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Subject:	Re: [geda-user] geda-skeleton-project: Lowering the cost of a starting a gEDA project
From:	John Doty <jpd AT noqsi DOT com>
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Date:	Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:11:52 -0700
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On Jan 14, 2013, at 9:15 AM, Ben Gamari wrote:

>> 
>> Since this is pcb-centric rather than geda-centric, I think it would be better to call it "pcb-skeleton-project".
>> 
> Hmm, I'm not entirely sure I agree. By "gEDA" I mean gSchem, PCB, and
> the associated glue utilities.

"pcb" has a separate code base, different file formats, and different UI. It started as an independent development. I don't consider it part of gEDA. gEDA can export schematics to a wide variety of layout programs (ASIC as well as printed circuit). The inflexibility of "pcb" makes it dependent on gEDA (or are there still xcircuit users around?). gEDA's usefulness is independent of any particular downstream flow. 

I find gEDA easy to use, and I found it easy to learn all those years ago. I've also tried to learn "pcb", and found it a very frustrating experience. OK, maybe that's me. But a couple of years ago I tasked an engineer, familiar with CAD, to learn it. He failed, too. My customers have little trouble tweaking my designs in gEDA, but not one has adopted "pcb". And then, there are the geda-user and geda-help groups, where gEDA users have few issues but "pcb" users have many.

> Certainly, the end product will be a
> PCB layout

But, based on the evidence above, I think most people who can choose will not choose "pcb" for PCB layout with gEDA.

John Doty              Noqsi Aerospace, Ltd.
http://www.noqsi.com/
jpd AT noqsi DOT com

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