PCB

PCB is an interactive printed circuit board editor for Unix, Linux, Windows, and Mac systems. PCB includes a rats nest feature and schematic/netlist import, design rule checking, and can provide industry standard RS-274X (Gerber), NC drill, and centroid data (X-Y data) output for use in the board fabrication and assembly process, as well as photorealistic and design review images. PCB offers high end features such as an autorouter and trace optimizer which can tremendously reduce layout time. For custom requirements, PCB offers a plug-in API for inserting new functionality and using that functionality from within the GUI as well as in scripts.

PHDL is a hardware description language (HDL) that functions as an alternative to mainstream graphical schematic capture tools. The language is compiled into a pcb netlist which can then be imported into a layout tool.We are currently on version 2.1 of the tool. We have created an eclipse plugin version of the tool as well as a standalone command-line based version. Both function identically and output a netlist that can be imported into a pcb layout tool.

VHDL revolutionized how FPGA designs and digital logic circuits have been designed and captured and overcame many of the difficulties associated with the use of schematic editing tools. We believe the use of an HDL is also the way of the future when it comes to PCB design.

The PHDL compiler automatically supports the output of PADS and Eagle netlists, and through extending a simple java class, users can generate a netlist in practically any format required by their choice of a layout tool.