gEDA-dev: gnetman inspired libgeda datastructures

[al davis]

On Tuesday 20 March 2007 21:41, Stuart Brorson wrote:
> *  VHDL:  I tend to favor keeping gschem's file format like
> it is, rather than embarking on a radical overhaul like
> changing to a VHDL-like format.  I'd prefer to see gschem's
> file format tweaked to support hierarchy (achievable by, for
> example, using {} when appropriate I think).  The important
> thing here is that we retain the ability to read legacy
> schematics.

My recommendation is to adopt VHDL as an interchange format, so 
the tool specific formats can remain.  The translator (now 
gnetlist) should be replaced so that translations are done to 
and from VHDL.

I agree that digging into gschem (or PCB) and rearranging the 
whole thing around VHDL is not a good idea at this point.

I agree that it is important to retain the ability to read 
legacy schematics.  I also believe it is important to be able 
to move forward, and interface better to other tools.  Strictly 
retaining the old format puts these goals in conflict.  
Adoption of an independent interchange format makes it possible 
to do both.  You can do whatever you want with the 
tool-specific format, because the interchange format will give 
you a migration path between new and old.