pcb-rnd is a rapid moving independent project started in 2013, but roots
tracing back to the early 90s, to PCB.
Index: trunk/doc/user/01_intro/index.html
===================================================================
--- trunk/doc/user/01_intro/index.html (revision 30651)
+++ trunk/doc/user/01_intro/index.html (revision 30652)
@@ -8,63 +8,16 @@
pcb-rnd - user manual
-
1. Introduction
+
1. About pcb-rnd
-pcb-rnd is a highly modular, interactive Printed Circuit Board editor
-with a very long history .
-
-
-
1.1. Place in the workflow
+pcb-rnd is an interactive (or scripted) graphical (or command line)
+Printed Circuit Board editor. Besides editing it offers converting
+between formats, running DRC checks, generating previews.
-The main purpose of pcb-rnd is to edit the geometry of the board. This
-includes board shape, copper shape, layer stackup, holes drilled, slots
-routed.
-
-The input of the layout process is usually a netlist derived from
-schematics, and occasionally layouts drawn from scratch or created from
-schematic without importable netlist. Pcb-rnd can read different netlist
-formats and it can help the user to realize the given netlist in copper or to
-change the netlist and back annotate the changes. Pcb-rnd, however, does not
-display or edit schematics directly.
-
-The output of pcb-rnd is most often a vector format (e.g. gerber
-RS274D), that is sent to a pcb fab house for manufacturing or is utilized for
-auto-fabrication. Pcb-rnd supports a variety of vector and raster output
-formats making it easy to print boards, publish them on web pages, and include
-them in documentation.
-
-The typical workflows are:
-
-
-
-Black flows are the most commonly used; grey flows are possible, fully
-supported but less often used in practice.
+
-Pcb-rnd is a versatile tool for PCB layout design. It is geared to be
-a tool for users with the UNIX mind set:
-
-
it is small, easy to compile and run, has low resource footprint
-
it is modular - most features are in plugins, the user can chose which plugins to use
-
it is portable - also runs on systems that are not hyped today
-
it works well from both CLI (automation, e.g. called from a Makefile or even using with an interactive action command shell) and GUI
-
it is designed to communicate with other software:
-
-
it is easy to remote control
-
it speaks many file formats
-
-
it doesn't outsmart the user, it doesn't block the user from doing unusual things; it has support for checking the result and generate warnings
-
-
-There are a few things that are out of scope for pcb-rnd:
-
-
3d editing: pcb-rnd is 2.5d, that means it's basically 2d and understands the 3rd dimension partially; it does load, handle and export 3d data (e.g. subcircuit part models for an openscad export) but it does not edit 3d data
-
embedded <whatever-non-pcb-editing>: as a UNIX tool, pcb-rnd focuses on one thing, pcb edition, and relies on (and maintains close cooperation with) other tools for:
-
-
circuit schematics edition
-
3d rendering
-
simulation
-
-
autorouting - there's a basic built-in autorouter, but it's recommended to use external autorouters (various file formats are supported)
-
+
+
\ No newline at end of file
Index: trunk/doc/user/01_intro/intro.html
===================================================================
--- trunk/doc/user/01_intro/intro.html (nonexistent)
+++ trunk/doc/user/01_intro/intro.html (revision 30652)
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+
+
+
+ pcb-rnd user manual
+
+
+
+
+
pcb-rnd - user manual
+
+
1. Introduction
+
+pcb-rnd is a highly modular, interactive Printed Circuit Board editor
+with a very long history .
+
+
+
1.1. Place in the workflow
+
+The main purpose of pcb-rnd is to edit the geometry of the board. This
+includes board shape, copper shape, layer stackup, holes drilled, slots
+routed.
+
+The input of the layout process is usually a netlist derived from
+schematics, and occasionally layouts drawn from scratch or created from
+schematic without importable netlist. Pcb-rnd can read different netlist
+formats and it can help the user to realize the given netlist in copper or to
+change the netlist and back annotate the changes. Pcb-rnd, however, does not
+display or edit schematics directly.
+
+The output of pcb-rnd is most often a vector format (e.g. gerber
+RS274D), that is sent to a pcb fab house for manufacturing or is utilized for
+auto-fabrication. Pcb-rnd supports a variety of vector and raster output
+formats making it easy to print boards, publish them on web pages, and include
+them in documentation.
+
+The typical workflows are:
+
+
+
+Black flows are the most commonly used; grey flows are possible, fully
+supported but less often used in practice.
+
+
1.2. What pcb-rnd is and is not
+
+Pcb-rnd is a versatile tool for PCB layout design. It is geared to be
+a tool for users with the UNIX mind set:
+
+
it is small, easy to compile and run, has low resource footprint
+
it is modular - most features are in plugins, the user can chose which plugins to use
+
it is portable - also runs on systems that are not hyped today
+
it works well from both CLI (automation, e.g. called from a Makefile or even using with an interactive action command shell) and GUI
+
it is designed to communicate with other software:
+
+
it is easy to remote control
+
it speaks many file formats
+
+
it doesn't outsmart the user, it doesn't block the user from doing unusual things; it has support for checking the result and generate warnings
+
+
+There are a few things that are out of scope for pcb-rnd:
+
+
3d editing: pcb-rnd is 2.5d, that means it's basically 2d and understands the 3rd dimension partially; it does load, handle and export 3d data (e.g. subcircuit part models for an openscad export) but it does not edit 3d data
+
embedded <whatever-non-pcb-editing>: as a UNIX tool, pcb-rnd focuses on one thing, pcb edition, and relies on (and maintains close cooperation with) other tools for:
+
+
circuit schematics edition
+
3d rendering
+
simulation
+
+
autorouting - there's a basic built-in autorouter, but it's recommended to use external autorouters (various file formats are supported)
+
![[workflow diagram showing pcb-rnd interacting with schematics editor, fabrication, and others]](flow.svg)
-