PCB Design tool best features wish list? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chris56000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2018, 06:01:24 am
content: Hi!I thought I'd give you my wish–list of EDA tool features that make a good all–round Schematic/PCB package for personal/student/hobby use!A) Schematic editora) Fully customised colour palletteb) Proper TTF/OTF support and Unicode Support (Abacom, are you reading this?)c) Ability to add coloured signal–flow arrows, highlight different power supply/signal lines/buses in different colours, all individually customisable across a schematicd) Add coloured rectangles/shapes to diagrams to highlight pcb areas in multi- board designse) Decent pdf/metafile exportf) Easy library editing, with all the different schematic symbols listed separately. A means of extracting them into pdf format to keep as a separate reference would be a bonusg) All standard drawing sheets supported up to A0/E format plus customh) All standard non–electrical shape drawing & editing tools providedI) Full colour and b/w printing supportB) PCB editora) NO pin, layer count or board size limitb) Full gerber exportc) TTF/OTF fonts and symbol support for pcb designs – despite all the bleatings of EDA software writers this IS possible – the long gone "Electronics Design Studio" could do this, and you could make a board that looked like Elektor made up to the end of the 80s, with Microgramma component references, signal in/out arrows, chassis/earth symbols, esd logos, etcc) Good ripup/retry and P/S autorouter that doesn't grind a pc to a haltc) Variable transparancy option for all layersd) As with schematics, easy library editing with footprint catalogue creatione) Fully customisable colour pallette for objects, layers, grids and backgroundsf) Title block/border support for documenting designs elsewhere (copy/paste into schematic editor would do)f) Easy to use circle/polar tools for things like valve–bases, circular connectors, etcg) Full colour and b/w print support with pdf, metafile, etch) Fully configurable DRC that works "on the fly"i) Fully configurable display/snap grid support down to 1um or 0.1 thouC) GUIa) Please a good clear GUI that can be learnt by inspection with tool–tipsb) Full pan, zoom and inset facilities that work at adequate speed on all commonly used CPUs/GPUsc) Customisable toolbars, etcD) DocumentationSeparate manuals for GUI/basic functions, schematic editor, pcb editor and tutorials. Also Sch and PCB library symbol and footprint index/list export support as separate documents that can be printed out for reference, like you used to get when EDA tools first came outFully integrated help files provided as standardE) OSW32/W64, Linux & MacF) Offline support/updateFully usable off line without an internet connection. Updates every 6/12 months adequate for most purposes. NO compulsory paid–for maintainence.G) PriceBest of all free, but if my wish–list is too much for an open source/free platform then I'd say £150 max!Is there anything that comes close to my "wish list" already out there? i would be very interested in Member's opinions, both in where the current offerings leave out altogether, and in what is done very well and also done very badly.Unfortunately, I'm not software–design experienced, my need is for a fast, easy to learn cheap tool with no arbitrary design, pin, size or layer limits that will draw schematics to EPE Magazine quality – the nearest tool I can remember that could do this with PCB TTF/OTF support was the long gone Electronic Design Studio – this was a UK product.Chris WilliamsPS!I've been reading the KiCad development/Feature Requests pages and apparently TTF/OTF support has been asked for repeatedly over the years, but the developers make out it's too difficult!Can anyone enlighten me as to why?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2018, 06:24:17 am
content: Yeah, right, like any of this is going to happen even for $5000.There is nothing that is even close to this list of requirements.And now people will suggest whatever tools they are used to already.

author: lundmar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2018, 12:16:03 am
content: Looking at your list of requirements I would say Kicad is your best bet. It's open source and includes most of the features you list.OTF/TTF/UTF support would be nice but most can do without.