gEDA-user: Deconstructing PCB

[Stephen Meier <smeier@AlchemyResearch.com>]

DJ and John G.

Sorry just some rambling thoughts about deconstructing/reconstructing 
PCB might take. Uhm should we move this conversation to geda-dev?


1. Sever the GUI from the program data structures / algs for manipulating.

Does this make the main PCB program just a viewer?

File translating (print -> gerber, eps, or ps) becomes a seperate utilities.

Design Rule Checking becomes a seperate utility.

Autorouting becomes a seperate utility.


2. Make a gui to manipulate the project.pcb file. This program could 
connect to a new API for each of the above utilities - Think carefully 
about this in respect to hand placing components on a display - needs 
real time responce. - how to draw the faint outline of a component being 
dragged for example. Seems to me the viewer also has to have file updating.

3. Maybe, PCB should be modified to continually update a temp.pcb file. 
The new GUI could also update the temp.pcb file and cause the viewer to 
also update from the temp.pcb.



Yes, if your wondering i have pounded way to much code into my keyboard 
and will continue to do so until they pry it from my cold dead fingers 
|| a usable speech interface is created  || mental telepathy is made to 
work.

Steve M.