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Free, open source design tools for PCB

by: Nov 11,2013 7408 Views 0 Comments Posted in PCB Layout Software

PCB design PCB tools

This website contains links to Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools that are released under the GPL (either v2 or v3).

Here is a list of active projects (as of Feb 20 2012):

Fritzing

    Fritzing description (from their webpage):

      Fritzing is essentially an Electronic Design Automation software with a low entry barrier, suited for the needs of designers and artists. It uses the metaphor of the breadboard, so that it is easy to transfer your hardware sketch to the software. From there it is possible to create pcb layouts for turning it into a robust PCB yourself or by help of a manufacturer.

    Website: frizing.org
    Forums: frizing.org/forums
    Download: Fritzing 7.0b source tarball

gEDA Project

KiCad

    KiCad description (from their webpage):

      The KiCad EDA Suite project aims at creating a portable, cross-platform, Free/Libre/Open-Source EDA Suite. That is capable of schematic and printed circuit board design. The code is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL.

      Design Goals

    • Tools. The suite consist of a project manager, schematic editor, netlist converter, pcb designer and a gerber viewer.
    • Cross-platform. Works on Linux, Windows and experimental on Mac OS X.
    • File formats. It exports to many common formats like Postscript, Scalable Vector Graphics, Gerber RS274D/X, HPGL, DXF, Excellon.

    Website: //kicad.sourceforge.net
    Mailing List: kicad-users
    Mailing List: kicad-developers
    Download: KiCad 2011-12-28-BZR3254 source tarball

Qucs

    Qucs description (from their webpage):

      Qucs is an integrated circuit simulator which means you are able to setup a circuit with a graphical user interface (GUI) and simulate the large-signal, small-signal and noise behaviour of the circuit. After that simulation has finished you can view the simulation results on a presentation page or window.

    Website: //qucs.sourceforge.net/
    Mailing List: qucs-help
    Mailing List: qucs-devel
    Download: Qucs 0.0.16 source tarball

XCircuit

    XCircuit description (from their webpage):

      XCircuit is a UNIX/X11 (and Windows, if you have an X-Server running, or Windows API, if not) program for drawing publishable-quality electrical circuit schematic diagrams and related figures, and produce circuit netlists through schematic capture. XCircuit regards circuits as inherently hierarchical, and writes both hierarchical PostScript output and hierarchical SPICE netlists. Circuit components are saved in and retrieved from libraries which are fully editable. XCircuit does not separate artistic expression from circuit drawing; it maintains flexiblity in style without compromising the power of schematic capture.

    Website: //opencircuitdesign.com/xcircuit/
    Mailing List: xcircuit-dev
    Download: XCircuit 3.8.7 source tarball

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