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Re: Simulator towards 5.0

 

When you build a program, do you always go through its build manual or
do you start with 'cmake .. && make'? I think there is no point
enforcing an optional dependency. Another good solution would be to
autodetect libngspice and enable the simulator if it is available.

On 12/05/2017 05:18 PM, Nick Østergaard wrote:
> Isn't it good enough to mention it under the KiCad Build Configuration
> Options in the devdocs as it is already?
> 
> 
> 2017-12-05 16:56 GMT+01:00 Maciej Sumiński <maciej.suminski@xxxxxxx>:
> 
>> If everyone agrees that Spice simulator should be enabled by default,
>> then please display a note saying it is optional and might be disabled
>> for cases when it is not found by CMake.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Orson
>>
>> On 12/05/2017 03:47 PM, Nick Østergaard wrote:
>>> If they are not available for some reason the packager for that platform
>>> can disable the feature until he figures out how to support the feature.
>>>
>>> I don't really see the rationale in having supported features be enabled
>>> explicitly.
>>>
>>> 2017-12-05 15:33 GMT+01:00 Wayne Stambaugh <stambaughw@xxxxxxxxx>:
>>>
>>>> Can we guarantee that these build dependencies are available on all
>>>> platforms?  I'm primarily think of BSD devs.  For the windows, macos,
>>>> and linux devs there are no issues.
>>>>
>>>> On 12/5/2017 9:28 AM, Nick Østergaard wrote:
>>>>> I would personally also like to see these options enabled by default.
>> It
>>>>> makes it easier for a packager to be convinced what options to
>> enable...
>>>> :)
>>>>>
>>>>> 2017-12-05 15:05 GMT+01:00 Kristoffer Ödmark
>>>>> <kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx>>:
>>>>>
>>>>>     I checked the default package in Ubuntu ppa through a friend.
>> Indeed
>>>>>     all of this is enabled.
>>>>>
>>>>>     Here I attach a small patch that changes the default compile-flags
>>>>>     to the ones in the released packages. Its a small fix and it doesnt
>>>>>     add or remove anything really, just a changes how a default build
>>>>>     for a novice will look, maybe it will reduce some initial confusion
>>>>>     for someone.
>>>>>
>>>>>     - Kristoffer
>>>>>
>>>>>     On 12/04/2017 10:19 PM, Nick Østergaard wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>         Den 4. dec. 2017 18.50 <tel:2017%2018.50> skrev "kristoffer
>>>>>         Ödmark" <kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx
>>>>>         <mailto:kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>         <mailto:kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx
>>>>>         <mailto:kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx>>>:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>             On 2017-12-04 15:22, Tomasz Wlostowski wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>                 Kristoffer,
>>>>>
>>>>>                 You're very welcome to specify how you'd like to have
>> the
>>>>>                 Spice-related
>>>>>                 fields organized - but remember it's not only the
>>>>>         integrated ngspice
>>>>>                 simulator that relies on them. People have been
>>>>>         exporting PSpice
>>>>>                 netlists from Kicad for a while and AFAIR netlist
>> export
>>>>>         depends on
>>>>>                 these particular fields.
>>>>>
>>>>>             Okay, My suggestions:
>>>>>
>>>>>             1. Enable the spice simulator by default and start shipping
>>>>>         it with
>>>>>             windows nightlies. This way we will find much more bugs.
>>>>>         Because I
>>>>>             doubt everyone is running with the simulator on even on
>>>>>         nightlies.
>>>>>             Same goes for the OCE and step stuff. This I see as a must
>>>>>         to get a
>>>>>             smoother v5 transition for most users, even those moving
>>>> from v4
>>>>>             stable to v5 stable without ever trying nightlies.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>         Everything should be enabled for the windows nightlies. It has
>>>>>         been when the OCE stuff and ngspice stuff was merged. If it not
>>>>>         it is a bug.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>             2. Parse the "value" field and reference in the simulator
>> to
>>>>>         get the
>>>>>             basic primitives. like Resistor and Capactiors, inductors
>>>>>         etc, based
>>>>>             on the first Letter in the Reference. We already have
>>>>>         name-dependent
>>>>>             functions for the differential-pair so having this here,
>> and
>>>>>
>>>>>             3. Move the Spice_Netlist_Enabled field to a new right-side
>>>>>         toggle
>>>>>             menu to select between "Spice and PCB, Spice Only, PCB
>>>>>         only", so one
>>>>>             can specify if the item should be added to both the PCB and
>>>> the
>>>>>             Spice netlist, or only one of them, by default I guess both
>>>>>         should
>>>>>             be enabled.
>>>>>
>>>>>             4. When the Spice_Model field is selected, the button "Edit
>>>>>         Spice
>>>>>             Model" should be shown under there, instead of always on
>> the
>>>>>         left
>>>>>             side. Just to be more like the other fields.
>>>>>
>>>>>             5. Add context-menu entries and toolbar buttons for the
>>>>>         simulator
>>>>>             interface.
>>>>>
>>>>>             This would make the simulator seem like its a part of kicad
>>>>>         and not
>>>>>             only a strange addon that is just hackishly attached to
>>>>>         kicad with
>>>>>             duct-tape. Dont get me wrong, Its an awesome feature, and
>>>>>         works well
>>>>>             it just looks like an outsider when using it currently.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>                 As for the polishing up before the V5, there's several
>>>>>         tasks to do:
>>>>>                 - update the pspice.lib library (it doesn't follow the
>>>>>         KLC) and make
>>>>>                 sure all Spice devices are in there.
>>>>>                 - fix quirks in the plot component (wxMathPlot).
>>>>>                 - document and make a few example designs (I can help
>>>>>         with this
>>>>>                 point).
>>>>>
>>>>>                 Cheers,
>>>>>                 Tom
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>>
> 


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