- 2006-04-28 I've updated the developement page to reflect what I'm working on. This is by no means a complete list, but I've tried to capture the key points. Also check out the new screenshot.
- After almost a year things are starting to move again. We're working away at the CVS; hopefully there will be a new release
soon.
- I've fiddled the planned developement. See the Development page for details.
- CircuitSmith now builds with Ant. Check out the installation page for details.
- CircuitSmith is to be a comprehensive electronic design package being developed in Java which will include schematic capture, printed circuit board layout and any other features which I (and hopefully others) can be bothered to program.
I've spent ages now using other circuit design packages and I am constantly dissappointed. The main problem is that I can't or won't
afford to pay for a big expensive package. When I use the expensive packages I get frustrated when there are
features missing or broken.
So, partly as a programming exercise I started programming my own.
A few of the features I'm aiming to include are:
- Tight connection between the Schematic and the PCB
- More than one session (same machine or across network) working simultaneously on a project
- Ability to tie part libraries into parts databases
- Integration with Spice
Some of the things CircuitSmith can do already:
- New! PCB functionality has started. So far only simple holes, tracks and single-layer pads are implemented.
- load and save projects including multiple schematics
- create parts and symbols.
- make libraries of symbols
- display all used parts in a list
- print (it's getting better)
- undo and redo
- cut, copy, paste
- edit all sorts of properties
- etc
While I've been developing the code I've been trying to structure it well for the future rather than get
short term results. There are still a number of structural bits which need changing.