Anyone else using diptrace? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 06:04:10 am
content: I think there's at least one other person who has said they are using diptrace.I've been blithering on about it in the Altium forum and I figure it's probably betterto start its own topic.Scott

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 09:01:57 am
content: pro and con compared to altium?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 11:02:53 am
content: I think there is a free version. I gave up with it as it looked a bit complicated for my needs

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 11:28:52 am
content: Quote from: Simon on June 26, 2011, 11:02:53 amany suggestion on simpler solution?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 11:52:49 am
content: well there is the simplistic expresspcb software but for something decent and free your only option is KiCad

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 02:53:27 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on June 26, 2011, 09:01:57 amWell, since I never got a chance to use Altium, I only have their video tutorials and documentationto go by. Based on that, I would have picked Altium, but since they don't have anyprovision for the low end non-student market, that was out for me.I'd certainly like to hear from someone who has used both.Scott

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 03:01:38 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on June 26, 2011, 11:52:49 amI did play with both KiCad and the GEDA suite.As I recall, I didn't find KiCad to have very good libraries of parts, in spite of all of theuser contributed stuff. It's been at least a year since I tried it, so things may bedifferent now. I do remember being unimpressed with the interface, enough that I didn'tfeel compelled to switch from Eagle at the time.The GEDA suite feels like a hodgepodge of programs just stuck together (and it is).I've been pretty happy with diptrace because it seems that they have put somethought into the user experience. Simple example between them and Eagle:Suppose you draw a bus and connect up individual nets to the bus. In Eagle, you thenhave to go select the naming tool, click on the net, and place the name of the neton the line as it connects to the bus. Why? In diptrace, as you connect the netto the bus, it is labelled automatically. If you use a lot of buses in your schematics, thatsimple thing saves a huge amount of drawing time.Scott

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 03:13:53 pm
content: Quote from: slburris on June 26, 2011, 02:53:27 pmknowing is loving. you barely know it and you choose altium. there should be no question no more to whom know it very well. the answer is obvious then, for me.@simon. i cannot think of any simpler than diptrace. as with my previous experience, simpler means dumber. or maybe you are talking of automatic features, well it proved itself in the past. my 2cnts.it took me just few hours to get to know diptrace, and thats the magic i think. until i need more complicated, my path is from there, i dont have to waste my time learning the other stuff of the same thing.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2011, 05:53:46 pm
content: I've tried it and liked it. Found the parts library took some getting used to but the tutorials are great. Not used it in anger yet (Rebuilding my Lab (read Shed) at the moment ) so all projects are on hold. Would love some indepth reviews/tutorials as these things can have a steep learning curve.

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 04:09:33 pm
content: Quote from: slburris on June 26, 2011, 03:01:38 pmThat's the impression I got when I first tried it, but when I came back to it a second time and actually started using it, I discovered that is its power. It allows you to do things like create a makefile to encapsulate your processes. For example, when I think I'm ready to send a board for fabrication, I simply type "make release". It generates my gerbers, creates a picture of what the board will look like, creates a zip file ready to send out, etc. The other nice part is the well defined text formats. All of my standard parts are generated using a python script. It definitely has its setup time and learning curve like any other, but it's pretty easy after that.

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2011, 04:01:18 pm
content: Can you share with us any of the scripts you use to do what you say.?I'd be interested in using Geda's PCB if you can automate it.Thanks.David.