Anyone else using diptrace?

[slburris]

I think there's at least one other person who has said they are using diptrace.

I've been blithering on about it in the Altium forum and I figure it's probably better
to start its own topic.

Scott

[Mechatrommer]

pro and con compared to altium?

[Simon]

I think there is a free version. I gave up with it as it looked a bit complicated for my needs

[Mechatrommer]

I think there is a free version. I gave up with it as it looked a bit complicated for my needs

any suggestion on simpler solution?

[Simon]

well there is the simplistic expresspcb software but for something decent and free your only option is KiCad

[slburris]

pro and con compared to altium?

Well, since I never got a chance to use Altium, I only have their video tutorials and documentation
to go by.  Based on that, I would have picked Altium, but since they don't have any
provision for the low end non-student market, that was out for me.

I'd certainly like to hear from someone who has used both.

Scott

[slburris]

well there is the simplistic expresspcb software but for something decent and free your only option is KiCad

I did play with both KiCad and the GEDA suite. 

As I recall, I didn't find KiCad to have very good libraries of parts, in spite of all of the
user contributed stuff.  It's been at least a year since I tried it, so things may be
different now.  I do remember being unimpressed with the interface, enough that I didn't
feel compelled to switch from Eagle at the time.

The GEDA suite feels like a hodgepodge of programs just stuck together (and it is).

I've been pretty happy with diptrace because it seems that they have put some
thought into the user experience.  Simple example between them and Eagle:

Suppose you draw a bus and connect up individual nets to the bus.  In Eagle, you then
have to go select the naming tool, click on the net, and place the name of the net
on the line as it connects to the bus.  Why?  In diptrace, as you connect the net
to the bus, it is labelled automatically.  If you use a lot of buses in your schematics, that
simple thing saves a huge amount of drawing time.

Scott

[Mechatrommer]

Well, since I never got a chance to use Altium, I only have their video tutorials and documentation
to go by.  Based on that, I would have picked Altium, but since they don't have any
provision for the low end non-student market, that was out for me.
I'd certainly like to hear from someone who has used both.
Scott

knowing is loving. you barely know it and you choose altium. there should be no question no more to whom know it very well. the answer is obvious then, for me.
@simon. i cannot think of any simpler than diptrace. as with my previous experience, simpler means dumber. or maybe you are talking of automatic features, well it proved itself in the past. my 2cnts.
it took me just few hours to get to know diptrace, and thats the magic i think. until i need more complicated, my path is from there, i dont have to waste my time learning the other stuff of the same thing.

[FreeThinker]

I've tried it and liked it. Found the parts library took some getting used to but the tutorials are great. Not used it in anger yet (Rebuilding my Lab (read Shed ) at the moment ) so all projects are on hold. Would love some indepth reviews/tutorials as these things can have a steep learning curve.

[ToBeFrank]

The GEDA suite feels like a hodgepodge of programs just stuck together (and it is).

That's the impression I got when I first tried it, but when I came back to it a second time and actually started using it, I discovered that is its power. It allows you to do things like create a makefile to encapsulate your processes. For example, when I think I'm ready to send a board for fabrication, I simply type "make release". It generates my gerbers, creates a picture of what the board will look like, creates a zip file ready to send out, etc. The other nice part is the well defined text formats. All of my standard parts are generated using a python script. It definitely has its setup time and learning curve like any other, but it's pretty easy after that.

[djsb]

Can you share with us any of the scripts you use to do what you say.?I'd be interested in using Geda's PCB if you can automate it.
Thanks.

David.