Re: gEDA-dev: GSoC 2008

[John Griessen <john-at-NOSPAMecosensory_dot_com>]

DJ Delorie wrote:

> Imagine, if you will, a DIP package with a trace centered between two
> pins.  The user should be able to just push the crosshair between the
> trace and one of the pins, and have the trace moved over just enough
> to make room, resulting in two traces between pins.
> 
> The simple case is just nudging traces aside.  The harder case is
> adding bends in the traces, such as what the global puller results in,
> or what liquidPCB does.

A short description of the above is "radial force field from a point"
such that more force enters into a balance that decides where a point on a trace lands.
The other part of the balance would come from a model of surface tension, a force along the length
of all traces that is equal everywhere, such that curves end up having a sideways force on them...
the second part describes "global puller".  A third part could be approximate
friction -- a level you must go past to
get motion, but which adds no further drag once moving.

With those attributes active, you could have two tools that would change shapes of traces,
one a zone of action that reduces friction some, (maybe the mouse thumbwheeel could command
  how much..),  the other DJ's point tool that exerts a pushing force.

And you could make a "broom" or "dusting-brush" from a line of point force tools.

Now how to code all these physics models?  Hmmm...??

John Griessen

-- 
Ecosensory   Austin TX
tinyOS devel on:  ubuntu Linux;   tinyOS v2.0.2;   telosb ecosens1


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