HI,
There have been plenty of user suggestions (including myself ) over the
years and many relating to the same old issues.
As a PAYING User, I have essentially invested my money ( but a lot of my
time) into using & Learning EagleCad.
So..
I would like to know ( from the horses mouth if possible) what is Cadsoft
Proposing/Planning for the next release(s) of Eagle Cad?
Is there an advantage to anyone ( especially users) if future features are
kept secret?
The following is what I can see as major changes in no particular order and
not inclusive..
Q1) Are there going to be any major changes to the LIBRARY?
Q2) Are we going to have a proper user definable /properly integrated BOM
window ?
Q3) Can CUT, COPY & PASTE ( and selection/group) work just like any other
application?
Q4) Can we open more than one PROJECT or LIBRARY part at the same time?
Will we be able to copy and paste ( Drag and drop) between these?
Q5) Can all the user settings and scr files ( or whatever setting files) be
kept in just ONE FILE , in one place and All accessible in ONE User
Preference (TABBED) window? (we can get rid of the Control panel if we do
this, and it means that updating Eaglecad will be less painful).
Q6) Are their any plans for some sort of SChematic/Layout hierarchy or
SUB-Circuits feature.
Q7) Any plans for a built in Gerber Viewer ( mac users have almost nothing
to work with here?)
Q8) Any plans for built in Circuit Simulation ( even basic stuff)?
Q9) Any plans for The Built in text editor to have its own Syntax
Highlighting etc?
Q10) Any plans for a built in Gerber Panalizer/Merger Tool?
Q11) Are there any plans for more control over pads/holes in the device
editor? i.e Odd/Complex shapes.
Q12) Can the design link feature work with other suppliers. ( should be
part of the BOM System anyhow)
Q13) Can we place less reliance on ULP's and command line entries as a
source of features/enhancements or usability, this should really be only
for specialised tasks. If you have a look at the ULP's over the years
theres a ton of them for Library Management and BOM'S Is that telling you
something?
Q14) Can we have single keystroke functions for at lease basic items, Move,
Change Layer, etc ( user definable of course).
I just want to know whats happening, The Beta Test forum is VERY QUIET, The
last release only really had Farnell Shopping added/improved and a few bug
fix's, I am worried that development has either slowed down or stopped. OR
is their something big in the pipeline. ( hoping!)
I am also worried that most suggestions are "Frowned" upon and this really
puts new users off !
So that I , ( and everyone else ) can stop wasting our time ( and your
time) with suggestions, can you please answer or give us something to look
forward to?
One reason I am asking all the above is that I am considering spending a
LOT OF TIME learning the scripting language so that I can program my own
features ( I have lots of big ideas) , Why, Because I don't know what is
the future for Eaglecad, And I am concerned that I may get to the stage of
writing very useful ULP's and then Cadsoft will release something in the
near future that replaces my work. Remember that all the time I spend
learning the scripting language TAKES ME AWAY From designing boards and
managing production, which is what brings in the money! and besides I
really pay cadsoft for the programming expertise.
At the end of the day I believe Eaglecad has a lot of potential, while I
can get boards designed ( its all there as far as capabilities are
concerned) I just think that there are too many frustrating / cumbersome
ways of doing things when I know there are easier /better ways.
The designing of a schematic or Layout or even designing a library part is
quite easy ( once you finally figure out the Eaglecad way) , and yes this
is the main parts of an application like this. The issues are with the way
it all comes together or integrates and is managed and how the user
interacts with it. As I have stated above the key issues are Mainly
Project management, BOM Management, and especially Libray Management.
Thanks for listening .
Dave M
PS Please don't condemn me for asking.
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