Re: gEDA-dev: DBUS binding to PCB actions

[Peter Clifton <pcjc2-at-NOSPAMcam_dot_ac_dot_uk>]

> If PCB can support LessTif, GTK, and postscript, why can't it support
> both DBus and XML-PRC?  
> 
> I realize I'm not a contributer but personally I'd like to be able to
> see it be able to support different messenging systems in a modular
> manner. 
> 
> Further, I think that features like checking if another PCB instance has
> a drawing open is just the start.  In the future it would be cool to see
> geda support dbus or whatever as well, and then perhaps geda -> PCB
> translation scripts could work to sync models on the fly.  Or to have a
> dual head monitor with PCB on one head and geda on the other and have
> highlights of a connection or part on one highlight the same part on the
> other display.  Another idea would be to have one instance of PCB on
> your workstation tell another instance of PCB on a monster computer to
> route your file then send the results back to you.
> 
> And then there a possible web integration features, that might be
> particularly valuable in the future, perhaps browsing through designs
> online.  I don't know what all here.

All good points, and certainly most of your use cases are ones we've
thought about.

FYI, there is a mode in gschem, where it can launch PCB via a PIPE and
implement cross-probing from gschem to PCB. Perhaps ask Dan a about this
though, as it is a new feature. (It is turned off by default in
system-gschemrc). It only works one way at the moment.

We have a program which can update the layout on the fly with design
changes, but I'm not sure what you mean by "sync models". Our program
"xgsch2pcb" will run "gsch2pcb", as necessary, and forward the changes
to a running instance of PCB. It isn't instantaneous, but invoked by
pressing a button.

(xgsch2pcb needs a patched version of PCB to work, either DBUS for the
newer version, or the original proof of concept, which used a hack to
add status-return codes to STDOUT from PCB's actions)

Regards

Peter Clifton






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