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====== PCB Roadmap ======

This is a guide to the future direction of the PCB layout editor.

  * [[geda:design_flow_and_hierarchy_roadmap | gEDA roadmap]] has some PCB items.
  * [[:pcb-projects | PCB Projects]] lists some wish-list items.



===== General Guidelines for Releases =====

In general, there are three types of changes that go into PCB - bug
fixes, new features, and incompatible changes.

  * A //bug fix// is when PCB doesn't do what it's supposed to do - this includes documentation bugs as well as code problems.

  * A //new feature// is something that adds functionality to PCB but doesn't change any existing functionality.

  * An //incompatible change// is anything that causes (intentional) compatibility issues with older versions of PCB, and usually means a large design change.

Note that a new feature that
adds a backwards-incompatible change to the file format //when it's
used// is not in this category.

Bugs, patches, and feature requests should be added to the
[[https://bugs.launchpad.net/pcb |PCB Launchpad bugs
tracker]].

The default status **undecided**, bug reports with that priority will be considered "unreviewed".

===== Current plans =====

The current plan is as follows:
  * Releases every three ... four months or so, until we clear the backlog.
  * Start on a PCB 5.x release that folds in some large design changes.


===== pcb release schedule =====

The pcb release schedule can be found [[https://launchpad.net/pcb/+milestones | here]].

The remainder of this page will list the various wishes that are
planned (or at least hoped for) for upcoming and future releases.




===== Wish List =====

This section lists possible projects for future releases, which either
haven't been agreed on, or haven't been scheduled.  If you'd like to
work on one of these, go ahead :-)

  * [[geda:pcb_layers | New Layers]] proposal is here.
  * Multiple fonts in a design ([[geda:pcb_fonts | description of feature branch]])
  * Other GUI cleanups.  Gtk upgraded to "best practices".  Importer config.
  * import/wizard plugins (as well as exports)
  * [[pcb:DRC | Design Rule Checker]]
        * status report active on drawing space when "DRC Active" toggled 'on' in Connects menu.
        * DRC profile files (for different mfg processes).
        * General code clean up
        * Modularization
  * Variable-angle arcs. 
        * file footprints support this, it's a graphics issue.
  * Better support for free-rotated components: assert that pads at funky angles are rendered correctly, fix autorouter for components at weird angles (the latest git version has a tendency to either ignore the route command or to segfault, depending on the specifics), add rotation to the <key>ctrl-R</key> report, etcetera.
  * Ability to copy a footprint's name from the library dialogue (so it can be pasted into gschem's attribute list).
      * it should be a feature of gschem to open .fp libraries.
  * Ability to edit netlist in-situ (possibly by drawing on the rat lines layer) - e.g, when you want to add a heatsink soldered to ground, it will always show up as shorted until the netlist is edited to incorporate it.
  * Trace impedance calculator, with automatic adjustment capability (fill in thickness, stray capacitance and desired impedance, and the width is adjusted to satisfy the conditions).
  * Integrated footprint lookup and fetch from gedasymbols.org.
  * Hierarchical pcb model - subcells, footprints-as-pcb, etc.
  * A shape I've often wanted on a pad is circle with the sides cut off.  This is slightly different than an oval.  Something like Inkscape's boolean operations would be excellent.
    * PCB file footprints support 'obround' or pill shaped pads.
  * How about text at not-90 degree angles?  Or support for rotated square pads (I know, the file format doesn't support those two.)
  * Editing on the grid has got to go!  Counting grid points is the worst possible way to enter positional information into a computer.
  * Make every field in object reports editable.
  * Allow direct entry of offsets and absolute positions when editing.
  * Add "offset" and "extend"/"trim" features à la 2D CAD programs.
  * Add "point to tangent" and "tangent to tangent" line drawing feature à la 2D CAD programs.
  * When silk layer is off, show refdeses in very thin, small type for all footprints, say over pin 1, or the diamond mark.
       * similar to 'lock names', but done in order to clear up the board real-estate.
       * this would be 'drafting mode' as opposed to 'output mode' where silk would be 1:1.
  * Selection improvements: make it possible to select the endpoint of a specific trace, if two endpoints are coincident, you can't know which will be selected.
  * Trace centerline dissappears when moving trace endpoint in thin-draw mode.  this is undesirable behaviour.
  * Filled circles
       * Currently, to get a filled circle you create a zero-length trace of the right width.
       * Are there actually electronics components that require filled circle copper?
  * Unification of shortcuts in gschem and PCB, or at least an easy option for PCB to mimic gschem's shortcuts.
  * CAM engine?  (i.e. ability to say "draw outline on top soldermask" via script/config)
  * Automatic least version required file saving.  (goal: accomodate new features gracefully)
  * Put various commands which are only accessible via a :command(foo) into the top menu. Newbies want to see what actions are in the menus since that way they know what PCB can do.
  * Make the difference between editing footprints and PCBs much more obvious. If you're in footprint editing mode, then perhaps make the background color change. (Architectural)
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