Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] re: Low cost hardware option, the "total GNU solution"

[Moeller]

On 15.01.2011 15:46, Marcus D. Leech wrote:
>> It would be really cool to create a "total GNU" solution for the GNURADIO.
>> GNU EDA tools, GNU-like Hardware (open-source community license),
>> GNU FPGA-code, GNU µC-Code, GNU signal processing (the existing Gnuradio),
>> GNU operating system, GNU postprocessing (GNU Octave), GNU visualization
>> (gnuplot) ...

> My most recent paid-work project was both a hardware and software
> project, and
>   the RF front-end was done entirely in Kicad, which is an open-source
> environment.
>   It produces professional-quality schematics, BOMs, PCB layouts, gerber
> and drill
>   files, etc, etc.

It's not called "GNU", but at least Kicad has a GPL license, so it will
not break the "GNU toolchain".

I downloaded and played around with KiCad a bit.
>From the first impression, it's more intuitive than gEDA.
It has an autorouter, but also external routing programs can do the job.
There are lots of component libraries, all Eagle libs converted and much more in
http://kicadlib.org/

Does anybody have experiences with both tools, gEDA and KiCad?
Which one is more comfortable, which one more powerful, better
suited for a Gnuradio?

The advantage of KiCad is that it runs on Windows and Unix.
I'm using Linux only for server- and number crunching jobs,
but not as a desktop. gEDA on Windows is really a pain.

With gEDA I like that spice and verilog simulations can be integrated,
signal visualization with wave and wcalc EM analysis. KiCad has no
simulation capabilities. It might be a critical aspect for RF circuits.