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Message-ID: <5611BFC8.8050402@ecosensory.com>
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2015 19:09:44 -0500
From: John Griessen <john AT ecosensory DOT com>
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To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: [geda-user] GTK3, Glade interface designer (router, auto?)
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Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com

On 10/04/2015 06:55 PM, John Griessen wrote:
> One way to do a workflow for an autorouter would be to export an outline
> of the area to route up to, including some metal layer pieces with netnames
> to connect to, and all components


On second thought, that is probably too much for an external tool to do.
So the external tool doesn't need to know footprints, just export the
pins with netnames attached and let the router go,
then import all except pins.  That's all the same result when the router never
moves footprints.

A router that works inside the layout program could do more.  Imagine tell it
a gravity direction, have some parts placed and routed, or just marked as
"hand routed", and power busses placed, then let the  router pour circuitry
into the shape defined by the board outline, and already placed circuitry.

That would be super useful.