagle cad 6.0

author: temperance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2025, 11:46:49 pm
content: Quote from: jkVogel on March 11, 2025, 09:33:51 pmWhat do you mean with lots of different software and what do you like about those packages?

author: Uky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 09:48:35 pm
content: If I was to recommend any system for the hobbyistthat realizes that learning a competent toolis worth the effort - I would recommend KiCAD.It is the best free PCB tool available today.It has become more and more competent with everynew release over the years rivaling payed toolsfrom many CAD vendors.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 10:29:30 pm
content: KiCad (since V8) has become really good and it's very difficult to (commercially) compete with something that is good and free.So, only the very expensive professional packages that really offer something substantially more can survive.All the rest is being eaten by KiCad.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 02:28:53 pm
content: Quote from: jkVogel on March 11, 2025, 08:52:09 am1. EasyEDA: Limited to whatever some chinese server decides.3. Circuitmaker: Abandonware, has not been updated for a long time.4. Geda. Project is pretty much dead also for quite a lot of years. But more important (for me). I find the way altium mistreats it's paying customers so appaling, that I refuse to use any of their software.5. Diptrace? People using it are apparently happy with it. A year or so ago I saw a video of new features in the newest verstion, and (nearly) all of them were already implemented in KiCad.2. KiCad: Wonderful program, FOSS, and gets significant updates every year.Donations for KiCad are also increasing over the last few years. This allows for the salary for some extra full time developers, which again increases the speed with which KiCad improves, and they are now even paying for some custom development of WxWidgets to fix bugs, and I think also to implement some new features, so KiCad's user experience can be further improved.When did you last try KiCad? It's now much better then just a few years ago, and it's also pretty customizable. But if you approach it from the side of trying to find something to complain about, then you will always find some things. There are also (slight) differences in the way people think. Just like for example political parties. And some people just can't wrap their head around some programs. But still, with the speed real and useful functions are added to KiCad, it will likely outpace the development of most of the other "entry level" EDA suites. KiCad is now already good enough for small to medium sized companies and I expect this to further improve over the years. So I am not surprised if the "free / lite starter" EDA suites are becoming much less attractive then KiCad each year.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 04:42:46 am
content: Yeah, probably. It turns out that keeping up with churn in operating systems is difficult and expensive...All those "old" programs that were sort of limping along in W7/W8 are becoming "not worth updating" for W10/11(similar issues for MacOS and Linux.)