Mail Archives: geda-user/2015/08/23/10:10:43
--047d7b33d4aae73945051dfb0f77
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Some of the main attractions for new KiCad users seems to be
- the fairly large library of footprints which they can start using
straight away
- the ability to import various footprint/layout formats, and
- the fact that development has been at breakneck speed, not that anyone
can compile anything current easily... (although people stuck on the stable
release can't use the newer s-file formatted footprints/modules...)
they also have some 3D rendering eye candy working for footprints, it would
seem.
I've been playing with footprint importing tools, such as KicadModuleToGEDA
to leverage the enthusiasm and efforts of KiCad users, as well working on
some footprint generating utilities, and also improving font options for
gEDA, to help with this "eye candy" aspect for new users.
There is a fairly steep learning curve when it comes to contributing to the
PCB code and submitting patches without breaking things, but small stand
alone utilities like this are bite sized chunks that are readily achieved
by individuals learning to code or putting their toe in the water.
Utilities like this needn't necessarily be part of PCB, since the utility
is run once for a particularly footprint, typically, and the footprint is
then used again and again in PCB, so I think active developers working on
add on utilities does not necessarily reflect badly on the cvs as it
stands, and may in fact reflect new developers taking on tasks they feel
comfortable with, given their level of proficiency.
Erich
On Sun, Aug 23, 2015 at 9:56 PM, myken <myken AT iae DOT nl> wrote:
> On 23/08/15 14:13, John Doty wrote:
>
>> Why should we listen to people who don=E2=80=99t understand how a toolki=
t works?
>>
> Because they attract new users.
>
> Cheers Robert.
>
--047d7b33d4aae73945051dfb0f77
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div><div><div><div>Some of the main attractions for =
new KiCad users seems to be<br><br>- the fairly large library of footprints=
which they can start using straight away<br>- the ability to import variou=
s footprint/layout formats, and <br></div>- the fact that development has b=
een at breakneck speed, not that anyone can compile anything current easily=
... (although people stuck on the stable release can't use the newer s-=
file formatted footprints/modules...)<br><br></div>they also have some 3D r=
endering eye candy working for footprints, it would seem.<br><br></div>I=
9;ve been playing with footprint importing tools, such as KicadModuleToGEDA=
to leverage the enthusiasm and efforts of KiCad users, as well working on=
=C2=A0 some footprint generating utilities, and also improving font options=
for gEDA, to help with this "eye candy" aspect for new users.<br=
><br>There is a fairly steep learning curve when it comes to contributing t=
o the PCB code and submitting patches without breaking things, but small st=
and alone utilities like this are bite sized chunks that are readily achiev=
ed by individuals learning to code or putting their toe in the water.<br><b=
r></div>Utilities like this needn't necessarily be part of PCB, since t=
he utility is run once for a particularly footprint, typically, and the foo=
tprint is then used again and again in PCB, so I think active developers wo=
rking on add on utilities does not necessarily reflect badly on the cvs as =
it stands, and may in fact reflect new developers taking on tasks they feel=
comfortable with, given their level of proficiency.<br><br></div>Erich<br>=
</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Aug=
23, 2015 at 9:56 PM, myken <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:myken AT i=
ae.nl" target=3D"_blank">myken AT iae DOT nl</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid=
;padding-left:1ex"><span class=3D"">On 23/08/15 14:13, John Doty wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Why should we listen to people who don=E2=80=99t understand how a toolkit w=
orks?<br>
</blockquote></span>
Because they attract new users.<br>
<br>
Cheers Robert.<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>
--047d7b33d4aae73945051dfb0f77--
- Raw text -