For a New PCB Software in Development

[IntegratedValve]

As I understand I need to look deeper at Altium and do something better. Fair enough.

[David_AVD]

It seems like a monumental task.  Did you have a time frame for a first release?

[enz]

As I understand I need to look deeper at Altium and do something better. Fair enough.

Sorry, but to be honest:
If you don't know the current status (not to mention the state of the art) of PCB design software market, why do you think you will be able to target the
 

"high-end professional market."

?

[free_electron]

As I understand I need to look deeper at Altium and do something better. Fair enough.

Seems like you got the message. Good luck ! you'll need it ....

[poorchava]

Minimum feature set IMO would be (mind that I deal mainly in power, analog and control stuff):
-decent library management with ability of processing multiple components at once
-real-time cross probing
-import/export support for all electronic industry standard file formats + dxf, dwg, step, igs
-interactive routing
-real time DRC
-macro/scripting engine
-multimonitor support
-profile saving/loading for ALL possible settings
-basic 2D drawing functionality (something like 2D autocad, but with actually usable interface)
-smart cursor snapping
-some goodies like via stitching, autofinish track, array paste, alignment tools (top, right, distribute vertically etc)
-schematic snippets
-integrated variant support (hello Cadstar...)

[AndyC_772]

Orcad PCB Designer Professional plus Capture CIS would be quite a good fit for your needs - about £5k here in the UK, I believe.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Just on the subject of PCB software features - a minor detour...
Does any package support this : pick up a part/pad/whatever, drag it with a key modifier (e.g. alt-drag), and when you drop it, it puts it exactly half way between where you picked it and where you dropped it. I've lost count of how many times I'd have found this useful, especially during footprint creation.
 

[jorisbeurden]

Don't know if someone said it before but a really nice and easy way to generate new parts would save a lot of time. You can never add all the parts that are on the market in your library so make adding new stuff super easy.

[GK]

Minus 20 IQ points for all those who posted a reply taking the OP seriously.

[IanJ]

Here's what I'd like.

After dropping a part on the pcb from the Lib then allow on the fly mods to that part (Pcb or Sch) and have the option to allow the mods to remain with the board only, write them back to the master Lib, or write them back but as a variation.

Eagle can't do this...........I'd find it soooooo useful.

Ian.

[free_electron]

Here's what I'd like.

After dropping a part on the pcb from the Lib then allow on the fly mods to that part (Pcb or Sch) and have the option to allow the mods to remain with the board only, write them back to the master Lib, or write them back but as a variation.

Eagle can't do this...........I'd find it soooooo useful.

Ian.

Altium can do that. Both on schematic and pcb. Simply unlock the part primitives and shuffle them. Mods are not written to the linrary. If you want to push them i to the library , select the part , hot copy, go to the lnrary hit paste. It wil inject in the library and add an _1 or other sequence number so you dont lose the original. You can keep variants.  Then simply rename  if you wnat or leave it

[Mechatrommer]

As I understand I need to look deeper at Altium and do something better. Fair enough.

whats the target price? usd500 max i'll buy. 6 months ehh? you promise! and ohh, an addition to whats already mentioned, i want integrated spice compliant simulator with partial circuit simulation capability (have you heard it?) and numerically chopped finite element field solver with color graded graph display too (have you heard it?). as an advice, please pay attention to how are we going to zoom and pan the layout, you do it wrong i'm not buying it even if its free

[awallin]

How many of the modern pro tools have reasonable component library management?
I've only been using PADS from ca 2005 and 2007. The library management in those is straight from the 1980s!

New created components need to be stored "in the cloud", so that if I create a component it is available on all machines/installs. If you have groups of people (including open-source communities) working with the same tool they should be able to create component libraries and share components. The libraries should sync and be backed up  transparently over the internet.
just my 2 cents.. 
(the same on-line storage/backup/sharing could apply for complete schematic/PCB designs)

[Bored@Work]

How many of the modern pro tools have reasonable component library management?
I've only been using PADS from ca 2005 and 2007. The library management in those is straight from the 1980s!

New created components need to be stored "in the cloud", so that if I create a component it is available on all machines/installs. If you have groups of people (including open-source communities) working with the same tool they should be able to create component libraries and share components. The libraries should sync and be backed up  transparently over the internet.
just my 2 cents.. 
(the same on-line storage/backup/sharing could apply for complete schematic/PCB designs)

The last thing I want is that some random hippie fart could mess up my library by storing something in some fscking cloud. Professional work requires traceability and repeatability, not magic updates and changes behind my back. Libraries need to be managed, including versioning and variants, in a controlled explicit way. Nothing in a project, that includes the libraries, must change in an uncontrolled way.

