[POLL] what is your Favorite Layout tool editor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: zanzeoo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 12:09:51 pm
content: QuoteI've changed the subjectThx a lot for your help !

author: Hideki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 12:48:53 pm
content: If free and open source software is important, gEDA may be fine if you're a seasoned Linux penguin (but even then I would suggest KiCad instead). The price is unbeatable -- free!If that's not important and you need it to run on Windows, then Eagle is what you want. Eagle is not free, and the price isn't exactly good for what you get, but it's not insanely expensive like some other packages.You will in nearly all cases have to make your own libraries, but the supplied ones can be used to get started.

author: zanzeoo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 09:15:40 pm
content: Thx for your answer , i added a poll

author: Savetheday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 10:06:00 pm
content: Very good idea.But why dont you add alsofritzinghttp://fritzing.org/home/xcircuithttp://opencircuitdesign.com/xcircuit/oreganohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregano_(software)proteushttp://www.labcenter.com/index.cfmosmondCocoahttp://www.osmondpcb.com/download.htmlTraxMaker 3ZenitPCBand so on

author: zanzeoo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 10:41:06 pm
content: Quote from: Savetheday on October 05, 2015, 10:06:00 pmDONE !

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2015, 12:55:49 am
content: In my opinion, free software such as KiCAD is a revolution, especially with what you can do with it.For small projects, home users / hobbyists / OSHW projects it makes sense to use something completely free.When it comes to a company, who ultimately will plan to make money from such designs, I think it better to stick to commercial software for one reason and one reason alone, SUPPORT! And whatever people say about <insert CAD package here>, you will find quirks with all software, so what you should be asking, which is what I ask at every trade show I go to where PCB CAD suppliers are, is not which one is best, they all work, and they all serve a purpose, but which one offers the best support vs cost.Personally, I hate CADSTAR, I think it is unintuitive, over complicated and just a downright PoS package, but I cannot fault the support we get from the supplying company, which is why it is one of the packages the company I work for uses.Your "poll" is essentially meaningless, people will tick the box they use or prefer, but it won't get you useful feedback on the one thing you will rely on when you get stuck.Others will have their opinion, this is mine.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2015, 01:14:00 am
content: I'm very new to PCB design. I have a EE degree and have been doing software development for 35 years. I've only done one hardware design professionally and it was a VME wire-wrapped card. I just started doing some PCB layouts withDipTracefor personal use. DipTrace was very easy to learn the basics. They have a free version you can download and try. You're limited to 2 layers and 300 pins. I highly recommend it.I have tried Eagle and found the learning curve very high.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 06, 2015, 01:59:01 am
content: Hardly anyone use gEDA AFAIK, KiCAD is by far the better option.BTW here is a short interview I did with the lead developer:

author: GNU_Ninja
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2015, 12:16:29 pm
content: DaveCAD works for me ...http://www.post-it.com/3M/en_US/post-it/ideas/articles/solving-open-ended-math-problems/

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2015, 01:30:21 pm
content: I love DipTrace! Though it doesn't have the huge parts library, it is damn easy to make your own parts (5min or less). Plus it is has a very fair licensing scheme. I never could get into Eagle, it just frustrated me too much. Everyone is different though.Quote from: MarkF on October 06, 2015, 01:14:00 amYou can get the Non-Profit Lite license for free which up's the pin count to 500 pins.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2015, 09:13:00 pm
content: Quote from: PedroDaGr8 on October 06, 2015, 01:30:21 pmI thought DipTrace was able to import the Eagle libraries? I haven't tried to import one.Thanks. I already have the Non-Profit Lite license. Easy to apply and receive the license.

author: zanzeoo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 05:28:46 am
content: thx for your feedback

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 05:52:42 am
content: DIPTRACE! O0

author: Kappes Buur
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 06:40:41 am
content: I started usingDesignSpark.But then there are some more design tools:CircuitMaker by AltiumTarget 3001Zuken

author: zanzeoo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2015, 04:10:04 pm
content: updated

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2015, 06:23:33 pm
content: Your poll results are skewed because of people voting for "other" before what they actually use was added.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2015, 07:20:21 pm
content: You forget a few ...CircuitStudioDxDesignerExpeditionZuken is not 1 tool , there are 3 different ones...PADS

author: Wicked_Wonder
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 16, 2015, 10:57:10 pm
content: There are other issues with your poll. For instance, is the user a PCB Layout Designer (someone who uses the tool everyday) or an EE, or an electronics hobbyist (casual users)? Has the voter actually used any other layout tools. If they have only used one tool that will be their favorite and they cannot really speak on the usefulness of another tool. Often colleges will use a lower end tool (Eagle or Altium) and when their students start working in the field they bring what they know with them spreading the tools into the workplace (known as the Apple Computer model).Many factors drive the tools a company will buy, sometimes it is cost per seat, sometimes it is the tool's capabilities, sometimes it is what the team already has the most experience with, and sometimes it is foisted upon the team buy someone above them who will never use the tool but had a wonderful sales presentation.I am a PCB Designer of more than 40 years, and I'm currently learning my 20th layout tool so I feel I can speak with some authority on the subject. Tools come is three tiers, low end and cheep, mid range, and high end and expensive. The old saying "You get what you pay for" holds true generally (but not always). If you only do basic digital designs you really do not need a high end tool and almost any CAD software will do. If, on the other hand, you need a tool that does very complex high speed boards with lots of simulation and RF one of the higher end CAD tools may be the right choice. So based on this having a poll asking what someone's favorite tool is must be taken into the context of their experience with the tool, as a beginner learning Cadence Allegro may hate the tool because it is so complex with a steep learning curve, the user who has used it for years may consider it the best. Almost every tool does something excellent and has short comings as well, the key is finding the one that meets your needs and does most things you need well. I seldom use low end tools, but with determination you can make a simple board with almost any program.As for me I have three favorites, PCad (Now pretty much dead), Altium (Has some bugs but does pretty well), and Cadence Allegro (Mentor Expedition coming in as a close runner-up).