gEDA Resources

Useful resources for working with gEDA, the GPL'd suite and toolkit of 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

• gEDA Project Homepage
• gEDA Answers @ Launchpad: Have questions about how to do something with gEDA? You can ask the developers.
• 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 here, maintained by 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 this installer by Peter Clifton.
• Another set of unofficial installers.
• Virtual machine method: Download Virtualbox and download 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 MacPorts, and install both "geda-gaf" and "pcb." You may also want to use the Porticus GUI to make that process easier.
• Standard method 2: Use Fink, and install the "geda-bundle." You may also want to use the Fink Commander GUI to make that process easier. More about this process here.
• Standard method 3: Use Homebrew and "brew install geda-gaf pcb".
• Virtual machine method: Download Virtualbox and download 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 Debian Packages.

Introductory tutorials

• The classic tutorial by Bill Wilson
• Getting started with gEDA 7 MB PDF tutorial, from Cambridge University Engineering Department, covering schematics, layout, and spice
• PCB tutorial (layout only) by DJ Delorie
• Tutorials by Abhijit Kshirsagar
• PCB basics and gEDA/PCB Tips and Tricks -- a forum post at 5 Man Conspiracy

In-depth documentation about gschem and PCB

• gschem user guide at the gEDA wiki
• PCB manual
• PCB Tips at the gEDA wiki. Extremely helpful.

Symbols and Footprints

Symbols: Schematic symbols for use in gschem

• gedasymbols, the largest single repository
• Symbols by Matt Sarnoff
• Tutorial on creating your own symbols
• Mapping multiple footprint pins to a single logical pin

Footprints: component footprints for use in PCB

• gedasymbols, the largest single repository
• Footprints by Matt Sarnoff
• PCB Footprints by John C Luciani -- excellent collection

Footprint-generating utilities

• Footgen, Darryl Harmon's python-based footprint generator for geda/pcb
• Ruby-based footprint generator by Stefan Salewski
• Footprintbuilder interactive Java-based footprint design tool supporting gEDA/PCB and KiCad by Robert Fitzsimons
• Browser-based footprint generator
• Browser-based rectangular footprint generator by chlazza.net
• A method of making constraint-based footprints

Format documentation

• gschem symbol creation guide at the gEDA wiki
• PCB Footprint guide at the gEDA wiki
• Footprint Creation Guide (1.1 MB PDF document)

gEDA Utilities

• Wedana: Cross-platform browser-based tools to view and edit data from gEDA applications.
• A script to convert gschem .sch files to SVG

Simulating circuits with gEDA and friends

• Beginners tutorial at Ashwith, the first of several
• Tutorial by Stuart Brorson

For Mac users

• Using themes for fink
• Mac OS X Wrappers: Little mac-friendly "launcher" apps, to launch gEDA apps in the normal Mac way. By Matt Sarnoff.