====== gEDA Project Wiki ======
**[[Sitemap]]**
* **[[geda:Download]]**
* **[[http://www.gedasymbols.org|Symbols and footprints]]**
* **[[gEDA:Documentation]]**
* **[[gEDA:developer|Development]]**
* **[[geda:tasks|Get involved]]**
===== What is gEDA? =====
//Translations: [[start_fr|Français]], [[start_es|Español]], [[start_ru|Русский]]//
The [[http://www.geda-project.org|gEDA project]] is developing a full GPL'd suite and toolkit of Electronic Design Automation tools. These tools are used for electrical circuit design, schematic capture, simulation, prototyping, and production. Currently, the gEDA project offers a mature suite of free software applications for electronics design, including schematic capture, attribute management, bill of materials (BOM) generation, netlisting into over 20 netlist formats, analog and digital simulation, and printed circuit board (PCB) layout.
The tools involved in the suite enable you to professional-quality design of low- to mid-level complexity. Using the gEDA tools, you can create PCB of up to 8 layers (soon more) with an unlimited number of components and nets. The tools are suitable for use by students, educators, hobbyists, consultants, small businesses, and even in large corporations where an engineer might need to crank out a quick PC board (e.g. for a test stand) in a hurry.
[[ http://wiki.geda-project.org/_media/geda:screenshot_gschem_1.png |{{geda:screenshot_gschem_1-266x200px.png|gschem (click for full size)}}]]
[[ http://wiki.geda-project.org/_media/geda:screenshot_pcb.png |{{geda:screenshot_pcb_thumb.png?288x200|pcb (click for full size)}}]]
[[ http://wiki.geda-project.org/_media/geda:screenshot_gerbv.png |{{geda:screenshot_gerbv_thumb.png?266x200|gerbv (click for full size)}}]]
===== Frequently asked questions =====
* [[geda:faq#what_is_the_geda_project|What is the gEDA project?]]
* [[geda:faq#what_is_geda_gaf_and_how_does_it_relate_to_geda|What is gEDA/gaf and how does it relate to gEDA?]]
* [[geda:faq#what_is_the_geda_suite|What is the gEDA suite?]]
* [[geda:faq#why_what_makes_geda_so_different_from_other_eda_tools|Why? What makes gEDA so different from other EDA tools?]]
* [[geda:faq#why_does_the_geda_suite_seem_like_a_collection_of_random_programs_and_not_a_single_integrated_application|Why does the gEDA Suite seem like a collection of random programs, and not a single integrated application?]]
* [[geda:faq#so_which_is_better_a_suite_ie_confederacy_of_programs_or_an_integrated_application|So which is better, a suite (i.e. confederacy) of programs or an integrated application?]]
* [[geda:faq#tool_xxx_is_missing_critical_feature_yyy_what_can_i_do|Tool XXX is missing critical feature YYY! What can I do?]]
* [[geda:faq#what_license_does_geda_use|What license does gEDA use?]]
* [[geda:faq#where_can_i_get_more_information_about_and_download_geda|Where can I get more information about and download gEDA?]]
* [[geda:faq#okay_how_do_i_start_using_geda|Okay, how do I start using gEDA?]]
===== Community =====
Users may discuss development, help, installation, and working tips through the [[ geda:mailinglists ]].
[[ gEDA:Howto report bugs | How to report bugs ]]
There is also a gEDA IRC channel at **irc.oftc.net/6667** on the **#geda**
channel. This is the official IRC channel for all things gEDA. Sometimes this
channel is full of activity and sometimes it is quite silent. Please be
patient when asking questions in the IRC channel.
There is also a low-traffic IRC channel on irc.freenode.net called ##pcb. This
channel is dedicated to pcb design and prototyping, gEDA pcb included.
[[geda:tasks#Website and documentation|How to get started editing the documentation on the wiki]]