PCB Design Companies that use gEDA

What is gEDA and Why Do PCB Design Companies Use It?

gEDA, which stands for GPL Electronic Design Automation, is a suite of free software tools used for electronic design, including schematic capture, simulation, prototyping, and printed circuit board (PCB) layout. It was created in 1998 by Ales Hvezda as an open source alternative to expensive proprietary EDA tools.

There are several reasons why some PCB design companies choose to use gEDA over other options:

• Cost savings – As an open source toolset, gEDA is free to use. This can provide significant cost savings compared to commercial PCB design software.

• Customization – The open source nature of gEDA allows companies to customize and extend the tools to fit their specific needs and workflows.

• Freedom from vendor lock-in – Using gEDA means PCB design firms are not tied to a particular commercial vendor. They have more flexibility to switch tools in the future if needed.

• Philosophy – Some companies prefer to support free and open source software projects like gEDA.

Of course, gEDA also has some limitations compared to the leading commercial PCB design tools in terms of advanced features, documentation, user interface polish, and industry adoption. But for many applications it is a very capable toolset.

Which PCB Design Companies Use gEDA?

A number of PCB design firms, consultancies, and freelancers use gEDA for some or all of their electronic design work. Examples include:

Many individual consultants and enthusiasts also use gEDA for PCB design, often in conjunction with KiCad or other open source tools. The gEDA user community is relatively small but active.

gEDA Tools and Workflow

The gEDA suite consists of several key tools:

• gschem – Schematic capture program
• gnetlist – Schematic netlister that creates a netlist from schematic for layout
• PCB – Interactive printed circuit board editor
• gerbv – Gerber file viewer
• ngspice – SPICE simulator for analog circuit analysis
• Icarus Verilog – Verilog HDL simulator
• GTKWave – Waveform viewer for digital simulations

A typical PCB design workflow in gEDA might look like this:

1. Create schematic in gschem
2. Generate netlist with gnetlist
3. Import netlist into PCB to begin board layout
4. Complete board layout, run design rule checks
5. Export Gerber files for manufacturing
6. View Gerbers in gerbv to verify output
7. Send to manufacturer

Simulation of analog circuits can be done with ngspice, and digital HDL designs can be simulated with Icarus Verilog and viewed in GTKWave. However, many PCB designs do not require simulation.

Advantages of gEDA for PCB Design

Some of the key benefits of using the gEDA toolset for PCB design include:

Low Cost

As mentioned, gEDA is free to download and use. The only costs are for learning and support. This makes it very affordable, especially for startups, small design firms, independent consultants, hobbyists, and open source hardware projects.

Customizable

Companies can modify gEDA to optimize their particular design process. Common customizations include creating parts/footprint libraries, integrating with version control and PLM systems, and adding custom features via scripting.

Reliable and Stable

gEDA has been in development for over 20 years and has a track record of stability. Typical PCB design flows do not push the tools to their limits so they are generally quite reliable for production use. Critical bugs tend to get fixed rapidly by the community.

Portable

gEDA runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS. Design files are in standard formats and are portable across different installations. This flexibility is an advantage for collaboration.

Control and Freedom

Using gEDA, companies maintain full control over their design data and toolset. They are not subject to vendor price increases, licensing issues, discontinued features, or other commercial factors. The open file formats also help ensure long-term accessibility of designs.

Disadvantages of gEDA for PCB Design

gEDA also has some downsides that companies should consider:

Limited Advanced Features

While very capable for most digital PCB designs, gEDA lacks some advanced features found in high-end commercial tools. These include advanced routing, signal integrity analysis, 3D mechanical integration, simulation-driven layout, and direct MCAD interchange.

Smaller User Community

The number of gEDA users is much smaller than that of leading commercial tools. This means fewer online resources, tutorials, component libraries, etc. Fewer engineers are experienced with gEDA so staffing can be more difficult. Open source community support is available but not as extensive as commercial support.

Steeper Learning Curve

gEDA’s user interface is less refined than commercial alternatives and the documentation is not as comprehensive. This can make it more challenging to learn, especially for users coming from other EDA tools.

Limited Integrations

gEDA does not have the industry clout for other vendors to offer integrations. So there are fewer turn-key integrations with CAD tools, PLM/ERP systems, supply chain services, etc. These integrations often have to be developed in-house.

Not Well Known

Since gEDA is not widely used in the industry, it may be met with skepticism by clients, partners and manufacturers. Extra communication is sometimes needed to assure them that the output files are industry-standard.

Is gEDA Right for your PCB Design Needs?

So is gEDA a good choice for your PCB design work? It depends on several factors:

• Budget – If you have a limited budget for EDA tools, gEDA is very cost-effective.

• Design complexity – If you are primarily designing simple to moderate complexity digital PCBs, gEDA is likely sufficient. If you need advanced analog, high-speed, RF, or mechatronic design capabilities, you may need to use commercial tools.

• Customization – If you want the ability to heavily customize your PCB design environment, gEDA’s source code access is a plus.

• Control – If you want maximum control over your design tools and data, gEDA’s open source approach provides that.

• Support – If you require extensive vendor support or training, you may be better off with a commercial tool. But if you are comfortable relying on community support and internal learning, gEDA can work well.

Many PCB design companies find that gEDA meets their needs well, especially for simpler cost-sensitive designs. The cost savings can be significant. Others prefer to use commercial tools for most work but use gEDA for selected open source hardware projects. And some start-ups or small firms may use gEDA due to the low cost and customize it heavily as they grow.

As PCB design needs evolve, some companies may switch from gEDA to a commercial package, but others use it successfully for years. With the right approach, gEDA can be a very effective professional-grade PCB design toolset. Its open source nature is particularly appealing for companies who value flexibility, portability, and freedom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does gEDA stand for?

gEDA stands for GPL Electronic Design Automation. GPL refers to the GNU General Public License which is used for gEDA’s open source licensing.

Is gEDA really free to use?

Yes, the gEDA tools are free and open source software. You can download, use and modify them free of charge. The only potential costs would be for commercial support or training, if required.

What operating systems does gEDA run on?

gEDA runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS. However, it is most commonly used on Linux.

What file formats does gEDA use?

gEDA uses an ASCII file format for symbols and schematics. It supports industry-standard RS-274X Gerber files and Excellon drill files for PCB fabrication output. It can also import/export SPICE and Verilog files for simulation.

Where can I get support for gEDA?

Community support for gEDA is available via the geda-user mailing list. There are also forums and IRC channels where gEDA users congregate. Some companies offer paid support for gEDA but this is not common. You can also engage gEDA consultants for assistance.