Editing GEDA Resources

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Useful resources for working with [http://www.geda-project.org/ gEDA], the [http://www.fsf.org/copyleft/gpl.html GPL]'d suite and
toolkit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_design_automation Electronic Design Automation] software.  


:'''Note 1:''' ''This page is a continuing work in progress.''   
:'''Note 2:''' This wiki is publicly editable; topical contributions are welcome. 



== Basics ==
* [http://www.geda-project.org/ gEDA Project Homepage] 
* [https://answers.launchpad.net/geda gEDA Answers @ Launchpad]: Have questions about how to do something with gEDA?  You can ask the developers.
* [http://www.opencircuits.com/GEDA All about gEDA] at Open Circuits



== Installing gEDA ==

=== Installing gEDA on Windows ===
* gEDA can be run on Windows natively, as a cygwin application, or in a virtual machine.
* "Official" Windows installers are available [http://www.delorie.com/pcb/geda-windows/ here], maintained by [http://www.delorie.com/ DJ Delorie], one of the core gEDA developers.
* In case of difficulty with the latest, "official" versions, there are also unofficial "native" installers available.  We would recommend  [http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~pcjc2/geda-windows.html this installer] by Peter Clifton.  
* [http://bibo.iqo.uni-hannover.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=fertigung:englische_version_der_anleitung  Another set] of unofficial installers.  
* Virtual machine method: Download [http://www.virtualbox.org/ Virtualbox] and download [http://www.ubuntu.com Ubuntu], so that you can run Ubuntu in a virtual machine on your computer. (It's fast and easy!) Then, install gEDA (gschem and PCB) from the Ubuntu software center. 


=== Installing gEDA on Mac ===
* gEDA can be run on the Mac as an X11 application or in a virtual machine.
* Standard method 1: Use [http://www.finkproject.org/ MacPorts], and install both "geda-gaf" and "pcb."   You may also want to use the [http://porticus.alittledrop.com/ Porticus] GUI to make that process easier.
* Standard method 2: Use [http://www.finkproject.org/ Fink], and install the "geda-bundle."    You may also want to use the [http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net/ Fink Commander] GUI to make that process easier. More about this process [http://www.ghz.cc/charles/fink/ here].  
* Standard method 3: Use [http://mxcl.github.com/homebrew/ Homebrew] and "brew install geda-gaf pcb".
* Virtual machine method: Download [http://www.virtualbox.org/ Virtualbox] and download [http://www.ubuntu.com Ubuntu], so that you can run Ubuntu in a virtual machine on your computer. (It's fast and easy!) Then, install gEDA (gschem and PCB) from the Ubuntu software center.  Note: this is ''faster'' than the Fink method-- under 1 hour, if you have a reasonably fast internet connection.


=== Installing gEDA on Linux ===
* In Ubuntu, install gEDA (gschem and PCB) from the Ubuntu software center. 
* Similar packages are available for other Linux flavors, for example as [http://packages.debian.org/sid/geda Debian Packages].
* Those familiar with git, those keen to contribute to the code base, and those seeking the latest version, should consider building from source under linux, see [http://git.geda-project.org/ git.geda-project.org] for further details.

== Introductory tutorials ==
* [http://geda-project.org/wiki/geda:gsch2pcb_tutorial The classic tutorial] by Bill Wilson
* [http://www-mdp.eng.cam.ac.uk/web/CD/engapps/geda/starting_gEDA_long.pdf Getting started with gEDA] 7 MB PDF tutorial, from  Cambridge University Engineering Department, covering schematics, layout, and spice
* [http://www.delorie.com/pcb/docs/gs/gs.html PCB tutorial] (layout only) by DJ Delorie
* [http://sites.google.com/site/abhijit86k/linux/geda Tutorials] by Abhijit Kshirsagar
* [http://www.fivemanconspiracy.com/node/14 PCB basics and gEDA/PCB Tips and Tricks] -- a forum post at 5 Man Conspiracy


== In-depth documentation about gschem and PCB ==
* [http://geda-project.org/wiki/geda:gschem_ug gschem user guide] at the gEDA wiki
* [http://pcb.geda-project.org/pcb-cvs/pcb.html PCB manual] 
* [http://geda-project.org/wiki/geda:pcb_tips PCB Tips] at the gEDA wiki.  ''Extremely helpful.''


