Electronics > PCB/EDA/CAD

PCB Software choices in 2013

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David Aurora:
So Google has stacks of opinions about different PCB software but technology moves pretty quick and reading opinions of software that has been updated a thousand times since the posts doesn't seem like it's worth putting too much stock in.

Anyway, here's my current situation. I'm in OSX, and would like to stay that way because Windows makes me want to punch babies within 8 seconds of launching it. That said, if I'm really, REALLY shooting myself in the foot here and losing good options I suppose I could buy Windows and run it in on my Mac or even buy a cheap PC strictly for doing this stuff. I'm generally doing really small boards, mainly small audio circuits like guitar pedals, microphone preamps, metering systems etc., mixing and matching between SMD and through hole (though lately I've been going back to through hole a lot), generally single sided and so far always just etched at home (though soon I'd like to start sending a few things to board manufacturers). Simple stuff, no need for complex 3D modelling or anything. No need for autorouting either, I always prefer doing it manually.

Up until now I've used Eagle Light because that's the first thing I found when I started experimenting with this stuff (well, after Sharpies on copper board at least...). I'm reaching the point now where I'm getting a fair few requests for custom equipment and I don't want to be a dick in regards to the Eagle Light non-commercial thing, so it's time to upgrade. The problem though, is that I can't bring myself to punch my credit card details into the Eagle order form, it always just seems far too buggy and quirky to justify proper money. I dicked around with Kicad on Raspberry Pi a few weeks ago and I'd honestly rank my Eagle experience lower than that so far, it really feels like a dated, open source kludge. I've used a bunch of versions and updates now, but it never really seems to get any better. But on the other hand, I feel like I know it fairly well at this point and can work pretty quick. So before I drop cash on something that will always annoy the crap out of me with glitches, I figured I ought to look at my other options.

Thoughts?

marshallh:
DipTrace has an OSX version.

Kicad is a moving target and always changing, not really something you want for designs you'll be fabbing 5 years from now.

Eagle is pretty established, dunno if there is a native OSX version.

Altium is Windows only and pretty overkill for what you need.

MacAttak:
Yes, Eagle has native OS X version (which I assume is what the OP is using). It works exactly the same as the Windows version - with full file compatibility (they are just XML files anyways).

I don't really have too many complaints about Eagle myself. I managed to crash it yesterday for the first time in a long while. Pasted some text into a package description that I copied from a datasheet PDF. Apparently there was some hidden characters in the data that Eagle didn't like, and would trigger a crash when I tried to use that newly created part. It was easy to fix though, since the file parsing error gave me a line number and column number to look for in the data file. Deleted the unhappy chars with a text editor and everything is fine again.

I'm also using the free Lite version, but likely to buy a paid license soon because I am getting tired of forcing all my designs into tiny ass little boards.

mcinque:
Diptrace forever.  :-+

poorchava:
DipTrace is ok for small things. When you get into bigger things (like 200+ comonent boards) stuff like DipTrace, Eagle and Kicad doesn't cut it. I've tried to convince myself to use DipTrace but once I got a bigger project I had no choice but to return to Altium. Mac is NOT a system for engineering, deal with it :).

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