Circuit simulation on Linux just became a bit easier

[tcpip]

Just got info from a friend who is part of The Linux Documentation Project (TLDP) that someone on that list (a gentleman named Stuart Bronson) has just finished a draft HOWTO (Linux users will know what HOWTO documents are.... they are beginners' guides) on Circuit Simulation. It's called (as expected) the Circuit Simulation HOWTO, and it is available to TLDP members for review and comments here. The HOWTO talks about an existing application called gEDA which has been around on Linux for some time. It's just that well written documentation makes it easier to use the software, so I thought I'd pass it on to you guys. Some of you may be using Linux almost exclusively on your desktops and laptops, like me. (I have the choice of using Eagle and Vutrax on Linux, BTW.... we're not exactly starved for software.)

Usually TLDP authors are glad to receive feedback about their work, because this stuff is written in a very cooperative manner. And I suspect that the density of people on this forum who can comment intelligently on gEDA is much higher than that on the TLDP list (which is a heterogenous bunch of people with Linux, not EDA, as their focus). So I thought any feedback from you to Stuart Bronson will help him, the TLDP, and ultimately, us.

[jwb]

Awesome, thanks.

[tcpip]

Originally posted by jwb
Awesome, thanks.

Hey, are you a Linux user? I'm really hoping to form a sub-culture of Linux and free software users (free as in free source, not free in the Windows world sense) in diyaudio.com; we have our own unique set of problems doing simulation, active xo, speaker design, etc, on Linux. There's one member of the forum who has started a speaker design software project on Linux. We need more such work. Luckily for us, on PCB design we at least have Eagle and Vutrax. But whatever the problems with Linux, I simply feel crippled doing the smallest things on Windows... that GUI just chokes me.

[RFScheer]

I've been wondering what people were doing for circuit simulation in Linux the last few weeks. THANKS! I will definitely check this out. Oh - I've been using Linux for about a year and nearly exclusively for about half that.

Check out the PC music player thread in the digital section. It's discussing development of mainly linux music players but there's a constant awareness of windows as well.

-Robert

[blu_line]

isn't there a PCB layout package included as well ?

Main problem not running Linux full time is lack of applications.
But more and more become available finaly.


grtz

Simon

[jwb]

Yes, I've been using Linux for my desktop exclusively since 1995. There's plenty of Linux users on this forum, but I've forgotten who exactly. I use Eagle for board layout. I find pcb from gEDA is unusable. Sounds like you are using Eagle also. Then I use gerbv to verify the CAM output, and also a Perl script that converts Gerber to SVG. The other major software I need is Acrobat Reader for datasheets. I also use Gnumeric to make the bills of materials.

[DRC]

The other major software I need is Acrobat Reader for datasheets

Which type of file are you trying to open, I have never had a problem with postscript / pdf datasheets etc.

Dave, been linux'ed long since ...

[Geoff]

Linux users may be interested in the information on the following page:

http://www.catena.uk.com/Pages/linux.html

[jwb]

Originally posted by DRC


Which type of file are you trying to open, I have never had a problem with postscript / pdf datasheets etc.

Dave, been linux'ed long since ...

I don't have a problem with them either ... I use Acrobat Reader. Ghostview and XPDF are both hideous by comparison.

[naz]

I usually just use gpdf and occasionally xpdf. ... xpdf can be nice since it's actually rather quick...

naz