== Symbols and Footprints ==


=== Symbols: Schematic symbols for use in gschem ===
* [http://www.gedasymbols.org/ gedasymbols], the largest single repository
* [http://www.gedasymbols.org/cvs.html The gedasymbols repository accessible via cvs]: time spent learning to checkout a copy of the repository via [http://www.nongnu.org/cvs/ cvs] will be rewarded with a local copy of the gedasymbols content and the ability to share your symbols, footprints and utilities with others
* [http://www.msarnoff.org/symbols/ Symbols] by Matt Sarnoff
* [http://ashwith.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/creating-your-own-symbols-in-gschem/ Tutorial] on creating your own symbols
* [http://github.com/erichVK5/KicadSymbolToGEDA KicadModuleToGEDA] a java utility that will let you convert Kicad symbol libraries (.lib) into gEDA gschem compatible symbols (.sym). Kicad is another FOSS PCB design tool. Large repositories of Kicad libraries are available online and by importing existing symbols, quite a lot of time and effort can be saved.

=== Footprints: component footprints for use in PCB ===
* [http://www.gedasymbols.org/ gedasymbols], the largest single repository
* [http://www.msarnoff.org/footprints/ Footprints] by Matt Sarnoff
* [http://www.luciani.org/geda/pcb/pcb-footprint-list.html PCB Footprints] by John C Luciani -- excellent collection
* [http://ronja.twibright.com/guidelines/footprints.php Ronja Guidelines] - Creating SMD footprints (simple guide)
* [http://github.com/erichVK5/KicadModuleToGEDA KicadModuleToGEDA] a java utility that will let you convert Kicad legacy modules and the newer s-file modules into gEDA PCB footprints. Kicad is another FOSS PCB design tool.

=== Footprint-generating utilities ===
* [http://dlharmon.com/geda/footgen.html Footgen], Darryl Harmon's python-based footprint generator for geda/pcb
* [http://www.ssalewski.de/SFG.html.en Ruby-based] footprint generator by Stefan Salewski
* [http://cyclerecorder.org/footprintbuilder/ Footprintbuilder] interactive Java-based footprint design tool supporting gEDA/PCB and KiCad by Robert Fitzsimons
* [http://members.impulse.net/~uhl/utilities/geda_fp_creator/fp_creator.html Browser-based] footprint generator
* [http://www.chlazza.net/jsfpg.html Browser-based] rectangular footprint generator by chlazza.net
* [https://xgoat.com/wp/2011/08/08/playing-with-footprints-and-constraints/ A method] of making constraint-based footprints
* [https://github.com/erichVK5/FootprintTextForPCB Java] utility to turn text into footprint silk line elements

=== Format documentation ===
* [http://geda-project.org/wiki/geda:gschem_symbol_creation gschem symbol creation guide] at the gEDA wiki
* [http://geda-project.org/wiki/geda:pcb_footprints PCB Footprint guide] at the gEDA wiki
* [http://www.brorson.com/gEDA/land_patterns_20070805.pdf Footprint Creation Guide] (1.1 MB PDF document)

== gEDA Utilities ==
* [http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/wedana/ Wedana]: Cross-platform browser-based tools to view and edit data from gEDA applications.
* [http://www.designer-iii.com/gEDA/index.html A script] to convert gschem .sch files to SVG
* [http://vk5hse.blogspot.com/2014/09/geda-pcb-font-utilities-and-options.html Additional fonts for PCB]: Hershey single stroke fonts for gEDA PCB, some of which are decorative, as well as Chinese, Japanese and Korean glyphs, as well as Hebrew, Cyrillic and Greek fonts for the intrepid
* [http://letsmakerobots.com/node/38709 Using pstoedit to create silkscreen versions of bitmaps]: How to add custom images to the silkscreen layer for gEDA PCB, using pstoedit
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gMjHpglVUM A video tutorial] on how to convert .svg and .ps graphics to silkscreen layer artwork using inkscape, pstoedit and a text editor.

== Simulating circuits with gEDA and friends ==
* [http://ashwith.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/circuit-simulation-in-gnulinux-lets-begin/ Beginners tutorial] at Ashwith, the first of several
* [http://www.brorson.com/gEDA/SPICE/intro.html Tutorial]  by Stuart Brorson


== Platform-specific tips and resources ==

== For Mac users ==
* [http://electro.easyb.ch/pages/schem.html Using themes for fink]
* [http://www.msarnoff.org/geda-mac/ Mac OS X Wrappers]: Little mac-friendly "launcher" apps, to launch gEDA apps in the normal Mac way. By Matt Sarnoff.


== Related Projects ==
* [https://github.com/matthiasbock/gEDA-js gEDA-js] is an attempt to port gEDA to JavaScript, for in-browser schematics & PCB design + simulation.