kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Clemens Koller <cko@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello, Chris!

Eeschema    -> Schematic editor

Pcbnew      -> Layout editor

Cvpcb       -> move it to Library editor or manager

BTW: Assignment of a footprints seems to me completely odd at this level.

When I create a part it consist of a partname, schematic symbol, an assigned footprint, a 3d-model, and some attributes all in
one place. Then I grab that part by its partname (like the handle of a suitcase) and use it in the schematics. From there it gets
forwarded to the layout, bill-of-materials and assembly data and optionally to an 3d-renderer without any additional tweaking.

A part to buy, i.e. named "LTC6362CMS8" comes already with all the information to be placed in the suitcase - it has exactly one type of footprint (here MSOP-8, JEDEC MO-187-AA). I don't see any reason to assign different footprints to parts, because they usually have only one.

It's a different story if there will be some solder yield tweaking to automagically replace/update *all* footprints of a design by using a different process library. (i.e. use RoundRect shapes vs. Rectangular shapes to improve tombstoning or solderpaste release.)
Here, we are thinking to generate footprints dynamically depending on soldering process parameters - but an MSOP-8 will still be an MSOP-8.

Pl Editor   -> Template editor (we might want to edit other stuff as well such as board outlines for PCIe and similar things)

Bitmap2Component -> Remove as independent app, make "Import image" in libedit and modedit (dito.)


Regards,

Clemens


On 2017-02-02 14:56, Chris Pavlina wrote:
> I admit I'm getting self-indulgent here, this request is definitely a
> bit "what Chris would do if made Dictator of KiCad", but... just testing
> the waters here:
> 
> What do people think about, for either the 5.0 or 6.0 release, ditching
> the old application names, in favor of everything being one tool under
> the "KiCad" roof:
> 
> Eeschema    -> Schematic editor
> Pcbnew      -> PCB editor, or Layout editor, or Board editor
> Cvpcb       -> "Assign Footprints"
> Pl Editor   -> Title block editor
> Bitmap2Component    -> Remove as independent app, make "Import image" in
>                        libedit and modedit
> 
> I know this one is going to be controversial, but I don't really see the
> point of these old names. They're... weird. Cvpcb - what does that even
> mean? :P
>