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Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2015 15:16:48 -0400
Message-Id: <201509051916.t85JGmaj018995@envy.delorie.com>
From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to:
	<CAM2RGhT=aTYjyHWuxYFJXac8VhTOcB_piEGhq2dCNa61gAtFNw AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	(geda-user AT delorie DOT com)
Subject: Re: [geda-user] New experimental netlist features
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Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com


> Users should have a choice between
> 1. kicad, a GUI centric integrated tool that has limited workflows but
> intuitive control
> 2. geda, a suite of tools where the user decides basically everything
> and hence has to understand more of what they are doing.

3. A toolkit that's GUI-centric for new users but lets them expand
their flow by changing things behind-the-scenes (or replacing them)
once they understand what they're doing.

I think both Kicad's "GUI-only" and John's "Toolkit-only" approach are
near-sighted.  We need to be something that's flexible enough that we
can accomodate a wide range of users, not just people who know guile
programming or just mouse clicks.  We need to have an entry story that
has a small learning curve, so we can attract new users, without
sacrificing the flexibility that benefits the more advanced user.
Those new users will eventually become advanced users and benefit
thereof, but only if they start using our tools in the first place.

Why?  Because we need a robust user community in order to have a
robust developer community, and we need the devs in order to grow.
(those of you who do not want growth are free to stop updating your
local git repos, and share your stale versions with your friends :)