kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Andy Peters <devel@xxxxxxxxx>]

> On Oct 13, 2015, at 11:53 PM, Marco Ciampa <ciampix@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Apart from reporting problems on this or that combination of graphic
> libraries and/or platforms and/or OS, I think that is missing a page with
> the minimum requirements, like this:
> 
> https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/system-requirements/
> 
> A search on google reports only this:
> 
> https://forum.kicad.info/t/system-requirements/1468
> 
> Have you done some tests? May we use KiCad with a 1024x768 screen?
> All functions? And 800x600, less? More?
> Suggested (actual) graphic cards for Win/Linux/Mac?
> Minum requirements on DirectX / OpenGL?
> Lorenzo your experiences/hints(rants ;-)?

Speaking as one of the Mac users … 

The oldest machine in my house that gets regular use is my Early 2008 Core2Duo iMac with 4 GB. Apple still supports this machine with El Capitan, so while it’s old it’s still fine. It drives an external 1920 x 1200 monitor so dual-display is a go. It runs Kicad without a hitch, as well as a lot of other things (mixing > 24 tracks with a lot of plug-ins on Logic? NOT A PROBLEM!). Redraws in GAL and default canvas are snappy.

So if we are talking Mac support, perhaps it’s reasonable to say, “If the machine can run 10.7, then it can run Kicad without any issues.” That’s a lot of older hardware, which should make a lot of people happy.

As for 1024 x 768 and lower resolutions, are we kidding? Who has a 1024 x 768 monitor that gets regular use? That’s crazy. After all, the second syllable of Kicad is CAD, and CAD applications want as much screen real estate as possible! You’re a masochist if you’re trying to run Kicad on an 800 x 600 display. Gotta draw a line in the concrete somewhere.

-a