PCB tools for Linux (was Whenceforth the Ubuntu fanboyz now?)

[Kevin Cozens]

phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote:
> The only thing we cannot do under Linux these days are PCB layout and
> routing. As a matter of habit, I use Electronic Workbench under Windows
> for circuit simulation, but I believe there is a linux-based alternative
> now.
>   
Have you looked at the gEDA suite (http://www.geda.seul.org)?

As previously mentioned, there is EagleCAD (http://www.cadsoft.de) for 
schematic capture and PCB layout. The gEDA suite has gschem for 
schematic capture. Associated with the gEDA suite is PCB 
(http://pcb.sourceforge.net) for PCB layout.

I haven't spent much time with any of the above. They may be nice 
programs but I didn't find them that intuitive or conducive to just 
starting them up and being able to use them out of the box. It may be 
just a case of spending a bit more time using them first.

The program I currently use for schematic capture and board layout is 
WinQCad (http://www.winqcad.com). Yes, it is a Windows program but the 
web site states right up front that you can run the program using Wine 
(which I have done).

I have found WinQCad to be the easiest program of its type to use. I was 
able to start making useful schematics with it very quickly. The free 
version has a 499 pin limit only. It dosen't limit the size of board or 
number of layers you can have. The pin limit doesn't affect the 
schematic editor. It only seems to come in to play when you try to 
generate a netlist. (I'm not sure what impact it has for the board layout.)

Its part and PCB outline libraries seem a bit limited but it is easy to 
edit and/or create the part and outline libraries. It can also import 
parts from other software packages. It seems to have a fairly decent 
autorouter. I've mainly used the schematic editing features so I can't 
say too much about the board layout aspects.

So far, I have used it to create (or update from a very old OrCAD files) 
created 5 schematics ranging in size from a single A sized sheet to one 
consisting of 8 B sized sheets.

BTW, does Octave handle equation solving along the lines of TK! Solver? 
I'm talking about a program where you can enter a formula, give it some 
known values for the variables and have it solve for the unknowns 
without have to re-arrange the formula.

ie. Enter the formula for resonant frequency (Fr), provide values for Fr 
and C and have the program solve for L.

-- 
Cheers!

Kevin.

http://www.ve3syb.ca/           |"What are we going to do today, Borg?"
Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172      |"Same thing we always do, Pinkutus:
                                |  Try to assimilate the world!"
#include <disclaimer/favourite> |              -Pinkutus & the Borg 

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