KiCad's starting to really pick up steam and get features and ground work for workflows and tools that I _expect_ from a CAD package... I'm a bit spoiled by Altium Designer and how easy and fast it is to knock out even quite a complex board and one can finish simple two layer stuff in an hour or two etc... Obviously this requires that you've set it up first to your liking and done some ground work in templates and libraries, but with the tools Altium has, that's a breeze. The multi selection with ability to change what's common, finishing auto-router command, ability to P&S multiple nets, cross referencing additions and packing improvements, custom fonts, multi line text boxes etc etc support for graphics objects on layout and hyperlinks on schematic, DRC improvements for more complex and well defined rules etc etc... KiCad's really getting there! And one of the biggest for me in this release is FINALLY having support for database libraries! 99.9% of different manufacturers passives are physically exactly the same. Same footprint, same symbol... and only thing that differs is the DATA. Or you might need to do mapping of symbol -> footprint -> 3D model in a complex way across hundreds of SKU's of some manufacturer because you're going to use their products in your designs. Before this was a hassle, a chore to map out and generate, but now it seems to be wonderfully better! And the relative paths for 3D models... YES! This hopefully helps you in the future to create whole product families worth of components easily and quickly in batch processes where with few tweaks you can just pick the footprint, 3D models and symbols, pick manufacturers data table with copy-paste and then bam you have the whole Nichicon PW series ready to go. These kinds of tools are really a must :) I'm so glad, even if I've not used KiCad with any real work yet, that these things are coming and slowly but surely I might need to think about replacing my CAD of choice :) Keep them coming! You're doing amazing work that's going to bring humanity forward when everyone has these amazing tools available for them to do stuff an invent :)
You guys are AMAZING and it's great that won't have to waste your precious time attending FOSDEM ;o) Thank you for the perpetual library improvements and for ortho dragging in Eschema; these things are an absolute godsend! I'm really looking forward to one day seeing nicer fonts in Eschema component labeling text so that the schematics can be exported to presentations.
@@WISERST When publishing the schematics out to the general public, I render them to monochrome and then they look truly great, but the vector fonts can be very hard to read for people who are not used to them, unless you make them uncomfortably large.
Amazing work! I just donated, it feels like the least I can do. Version 6 has been a huge leap forward in terms of "Just Works" and it looks like you haven't slowed down!
Was very excited to see the addition of database libraries! One thing that was demonstrated here was the ability to "Select Columns" when browsing the libraries. I installed the nightly build for MacOS and was able to get the sqlite db functioning beautifully - all except for the ability to "Select Columns". I tried a nightly Windows build in a VM and the "Select Columns" function worked fine. Is there some way to get it working in the MacOS build? Thanks again for all the great work and progress!
It is nice to see that work on KiCad continues and generally is getting better over time. I still don't like the change to highlight net in v6 vs. using the v5 right side of the screen icon. Newer versions of KiCad can't always properly load older schematics. Often this is due to changes in libraries. In v4 to v5 (IIRC) the R symbol shrank so the ends were no longer tied to the wires so I had to redo all the R connections. I have schematics in v5 that came from v3 and v4 where all items in eeschema are in a rescue library. The v5 mapping process has trouble even finding basic components like an R or C.
Just switch to Linux instead of dealing with all that M$ BS, or at least dual-boot (I'm dual booting with Win7 for games). I recommend Manjaro Linux, for XFCE just set KvMojave in Kvantum and "Matcha-sea" in Window Manager and you'll have pro-looking dark KiCad right away.
@@MrKata55 i cant switch to Linux, and dual boot its a mess for me, ive tried many times, and kicad its the only application i use that doesn't work as i like in Windows, setting up the Linux distr to work for me take a lot of time and after that ill still needing Windows, unfortunately...
I do like the project. I am also disappointed by the quantity and quality of the parts libraries. Someone should organize an effort to accept parts symbols and footprints from users and to categorize them into "untested," "alpha," "beta," and "official" releases. Each category (except untested) should separate the parts into libraries according to function to make finding them user-friendly and to limit multiple inclusion. Alpha and beta releases should be accompanied by user ratings and an administrator should review them personally and occasionally delete items that are FAR disparate from design requirements. The administrator should also migrate parts upward as user satisfaction becomes evident. It would be appropriate for users to create a secured account before uploading parts so that the quality of his parts could be tracked in time. Most users do not require all possible options for parts. I seldom use the 3D views, so requiring 3D models for all parts is counterproductive. It should be sufficient to accompany each part by a note that no 3D model yet exists. Similar notes might apply for other omissions. Ideally, the schematic capture application should allow the designer to select which category to search for a part. Otherwise, the library manager should allow the user to delete items from downloaded libraries that he finds unacceptable so he does not use erroneous parts again later.
Развлечения
Thank you very much to Kicad Development team who make very good tools for free. I hope Kicad will free forever. Thanks again.
Dear KI CAD guys , You are awesome. One request please do something on exporting to ODB++ files.Thanks
KiCad's starting to really pick up steam and get features and ground work for workflows and tools that I _expect_ from a CAD package... I'm a bit spoiled by Altium Designer and how easy and fast it is to knock out even quite a complex board and one can finish simple two layer stuff in an hour or two etc...
Obviously this requires that you've set it up first to your liking and done some ground work in templates and libraries, but with the tools Altium has, that's a breeze.
