[hpsdr] KICAD

[brainerd at wildblue.net]

  I have been using KICAD for a little while now and found it to be very 
capable.  Yes, the library lacks a lot of parts. But, if is quite easy to add your 
own parts to the library.  If you set up the schematic correctly and identify 
and/or create all of your footprints, it's straight forward to create the netlist in 
the schematic capture and go to the PCB program and create a board.  I 
don't use the autorouter or autoplace.  But, having the netlist from the 
schematic capture makes it easy to know what to connect where and vastly 
reduces errors.  
  Don't remember what problems the Phills had.  One thing about KICAD is if 
a problem is discovered, there is an open developer group that will fix the 
problem in a short time.
  A common open source schematic capture and pcb layout program would 
allow a lot more people to work on a project with common tools.

Dave - WB6DHW
<http://users.wildblue.net/wb6dhw>