[IntegratedValve]

As I understand I need to look deeper at Altium and do something better. Fair enough.

whats the target price? usd500 max i'll buy. 6 months ehh? you promise! and ohh, an addition to whats already mentioned, i want integrated spice compliant simulator with partial circuit simulation capability (have you heard it?) and numerically chopped finite element field solver with color graded graph display too (have you heard it?). as an advice, please pay attention to how are we going to zoom and pan the layout, you do it wrong i'm not buying it even if its free

This will be our primary focus for now, usability and only usability. Awful features to the schematic designer will be added, such as ability to drag and drop in a component on a wire and it connects itself, schematic layers, real-time RF PCB analysis, tools that create the RF PCB magic traces...

The price will be very affordable, 100K per license just kidding...

[nctnico]

Minus 20 IQ points for all those who posted a reply taking the OP seriously.

Minus 40 points for people saying others are stupid. Minus 60 points (even if that means going negative) for a 'no you can't do that' attitude. Progress starts with really stupid ideas and unrealistic goals.

[tszaboo]

Maybe you can deliver a piece of software, which is able to make a bunch of files, with witch manufacturers will be able to make a PCB. But making a truly usable PCB design software takes years, and most of the years are not spent with coding, but rather understanding what the hell we need. I don't think any PCB designer company has ever achieved this.
You could start by making layers of settings (beginner, designer, pro) and different sets of "views" for the RF, digital, analog, MCU and other people, as they have different needs.

[IntegratedValve]

Minus 20 IQ points for all those who posted a reply taking the OP seriously.

Are you a butt? Or a basement based desperate hobbyist? Judging from your avatar you can be both.

[c4757p]

Minus 20 IQ points for all those who posted a reply taking the OP seriously.

Are you a butt? Or a basement based desperate hobbyist? Jusgind from your avatar you can be both.

Damn GK, I guess you were right. Where do I turn in my points? And can I at least get something in exchange for them? Other than the feeling of shame, that is...

[c4757p]

New created components need to be stored "in the cloud", so that if I create a component it is available on all machines/installs.

All of the files on my multiple computers sync to my workbench PC, which doubles as a server. I own it. Transfers to and from it are encrypted (via SSH) and I don't have to worry about anybody else screwing them up. The "cloud" people can kiss my ass.

[EEVblog]

As I understand I need to look deeper at Altium and do something better.

Correct, if you want any shot at the professional market.
But of course you would have already known this if you had any professional PCB design experience.
And like I said, Altium have been doing it for 30 years and still haven't got it right. So this is not a project you can expect to get anything really usable within a few years, let alone be in any way competitive.
I used to work at Altium, I know how much work goes into the software.
As another baseline, look at AutoTRAX (not the Protel one)
http://www.kov.com/
That took one guy more than a decade to get the this point, and no PCB professional would touch it with a 10 foot pole.

[Zbig]

All of the files on my multiple computers sync to my workbench PC, which doubles as a server. I own it. Transfers to and from it are encrypted (via SSH) and I don't have to worry about anybody else screwing them up. The "cloud" people can kiss my ass.

I find this perfect for such kinds of tasks: http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

[GK]

Minus 20 IQ points for all those who posted a reply taking the OP seriously.

Are you a butt? Or a basement based desperate hobbyist? Jusgind from your avatar you can be both.

Damn GK, I guess you were right. Where do I turn in my points? And can I at least get something in exchange for them? Other than the feeling of shame, that is...

"Me and the team are seriously considering a new PCB software that reach all levels including "high-end professional market."


Hang onto those points; you will feel vindicated when the OP's team eventually, with all the helpful advice from the forum, embarks on  a corporate takeover of Cadence.

[Mechatrommer]

from begining of his reply, i suspect this is another "ilija kov" type of coder (the one who easily get the offense with any type of suggestion) so i never take his point seriously. so i guess i'm not an idiot? please dont take my points away

[mrflibble]

All of the files on my multiple computers sync to my workbench PC, which doubles as a server. I own it. Transfers to and from it are encrypted (via SSH) and I don't have to worry about anybody else screwing them up. The "cloud" people can kiss my ass.

I find this perfect for such kinds of tasks: http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

Hell, why even use that when you have rsync + ssh? No need for that fancy pants torrent stuff. Add rsnapshot to it, and you're all set. Cloud, shmoud indeed.


As for the on topic bits...

from begining of his reply, i suspect this is another "ilija kov" type of coder (the one who easily get the offense with any type of suggestion) so i never take his point seriously. so i guess i'm not an idiot? please dont take my points away

Well, no doubt the OP takes it serious. But he does come across as being a wee bit too optimistic. Add to that the fact that he doesn't appear all that informed about the current state of the art of PCB software, and it just might take a bit longer than 6 month before we see something targeting that "high-end professional market".

If at all serious, a better idea is to go over the current offering in open sourced PCB software. Then pick the one you like the most, and contribute in the areas where you think it needs work. IMO that would be far more useful than yet another half baked attempt. Then again, less ego points to join someone else project.