gEDA-user: random observations

[John Griessen]

>> + Is there any way to have the net name appear on the pads and pins
>> in pcb?
> 
> No.


This kind of thing will probably have to wait for some coding using datadraw and 
gnetman to build in more Cadence-style properties attached to layout objects.
datadraw and gnetman are used by Bill Cox to do hierarchy differently than the 
flat netlist with hierarchic names, and when/if that gets integrated into the 
mainstream PCB, we could easily start using gnetman to add more and more data on 
each layout object.   That would allow all the whiz bang features like fore and 
back annotation, full connectivity and DRC's as you go...

For now, we have a subset of DRC able to run as you go -- it's pretty good.

Now I want to try the automagic fucntion that cycles the various layout tidyers 
until no improvement.  I've not paid attention to that in a while...my work is 
mostly power and a dash RF lately, so hand layout all the way...

It's a ways off for a volunteer project.  There are so many other ways to have 
fun in the world besides paying to run expensive Cadence software, or coding to 
make the free/open PCB do that much...   It's good to hear more interest in such 
features though.

John G
ex chiphead