Re: gEDA-dev: Announcing the Linux Fund's interest in the gEDAProject!

[Dan McMahill <dan-at-NOSPAMmcmahill_dot_net>]

Stuart Brorson wrote:
>>> Therefore, please take a look at the SOW which I have put on the wiki,
>>> and offer your comments and suggestions.
>> How about the ability to do real scripting within pcb? It would allow for
>> a host of tools and procedures written by users. The ability to do
>> layouts algorithmically would be attractive too.
> 
> The forward annotation upgrade has real scripting as a subset.  That
> is, forward annotation by reading a script of actions is exactly what
> you are asking for: A fully functional scripting ability.
> 

I think there are two different things here.  Adding the actions for 
forward annotation is pretty simple and can be done with the existing 
action framework.  The problem with doing real scripting with our 
current action framework is that currently, actions are 1 direction 
only.  In other words, actions are commands like "select things"  "move 
things" but there is no way to say "tell me what you have selected" 
"tell me if the move succeeded".  It is this latter bit that is really 
needed for real fully functional scripting.  There is also no flow control.

For an example of some sorts of forward annotation that is already 
available, you'll note that gsch2pcb creates an actions script (or maybe 
you have to do gnetlist -g pcbpins explicitly) that takes pin names from 
your schematic and propagates it to the layout.  But... you just take it 
on faith that those actions actually succeeded.

-Dan


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