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Subject: Re: alternatives (was Re: [geda-user] New gEDA/gaf features)
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From: "Dave McGuire (mcguire AT neurotica DOT com) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" <geda-user AT delorie DOT com>
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Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:18:59 -0500
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On 02/15/2017 12:53 PM, John Doty wrote:
>> Whilst I agree with this, and I feel that flexibility and
>> customizability are great, this is once again a statement of your
>> opinion.  In MY opinion (you didn't ask for it, but I didn't ask
>> for yours either), gEDA's great success is that it's readily
>> available, free, (sorta-)multi-platform, and I can...sit down and
>> make circuit boards.
>
> But why, in 2017, would a new user not choose KiCAD for that?

   Well, granted the last time I tried it was in 2016, not 2017, but I
couldn't even get the damn thing built.  I grant that a new user, i.e.
one without the investment in time, muscle memory, tricks, past
projects, and symbols/footprints might have more freedom of choice.
Vendor lock-in does indeed exist, after a fashion, with open-source
software.

> What do we have to offer? KiCAD is a comfortable minivan for easy
> highway driving, while gEDA is a high clearance vehicle with manual
> transmission and transfer case for challenging conditions. Our
> strength is going the places KiCAD can’t.

   That is ONE strength.  It is but one of many.  Don't sell gEDA short.
  PCB also has many strengths, even though (yes, we KNOW!) you don't like
its internals.

   John, you really must acknowledge the fact that there are other valid,
grownup, demanding, and complex applications for this software that
aren't exactly like yours, and, as such, different strengths (and 
weaknesses) of this software apply differently to them.

   gEDA was not written specifically for you.  The fact that it 
accommodates your workflow(s) is great.  But please stop trying to 
prevent it from accommodating those of the rest of us.  The fact that it 
follows a toolkit approach allows it to do both.

              -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA