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I wonder, if the goal was to build a hacker friendly PCB tool: written in python[1], easy to develop for(via extensions), open etc. What would be the amount o

by hershel 13y ago

I wonder, if the goal was to build a hacker friendly PCB tool: written in python[1], easy to develop for(via extensions), open etc. What would be the amount of work needed to get to a basic version ? could that be supported by a kickstarter ? If it could, maybe the rest of the way to altium can be built incrementally ? [1]there's boldport(https://bitbucket.org/boldport/pcbmode https://bitbucket.org/boldport/pcbmode) a python pcb tool , might be a good start

cottonseed 13y ago
Using Inkscape as a router? Good lord. I don't think that is a suitable starting part. The right starting point is probably (1) a good choice of implementation tools (I've been sketching out some ideas. I'm thinking C++11 and Qt with python as the scripting language), (2) cannibalizing as much of the existing functionality from other efforts possible: KiCad, gEDA, etc. and (3) then focusing on useability and advanced functionality. The question is, why not contribute to KiCad or gEDA? That might be the right answer. If they don't collapse under their own complexity (would gcc have gotten to llvm given enough time?), they'll get to Altium eventually. I think the key is to focus on software architecture that enhances productivity. In my experience, that's the only way for a small effort to compete with big, well-funded teams like Altium.
- hershel 13y ago
  OK, you don't like inkscape. but why rule out python? it's faster to code than c++ and more important, it will be far easier to get code contributors(and probably kickstarter support ).
  - cottonseed 13y ago
    I like Inkscape fine. I use it often to make diagrams in papers. I just don't think it's good for designing PCBs. I said I totally agree that python should be the scripting engine.
    - hershel 13y ago
      Usually the scripting part is relatively small, i believe. How much percent of writing such a tool would be in python ?
- wyager 13y ago
  >I'm thinking C++11 and Qt with python as the scripting language I was thinking it would be cool to do it in pure python, or if that ended up not being fast enough, something like Rust/Python. If we're doing an entirely new codebase, might as well do it right from the start!

by hershel 13y ago

cottonseed 13y ago

Using Inkscape as a router? Good lord. I don't think that is a suitable starting part. The right starting point is probably (1) a good choice of implementation tools (I've been sketching out some ideas. I'm thinking C++11 and Qt with python as the scripting language), (2) cannibalizing as much of the existing functionality from other efforts possible: KiCad, gEDA, etc. and (3) then focusing on useability and advanced functionality. The question is, why not contribute to KiCad or gEDA? That might be the right answer. If they don't collapse under their own complexity (would gcc have gotten to llvm given enough time?), they'll get to Altium eventually. I think the key is to focus on software architecture that enhances productivity. In my experience, that's the only way for a small effort to compete with big, well-funded teams like Altium.

hershel 13y ago
OK, you don't like inkscape. but why rule out python? it's faster to code than c++ and more important, it will be far easier to get code contributors(and probably kickstarter support ).
- cottonseed 13y ago
  I like Inkscape fine. I use it often to make diagrams in papers. I just don't think it's good for designing PCBs. I said I totally agree that python should be the scripting engine.
  - hershel 13y ago
    Usually the scripting part is relatively small, i believe. How much percent of writing such a tool would be in python ?
wyager 13y ago
>I'm thinking C++11 and Qt with python as the scripting language I was thinking it would be cool to do it in pure python, or if that ended up not being fast enough, something like Rust/Python. If we're doing an entirely new codebase, might as well do it right from the start!