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Re: gEDA-user: RFC using SVG with semantic markup as an EDA format



On Sun, 2011-04-10 at 21:55 +0100, Andrew Seddon wrote:
> I am exploring the idea of using the Scalable Vector Graphics standard
> as an EDA format.
> 
> https://github.com/seddona/svgparts
> 
> Would be interested in your thoughts, there's a little more
> explanation on my blog.
> 
> p.s this is probably a topic for -dev but I don't access...

The idea of basing future formats on SVG has been thought of, floated,
and discussed before now. I don't recall whether any conclusions were
reached. I personally have mixed feelings, but am leaning towards the
the thought that it is a good idea - but with a healthy dose of
uneasiness about it as well.

When I designed "path" support in gschem, I deliberately made the path
syntax compatible / identical to SVG paths in case we went down this
route at a later stage, and that so more complex paths could be drawn in
a graphics program, then copy+pasted from an SVG file.

libgeda only saves (and guarantees to load) simple line and bezier curve
based paths, but an implementation detail (due to code re-use from
librsvg), it can actually read any legal SVG path in its path primitive.
When saving, it always converts that out to simple lines and beziers.


I'm not as convinced of the idea for PCB layouts / footprints. I'm just
not certain the drawing model is constrained enough. to match real world
geometry demands.

The main niggle is that SVG is more expressive than a generic PCB layer.
Things like colours and gradient fills are just not meaningful in
copper. That means we need to act intelligently if something adds those.
Supporting complex geometry primitives which SVG would bring also means
internal processing in PCB might get more difficult.

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)
Tel: +44 (0)1223 748328 - (Shared lab phone, ask for me)

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