The multi selection with ability to change what's common, finishing auto-router command, ability to P&S multiple nets, cross referencing additions and packing improvements, custom fonts, multi line text boxes etc etc support for graphics objects on layout and hyperlinks on schematic, DRC improvements for more complex and well defined rules etc etc... KiCad's really getting there!
And one of the biggest for me in this release is FINALLY having support for database libraries!
99.9% of different manufacturers passives are physically exactly the same. Same footprint, same symbol... and only thing that differs is the DATA.
Or you might need to do mapping of symbol -> footprint -> 3D model in a complex way across hundreds of SKU's of some manufacturer because you're going to use their products in your designs.
Before this was a hassle, a chore to map out and generate, but now it seems to be wonderfully better! And the relative paths for 3D models... YES!
This hopefully helps you in the future to create whole product families worth of components easily and quickly in batch processes where with few tweaks you can just pick the footprint, 3D models and symbols, pick manufacturers data table with copy-paste and then bam you have the whole Nichicon PW series ready to go.
These kinds of tools are really a must :)
I'm so glad, even if I've not used KiCad with any real work yet, that these things are coming and slowly but surely I might need to think about replacing my CAD of choice :)
Keep them coming! You're doing amazing work that's going to bring humanity forward when everyone has these amazing tools available for them to do stuff an invent :)
Kicad has freed us from the Orwellian trudge of snobbery tools. Thanks Guys and Happy New Years!!!!!!
I adore Kicad and look forward to the coming changes. Awesome work from the team! I'll make sure to donate a bit.
Super. I had the opportunity to try KiCad 3 years ago... and I can say that the progress is huge! Great job! Thanks!
Awesome! Love the properties and searching in PCB editor, Donated!
kicad is powerful open source EDA. this software help me to make my project. thanks a lot
Thank you. I was looking for exactly this kind of video on v7.
And thank you Chris for hosting. Devs are already doing great job on the presentation, but it's always nice to get that additional "bling".
You guys are AMAZING and it's great that won't have to waste your precious time attending FOSDEM ;o) Thank you for the perpetual library improvements and for ortho dragging in Eschema; these things are an absolute godsend! I'm really looking forward to one day seeing nicer fonts in Eschema component labeling text so that the schematics can be exported to presentations.
KiCad Font is the best technical font for me. It took me a while to get used to it.
@@WISERST When publishing the schematics out to the general public, I render them to monochrome and then they look truly great, but the vector fonts can be very hard to read for people who are not used to them, unless you make them uncomfortably large.
So much awesome stuff! I wish I could afford to donate!
Great work
I hope this great team will think about the open problem in 3D rendering and building libraries, wishing you more success🥰🥰🥰
Amazing work! I just donated, it feels like the least I can do. Version 6 has been a huge leap forward in terms of "Just Works" and it looks like you haven't slowed down!
Was very excited to see the addition of database libraries! One thing that was demonstrated here was the ability to "Select Columns" when browsing the libraries. I installed the nightly build for MacOS and was able to get the sqlite db functioning beautifully - all except for the ability to "Select Columns". I tried a nightly Windows build in a VM and the "Select Columns" function worked fine. Is there some way to get it working in the MacOS build? Thanks again for all the great work and progress!
Nice
Awesome work Team. Kicad 7 looks gorgeous. Is there any way in to export 3d step file (or any other format) of Pcb with its silkscreen ?
It is nice to see that work on KiCad continues and generally is getting better over time. I still don't like the change to highlight net in v6 vs. using the v5 right side of the screen icon. Newer versions of KiCad can't always properly load older schematics. Often this is due to changes in libraries. In v4 to v5 (IIRC) the R symbol shrank so the ends were no longer tied to the wires so I had to redo all the R connections. I have schematics in v5 that came from v3 and v4 where all items in eeschema are in a rescue library. The v5 mapping process has trouble even finding basic components like an R or C.
When for a real dark mode support for Windows?
When Microsoft adds support for dark mode into win32 GUI. Currently, dark mode on Windows is restricted by Microsoft to Windows only UWP apps.
Just switch to Linux instead of dealing with all that M$ BS, or at least dual-boot (I'm dual booting with Win7 for games). I recommend Manjaro Linux, for XFCE just set KvMojave in Kvantum and "Matcha-sea" in Window Manager and you'll have pro-looking dark KiCad right away.
@@MrKata55 i cant switch to Linux, and dual boot its a mess for me, ive tried many times, and kicad its the only application i use that doesn't work as i like in Windows, setting up the Linux distr to work for me take a lot of time and after that ill still needing Windows, unfortunately...
I do like the project. I am also disappointed by the quantity and quality of the parts libraries. Someone should organize an effort to accept parts symbols and footprints from users and to categorize them into "untested," "alpha," "beta," and "official" releases. Each category (except untested) should separate the parts into libraries according to function to make finding them user-friendly and to limit multiple inclusion. Alpha and beta releases should be accompanied by user ratings and an administrator should review them personally and occasionally delete items that are FAR disparate from design requirements. The administrator should also migrate parts upward as user satisfaction becomes evident.
It would be appropriate for users to create a secured account before uploading parts so that the quality of his parts could be tracked in time. Most users do not require all possible options for parts. I seldom use the 3D views, so requiring 3D models for all parts is counterproductive. It should be sufficient to accompany each part by a note that no 3D model yet exists. Similar notes might apply for other omissions. Ideally, the schematic capture application should allow the designer to select which category to search for a part. Otherwise, the library manager should allow the user to delete items from downloaded libraries that he finds unacceptable so he does not use erroneous parts again later.