pcb (software)
PCB is an open source software suite for electronic design automation (EDA) - for printed circuit boards (PCB) layout.
History
PCB was first written by Thomas Nau for an Atari ST in 1990 and ported to UNIX and X11 in 1994. Initially PCB was not intended to be a professional layout system but as a tool for individuals to do small-scale development of hardware.
Harry Eaton took over pcb development beginning with Release 1.5, although he contributed some code beginning with Release 1.4.3
Features
Scalable fonts
Layer groups to keep signals together
Add on device drivers
Gerber RS-274X and NC Drill output support
Centroid (X-Y) data output
PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript output
Rats-nest generation from simple net lists
Automatic clearance around pins that pierce a polygon
Flags for pins and vias
Groups of action commands can be undone by a single undo
Simple design rule checker (DRC) - checks for minimum spacing and overlap rules
Drawing directly on the silk layer
Viewable solder-mask layers and editing
Netlist window
Netlist entry by drawing rats
Auto router
Snap to pins and pads
Element files and libraries that can contain whole sub-layouts, metric grids
Up to 16 copper layer designs by default
Trace optimizer
Rats nest
Connectivity verification
Can interoperate with free schematic capture tools such as gEDA and XCircuit
GNU autoconf/automake based build system
PCB is Free Software
References
1.^ Jump up to: a b "Pcb document manual". 100826 pcb.gpleda.org
2.Jump up ^ "Linux Fund partners to boost usability of gEDA open source electronic engineering software package". 100826 linuxfund.org
