It is my utopia using the keyboard all of the time like typing. One of the annoyances of KiCad for me is having to use the mouse so much for things which I could use the keyboard for. And I don't mean the 'MS Windows way' of keyboard use - that is not pleasant or efficient for me.I guess everyone has his own utopia
Why not than use a mouse only interface? (or as close as possible)
As per Karels post, because a good keyboard interface can be very fast and accurate (once it is learned).Yes, but the point is, that this is for everyone different (that's why I said everyone has a different utopia)
Most professional CAD and 3D programs I know of, are all mouse by default and keyboard shortcuts can be programed in such a way that in the end you can do most things by keyboard if that's your fancy.
Most companies I worked with most people just use the mouse with some basic shortcut-keys.
(another annoying part about KiCad is that they don't use default shortcut key combinations)
The whole point of this, is that it can be programmed to anyone's like.
That is what is missing right now.
Don't see how accuracy should be an argument.
If you want to be accurate, just use absolute values filled in.
I don't get the whole 'fast' and 'efficient' issue anyway.
On a decent board design that will maybe safe you 5% at MOST from the total hours spent.
If people think that's the way to safe time and money, they have a lot to learn......
I don't get the whole 'fast' and 'efficient' issue anyway.
On a decent board design that will maybe safe you 5% at MOST from the total hours spent.
If people think that's the way to safe time and money, they have a lot to learn......
I don't get the whole 'fast' and 'efficient' issue anyway.
On a decent board design that will maybe safe you 5% at MOST from the total hours spent.
If people think that's the way to safe time and money, they have a lot to learn......
Given the amount of time spent on a typical layout, 5% represents a very significant savings.
Given the amount of time spent on a typical layout, 5% represents a very significant savings.
by copy/paste, I think we all think of something like : open two documents, select one item in a document, do copy, and paste it in the other document. it's been in our computer live for decades, but not in cad softwares and not in kicad.No I was thinking of making multiple copies of one section of a schematic or layout.
I think the Hotkeys in KiCad are not bad at all.
I just took a few days to get used to it. And now i even catch myself trying to use em in Eagle at work
Some people just use a "cheatsheet" at the start. But after a short time you probaly won't need it any longer.
The one that I don't like is that it's
W - the schematic editor to draw a wire
X - the layout editor to draw a trace
why the heck are they not the same?
Just noticed that Digikey provides KiCad schematic symbols and pcb footprints for a lot of parts.
Some deal where you need to login and get 15 parts per month free, and probably a license (that I didn't read..) on what you can or cannot do with the parts.
I was a diptrace user, tried kicad last year, and adopted it ...
yes it's not very polished user interface, but as a mac user, a native app is prefered over an app in a virtual machine...
don't stop at first sight of kicad. try to make a board from start to pcb with it.
seems the next version will add a ton of features in the user interface part, will see it.
I only make 2-3 pcb a year, the other are made on protoboards, but kicad as completely free and mac native app has my vote.
Personally Id Like Kicad to succeed , if only to give pro-hobbyists access to good PCB design , but in my view Kicad needs tidying up , and a improved /simplified workflow , rather then adding new features all the time