Best PCB design software for pedal builders (i.e. simple/easy to use)

[aballen]

I've been using Eagle for some time and I really like it.  Its also quite popular in the DIY community.  Its nice that I can order boards from a service like OSHPark or BatchPCB when I'm done.  It takes a bit of time to learn, but SparkFun has some excellent tutorials, after going through them I've been able to create pretty much anything I've wanted to. There are a lot of great part libraries as well.  Eagle is not free, but the freeware version can do boards big enough for pedals, and two layers, which is pretty close to being free for pedal builders.

KiCad is another tool that seems to be becoming very popular.  I don't think it has as many parts libraries available as Eagle, its just a matter of time though.  I understand its fully featured, and it even does 3d rendering, which eagle cant do.  Also its genuinely free, as in GPL

I've stuck with Eagle for some time, because I know it, but if I was starting today I think I would go the KiCad route.... I also use vi, if I was learning today, I would do emacs

[J0K3RX]

Best PCB soft is SPRiNT LAYOUT 6.0
Easy +++++
Interface +++++
Other features +++++

Agreed! it is the best and easiest to learn, can learn in minutes... But Free? Where did you get yours?

After routing, you have to spent time for checking layout against schematic manually. Any normal CAD does it automatically according to netlist imported from schematic.

I REALLY need to learn how to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drolo]

about Fritzing, after playing around with it for a while, i found that individual Op-amps from a double or quad OP-Amp chip cannot be dissociated in schematic view, making it very messy to work with and schematics very confusing ...

a pitty
NEXT

[GoranP]

about Fritzing, after playing around with it for a while, i found that individual Op-amps from a double or quad OP-Amp chip cannot be dissociated in schematic view, making it very messy to work with and schematics very confusing ...

a pitty
NEXT

I don't find it a dealbreaker... I just do this, works fine and keeps the schematic tidy:

[drolo]

about Fritzing, after playing around with it for a while, i found that individual Op-amps from a double or quad OP-Amp chip cannot be dissociated in schematic view, making it very messy to work with and schematics very confusing ...

a pitty
NEXT

I don't find it a dealbreaker... I just do this, works fine and keeps the schematic tidy:

hmmm not bad ... maybe i will give it another chance.
I'm planning a bit of a complex build and having a schematic picked up by the layout software to help a bit with autorouting but especially with verifying all the nets would come in handy ;-)

[seedlings]

I've been messing with DIYLC and I like it because it's intuitive and easy, easy, easy to use.  I'm sure there are more options/add-ons for more components, but many of the existing components are editable.  I just today discovered that the 8-pin IC can be edited to 16-pin.

My only question - and I've never etched a PCB before - is will DIYLC flip the traces horizontally for printing out?  Otherwise, the traces will be reversed, right?

CHAD