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CadSoft will enhance Premier Farnell and element14

awinning

We have been getting questions and requests for further information about Premier Farnell’s acquisition of CadSoft and the business of of Cadsoft  Computer Inc. While I don’t have all the answers, I’ll post what I know, and if you require any further information, please post your question here and I’ll try my hardest to find out the answers.


 

EAGLE software will continue to be supported and developed. The two founders of CadSoft who initially developed EAGLE software will remain with the business for agreed time periods as part of the integration process.

EAGLE software will facilitate design exchange between engineers through element14, which when combined with Premier Farnell’s transactional websites offers a complete online solution to purchasing and design needs. In addition, TechCast tutorial modules on element14 will enable new customers to quickly become familiar with the tool and help them learn how to use it.

The acquisition of CadSoft will give Premier Farnell more tools to help in the design process. These tools include the recent launch of DesignLink, which bridges from the other CAD tools straight to Premier Farnell’s product data, and information. 

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  • I agree with this last poster than short of open-sourcing the application, open sourcing the file formats would be a great plus already. There are tools that works with Eagle (checked Freerouting.net already ? do !) that would benefit a lot and enhance Eagle at the same time.. It might also allow interaction with "qucs" or ltspice circuit simulators.

     

    As for the aquisition as such, my worry is that Eagle is/would be impossible to have /anyone/ take it over. It's a 1980's codebase, I've seen a few of these projects over the years, it's usualy enough to go and jump out of the nearest window. I've have 25 years experience as a pro software dev, and just having a look at the look&feel of the application I'd probably want to run far & wide to NOT see the code :-)

    So for me the original developers must continue on, otherwise the product will probably die.

     

    If improvements are to be made, I'd really like the already mentioned BOM tools, and possibly a way to have a way to import/export (farnell, but please not just farnell :-)) orders part numbers, link to datasheet, and of course the library item if available...

    Also a way to have "blocks" would be invaluable. Right now you can copy a bit of schematic, but not the related routing that is sometime quite a pain to re-do.

    And with element14 you possibly have just the right frontal for it all!

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  • I agree with this last poster than short of open-sourcing the application, open sourcing the file formats would be a great plus already. There are tools that works with Eagle (checked Freerouting.net already ? do !) that would benefit a lot and enhance Eagle at the same time.. It might also allow interaction with "qucs" or ltspice circuit simulators.

     

    As for the aquisition as such, my worry is that Eagle is/would be impossible to have /anyone/ take it over. It's a 1980's codebase, I've seen a few of these projects over the years, it's usualy enough to go and jump out of the nearest window. I've have 25 years experience as a pro software dev, and just having a look at the look&feel of the application I'd probably want to run far & wide to NOT see the code :-)

    So for me the original developers must continue on, otherwise the product will probably die.

     

    If improvements are to be made, I'd really like the already mentioned BOM tools, and possibly a way to have a way to import/export (farnell, but please not just farnell :-)) orders part numbers, link to datasheet, and of course the library item if available...

    Also a way to have "blocks" would be invaluable. Right now you can copy a bit of schematic, but not the related routing that is sometime quite a pain to re-do.

    And with element14 you possibly have just the right frontal for it all!

Children
  • in reply to Former Member

    I do not think that bashing the Eagle code base is really appropriate. I have not seen the code and I cannot judge it therefore.

     

    Despite my critics regarding the UI there are a many points where Eagle is much better than the competitors:

    • Cadsoft is able to support 3 different Operating Systems and windowing toolkits: Mac, Linux & Windows. That is a big achievement and most probably not easy!
    • The application itself is fairly stable (there were some glitches in the autorouter) – on all platforms. This is remarkable from my point of view.

     

    I do not think that the code is unmaintainable. Nevertheless I think that an UI-refreshment is needed.

     

    I have used Eagle for more than a year now and I must confess that I like it a lot. It does what it should do. There are things that can be improved, but nothing really gets into my way realising designs.

    Comparing this to the price tag of Eagle! I think it is a great tool and I do not have any reason to switch to another tool.

     

    So despite a aquisition often leaves a bad taste (I know every aquisition starts with 'nothing will cahnge' and ends with a lot of changes – gone through this as well) I am really happy to see that Cadsoft now has the opportunity to get some 'fresh money', hire some more developers and start improving its product. It is an opportunity.

     

    So keep up the good work! And make it better image