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CadSoft EAGLE development team developing XML format for schematic, layout and parts libraries!

Former Member

hello makers -

 

this is my first post here, i'm the senior editor at MAKE magazine and also the creative director at adafruit. i've been part of a growing movement called "open-source hardware" for the last 5 years or so. today we just got some great news from the CadSoft EAGLE development team about the their long term commitment to text based file formats in the world of electronics development. with their permission i am posting this here and on MAKE (as well as adafruit). it's extremely exciting for those of us who wanted an XML format for files and we're thrilled CadSoft EAGLE has said they're committed to it!

 

here's the overview of what we learned:

 

  • CadSoft EAGLE (our preferred schematic/layout software) has told us they are committed to a text based format in the long term.
  • The CadSoft EAGLE development team is developing a new format for schematic, layout and parts libraries that is XML, this means every object and line will be written out in text description.
  • You won't have to worry about binary file corruption, you will be able to hand-edit or generate schematics and layouts and of course the magic of version-control (such as github) will be easier than ever with real text 'diff's!
  • This will be a fully documented format and also of course a converter for old CadSoft EAGLE binary-type formats.

 

 

this is a great direction and i encourage you to support EAGLE as you decide which tools to use now and in the future. but that's not all, i've chatted with the element-14 folks and they're all set up for your feedback, if they're very interested in Maker voices their product development. so here's your chance folks!

 

cheers,

pt

Parents

  • For me at least, it's difficult to argue with the "goodness" of XML.  The Devil, however, is in the details.  XML does not make the system "open" if the copyright to the schema is held close and no permissive license is granted other software developers to make use of it (that is to say, it could be possible to create applications that use/create XML from/from EAGLE yet still illegal to do so -- at least in the US.  If the XML is onerously difficult to implement (i.e. MS Office's implementation) then the only ones to do so will be professional software houses. You need only look into the Gerber format to understand that -- it's text, and published and yet still very poorly implemented in small projects. And PCB information is only a part of the problem.

     

    To capture a complete PCB design the XML will need to be fully elaborated (contain *everything* needed to reproduce the copper, ink, mask, placements, etc.) or have external dependencies. A superior approach would be to use something like the Open Packaging Conventions to embed (perhaps optionally) all the external resources needed to meet that need.  The existence of so many "how to prepare your design for manufacturing" tutorials is evidence enough that getting the right information from one party to another isn't trivial, and a long way from reliable.

     

    I love the idea of an open PCB CAD format that is easy to use and implement (XML or otherwise).  Any chance that the schema is available for public/peer review?  Getting it wrong on the first go creates some very difficult issues for developers; just look back at what Autodesk went through with the XML support in AutoCAD years ago.  It wasn't pretty.  If the software is anywhere near release, then the schema should be locked-down -- why not give the community a chance to comment on it?

  • in reply to Former Member

    Circuitpeople's remarks about the openness of the format are really the most important part to me. I already have scripts to make symbols and footprints automatically. I want a free common format for universal compatability. I know simulators like spice and others need divergent things in their formats but symbols, footprints, schematics and PCB layout are not like that.

  • in reply to Former Member

    So, after lots of Internet buzz last year about CadSoft's move to an XML format, I have yet to see a spec or other description of the actual format. Have they ever released this support?

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