Kicad/Introduction
< Kicad
Introduction
editThe KiCAD suite is a group of programs for schematics and PCBs that is available for the following operating systems:
- FreeBSD
- GNU/Linux
- Mac OS X -- Installing on Mac OS
- Most unix-like operating systems
- Microsoft Windows
Programs
editThe following programs are delivered with the Kicad EDA Suite:
The software package includes:
- KiCad - the project manager program that facilitates the use of all the other programs.
- Eeschema - Schematic editor used to draw schematics
- Pcbnew - PCB editor used to layout PCBs; generates the production files (Gerber files)
- Cvpcb - Associate schematic components with physical modules (packages/padlayout) for placement on the PCB.
- Gerbview - Visualize Gerber files.
- Bitmap2Component - Convert bitmaps into symbols or footprints.
- PCB Calculator - Calculator around PCB issues.
Further reading
edit- Official site: http://www.kicad.org/
- "KiCad Documentation"
- KiCad discussion forum: http://forum.kicad.info/
- KiCad source code on Launchpad. Mirror site: KiCad source code on GitHub.
- KiCad as used by RepRap
- "KiCad tutorial: Creating Gerber Files" as used by Opendous Inc.
- KiCad tutorial: generating Gerber and Drill files" by Qi Hardware
- KiCadHowTo wiki : Tutorials and help with using KiCad
- Transtronics wiki: Kicad: a tutorial for re-building from source, and some ideas for improvements.
- "Curious Inventor: Tutorials for KiCad - A Free Open Source Schematic and PCB Layout Editor"
- "Wayne and Layne: Kicad Tutorial: PCB edges"
- Blacklisted site, but very good libraries. Lain Walter - elettronica - "KiCad Electronic CAD libraries".
- foss-pcb: ideas for improving KiCad into a state-of-the-art PCB design tool
- "KiCad Development"
- "Numato KiCad Library Archive"
- "Dangerous Prototypes: Our KiCad EDA experience with ATX breakout v2"
- "KiCad Librarian" is a utility to manage and maintain KiCad libraries with schematic symbols and footprints.
- "image to Kicad module converter" -- how to put a QR code on your PCB.
- "Installing the latest KiCAD on Ubuntu 14.04LTS".