gEDA-dev: geda naming convention

[Peter Clifton]

On Mon, 2007-12-10 at 01:15 -0500, Ryan wrote:
> I wouldn't mind writing a script to do this but here's the problem: Do I
> then go around the EE dept. here at the University and tell people I
> recommend this software but you will need my custom, unofficial script
> to lessen the learning curve.

For easier entry to the suite, there is an ongoing effort to provide
desktop integration with modern X11 desktops such as Gnome, KDE
(probably XFCE too) via the XDG menu spec etc..

Heck... if I want to, I can click a .sch file in Nautilus and it opens
in gschem!!

Wrapper scripts (in shell language at least) aren't portable. Neither
are sym-links. So doing either of these things will harm any chances of
ever getting a sensible Windows build. (Yes.. It is possible, and has
been done before).

> So many suggestions here go round and round and end up in the
> write-your-own-script-if-its-not-good-enough bin. I agree in many cases
> (when someone wants a strange feature), but if it might potentially
> attract new users into the group without disturbing the few gurus here -
> why not?

Writing scripts and Makefiles if for the pro's (and compulsive
organisers). I don't use them, even though I know how.

I'm spending any effort I can working on usability issues on GUI (and
sometimes infrastructure) stuff.

Have you seen xgsch2pcb? (You can do the gschem -> PCB workflow without
touching a command line if you so desire. Peter B and I have not had the
time or energy to extend that into a full "geda" project manager
replacement).

> Both gschem and pcb are very usable in their current state -
> but if we had some user interface guidelines to make the programs feel
> the same, combined with some sense of integration; this project would
> get the publicity it deserves and compete with some of the more popular
> design suites. Anyway, just a few ideas - I am not asking anyone to
> alter their lifestyle.

I was tempted to fork the GTK HID of PCB for a little experiment. Make
gpcb or similar, a HID for PCB which looks more like, behaves more like,
and talks nicer with the gschem / gEDA side of things.

Don't hold your breath though... I have no time to actually do it. I've
also been looking at the idea of using OpenGL for PCB's drawing.. giving
the possibilities of a nice translucent layer stackup.

Best wishes,

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)