Re: gEDA-dev: SoC: Gerber, DRC, gsch2pcb and D-BUS

[Peter Clifton <pcjc2-at-NOSPAMcam_dot_ac_dot_uk>]

On Fri, 2007-03-23 at 17:47 +0000, Justyn Butler wrote:
> On 23/03/07, Justyn Butler <justynbutler+geda@googlemail.com> wrote:
>         What exactly is libgeda?
> 
> Scratch this question, it was explained on the wiki. Libgeda is more
> of a libgschem right now from what I could see. Is this an accurate
> appraisal? 

It is kindof, although in actual fact, it contains data-structures for
many of the tools.

I'm hoping to separate much of the GUI structure and cram that back in
the applications it belongs in, re-structuring libgeda to be design
data-oriented.

For the VHDL proponents, that is the place you ought to teach to read
VHDL files. (At least for schematic, and circuit level stuff).

My plan is a slow re-factor, evolving the current data-structures
towards a better design - one centred around circuitry and designs,
rather than mostly graphics. (Graphics still being there as a
_representation_ of the circuit). 

It should be possible to have other representations of circuitry too,
e.g. a VHDL entity for wiring other circuits together, or a home-made
format, which (say) maps signals on an FPGA. Those would perhaps open in
a text editor, say.

This is where libgeda could/should evolve - as a backend to different
tools.

> I read your discussion of new libgeda data structures. Do you think
> that this overhaul will affect gsch2pcb or have I misunderstood?

I'm unsure at this moment. It ought not to - as one goal is to keep the
tools operating the same from the user perspective. (gnetlist should
still behave the same - hence gsch2pcb will work the same).

What it may affect is anything "clever" or interactive done between the
tools. (Things which aren't currently possible).

I was also keen to distance the (simple) work on gsch2pcb which is
needed in the short term, from longer term ideas for file-format
changes. (See the section "Make gsch2pcb use same search paths as PCB"
under http://www.geda.seul.org/gsoc/projects.html )

Regards,


-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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