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This feels like a major step forward, not for the software itself (although it probably is) but for the release schedule. KiCad 5 came out in 2018. KiCad 6 was

This feels like a major step forward, not for the software itself (although it probably is) but for the release schedule. KiCad 5 came out in 2018. KiCad 6 was long delayed and waterfalled and did not come out until late 2021/early 2022. And now only a year later we see KiCad 7. Seems like release engineering is coming more on lockdown which is super great news!

inamberclad 4y ago
The forced workflow is a feature IMO. In a production engineering scenario, it's very helpful to have tools that enforce some level of best practice. Especially since the time and money to rework incorrectly designed circuit boards can prohibitive.
cushychicken 4y ago
Pretty sure Kicad Services Corp is a big factor in the tighter release cadence. Seth Hillibrand and co have done the best job of “Red Hatting” Kicad and becoming a professional services org that supports Kicad users for a fee. Also helps them guide and drive development of wanted features. I’m convinced there’s no way ODBC support would have happened without it. That’s a feature no hobbyist or maker would care about- it’s specifically geared towards people who collaborate with other engineers and component sourcing departments.
- delfinom 4y ago
  Not to diminsh KSC as Seth and Wayne are trying to expand things here and there. But ODBC support was by Jon Evans (https://www.kicad.org/blog/2022/12/Development-Highlight-December-Edition-features-coming-to-KiCad-7/#_database_libraries https://www.kicad.org/blog/2022/12/Development-Highlight-Dec...), who is a lead developer but not employed by KSC. He works elsewhere and added it for his own benefit and that of his buddies elsewhere. The tighter release schedule is something everyone wanted, just because v6 got too unwieldy.
  - cushychicken 4y ago
    Bless Jon Evans, then. That feature was a big roadblock to wider pro usage, IMO.

inamberclad 4y ago

The forced workflow is a feature IMO. In a production engineering scenario, it's very helpful to have tools that enforce some level of best practice. Especially since the time and money to rework incorrectly designed circuit boards can prohibitive.

cushychicken 4y ago

Pretty sure Kicad Services Corp is a big factor in the tighter release cadence. Seth Hillibrand and co have done the best job of “Red Hatting” Kicad and becoming a professional services org that supports Kicad users for a fee. Also helps them guide and drive development of wanted features. I’m convinced there’s no way ODBC support would have happened without it. That’s a feature no hobbyist or maker would care about- it’s specifically geared towards people who collaborate with other engineers and component sourcing departments.

delfinom 4y ago
Not to diminsh KSC as Seth and Wayne are trying to expand things here and there. But ODBC support was by Jon Evans (https://www.kicad.org/blog/2022/12/Development-Highlight-December-Edition-features-coming-to-KiCad-7/#_database_libraries https://www.kicad.org/blog/2022/12/Development-Highlight-Dec...), who is a lead developer but not employed by KSC. He works elsewhere and added it for his own benefit and that of his buddies elsewhere. The tighter release schedule is something everyone wanted, just because v6 got too unwieldy.
- cushychicken 4y ago
  Bless Jon Evans, then. That feature was a big roadblock to wider pro usage, IMO.