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Q&A Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?

Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs? Elitism and, folk with money to burn. I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is...

posted 2y ago by Andy aka‭  ·  edited 2y ago by Andy aka‭

Answer
#4: Post edited by user avatar Andy aka‭ · 2022-02-23T11:21:24Z (about 2 years ago)
  • > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_
  • Elitism in a word and, folk with money to burn.
  • I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.
  • I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop).
  • My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.
  • I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.
  • I'm not a hobbyist BTW.
  • > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_
  • Elitism and, folk with money to burn.
  • I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.
  • I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop).
  • My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.
  • I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.
  • I'm not a hobbyist BTW.
#3: Post edited by user avatar Andy aka‭ · 2022-02-20T19:00:33Z (about 2 years ago)
  • > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_
  • Elitism in a word and, folk with money to burn.
  • I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.
  • I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop).
  • My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.
  • I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.
  • > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_
  • Elitism in a word and, folk with money to burn.
  • I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.
  • I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop).
  • My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.
  • I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.
  • I'm not a hobbyist BTW.
#2: Post edited by user avatar Andy aka‭ · 2022-02-20T18:59:39Z (about 2 years ago)
  • > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_
  • Elitism in a word. Money to burn?
  • I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.
  • I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop).
  • My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.
  • I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.
  • > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_
  • Elitism in a word and, folk with money to burn.
  • I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.
  • I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop).
  • My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.
  • I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.
#1: Initial revision by user avatar Andy aka‭ · 2022-02-20T18:58:46Z (about 2 years ago) 
 > _Why are some PCB design software programs considered to be 'hobbyist' programs?_

Elitism in a word. Money to burn?

I've used Altium, PADs, OrCad, Eagle and my current personal favourite is KiCAD. Yeah it's a bit messy on libraries but it's a small price to pay.

I pretty much like Eagle (still got it on my laptop). 

My choice at the time when using PADs was definitely OrCAD. PADs was OK but it had a big-bro type feel and you couldn't do what you wanted as flexibly as OrCAD. Not a big fan of mentorgraphics (PADs) when they brought out a "PoS" called DxD. You can take a guess what "PoS" stands for if you want.

I've actually got a version of Altium on my PC (because I was doing some work with Altium and got a free license) but I loath it. It's too complex and messy and unintuitive.