Community Driven Eagle Library Database

I've beem working on developing a community driven site for sharing Eagle libraries. Cadsofts sight has a nice list, but there is not sorting ability, no commenting, no voting. The objective with the site is to change that; allow users to upload their own libraries, comment on others, vote on their quality, etc. Adding this bit of peer moderation can help eliminate issues with libraries and promote quality libraries.

I wanted to post here to open up discussion about what users would like to see for a website like this.

At current, the feature list:

Drop down listings of categories (ie. Discrete, Semiconductor) The categories and options are not finalized, ideas on this would be great.
Tag system for powerful search
Thumbnail upload (would love to automate this one day, but server side scripting like that is out of my abilities.)
A text description. Open to any content the user would like to add.
Components listing, allowing users to list components in the library.
Supplier and data sheet link inputs.
Download counting, actively tracks download count.
5 star based voting system.
Sortable list, allowing to sort by name, categories, download count, vote average, etc.
Featured Library page displaying libraries that moderators enjoy the most. Community input on featured libaries could be implemented later.
Popular Libraries page displaying libraries in order of their vote average.
Search function allows for site wide search.

I've been developing locally, so it is not quite ready to publish here (thus a breakdown of the features instead of a link). I'm hoping to roll it out in the next 2 weeks or so, and I hope to have some community input to help make it ready for launching.

Thanks everyone, looking forward to helping the Eagle community!

Former Member over 13 years ago

Element 14 User wrote on Sat, 05 February 2011 16:47
I wanted to post here to open up discussion about what users would like
to see for a website like this.

Nothing since it's pointless, for me at least.

Making library parts is not such a big deal. However, there are many
different conventions and styles out there. Checking for the unlikely
event that someone has used my style and conventions would take more time
than to just do it right in the first place.

For example, I have certain conventions for the silkscreen, names, values,
and documentation layers, including line width and text size. I also need
certain attributes set the right way to work with my automated BOM
generation system.

I also care a great deal what the symbol looks like. The vast majority of
symbols I see are sloppy at best, sometimes even downright misleading. The
Cadsoft libraries are full of such examples. A schematic is not only to
describe the connectivity to the software, but is also documentation of the
circuit for humans. A little extra time spent up front for better clarity
every time the part is used is worth it.

I suppose your sight might be of some use to lazy or sloppy hobbyists, but
I really can't see anyone beyond that using it. No serious professional is
going to use someone else's libraries.

I guess I do have one thing to suggest if you plan to go ahead anyway. I
make some of my libraries available on my own site for those that wish to
use my conventions. I still want people to get my libraries only from my
site where I can retain control. I'm probably not the only one. Therefore
my suggestion is to make sure your site can accept links to libraries
elsewhere as apposed to requiring a copy on your site. Otherwise, I and
probably others would not contribute.
--
Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca. Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.
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