Fortunately PCB already had a strong infrastructure supporting this idea.
It has dynamic loadable plugins and the GUI and exporters are in separate
HID modules. While working on pcb-gpmi and later pcb-rnd, I added the
gpmi module as a separate plugin.
In version 1.0.8 to 1.1.0 a considerable chunk of core code has been moved into
core plugins. A core plugin is just a plugin that is
maintained together with the core, in the same repository, still the code is
somewhat detached from the core. More importantly, the user can choose, for
each plugin, separately:
| module | size [sloc] | status | configure
default | class | description
|
|---|
| acompnet | 305
| WIP
| disable
| feature
| Auto-complete the current network. A very limited autorouter/assistant.
|
|---|
| act_draw | 975
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Expose drawing related API as actions
|
|---|
| act_read | 587
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Data access related API as actions
|
|---|
| ar_extern | 994
| WIP
| buildin
| feature
| Autoroute using external process
|
|---|
| asm | 653
| works
| buildin
| feature
| hand assembly assistant GUI
|
|---|
| autocrop | 51
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Reduce the board dimensions to just enclose the objects on the board.
|
|---|
| autoplace | 654
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Automatically place subcircuits.
|
|---|
| autoroute | 4421
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Automatically route selected or all rats. This is the original autorouter.
|
|---|
| cam | 1781
| works
| buildin
| export
| Configurable output job based batch exporting
|
|---|
| ch_editpoint | 190
| works
| buildin
| feature
| crosshair: highlight object upon crosshair on edit point
|
|---|
| ch_onpoint | 145
| works
| buildin
| feature
| crosshair: highlight object upon crosshair on edit point
|
|---|
| ddraft | 2128
| WIP
| buildin
| export
| Actions and a command interpreter for supporting advanced/precise 2 dimensional drafting
|
|---|
| diag | 751
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Actions for pcb-rnd core diagnostics, intended for developers. These are not in core because end users normally don't need these. As a plugin, due to dynamic loading, it can be dropped on an existing pcb-rnd installation with minimal risk of scaring away a reproducible bug.
|
|---|
| dialogs | 7541
| works
| disable
| feature
| Interactive core functionality: HID-independent GUI dialogs (enabled by GUI HIDs)
|
|---|
| distalign | 448
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Introducing Align() and Distribute(), which work much like the similarly named functions in Visio. Given that PCB does not have the concept of "first selected object" to draw on, the reference points can be selected by arguments.
|
|---|
| djopt | 2332
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Various board optimization algorithms.
|
|---|
| draw_csect | 811
| works
| disable
| feature
| Draw cross section and layer map.
|
|---|
| draw_fab | 291
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Draw the fab layer (for various exporters).
|
|---|
| draw_fontsel | 158
| works
| disable
| feature
| Draw the font selector GUI
|
|---|
| draw_pnp | 323
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Draw a Pick-aNd-Place helper layer
|
|---|
| drc_query | 2311
|
| buildin
| feature
| Scriptable DRC based on query()
|
|---|
| emsim | 96
| WIP
| disable-all
| feature
| electro-magnetic simulation using external process emsim-rnd
|
|---|
| expfeat | 31
| works
| disable
| feature
| Staging plugin for experimenting with new actions and dialogs before getting them into core or other plugins
|
|---|
| export_bom | 359
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export BoM (Bill of Materials) with configurable templates
|
|---|
| export_c_draw | 317
| works
| disable-all
| export
| C code usable in pcb-rnd preview draw
|
|---|
| export_debug | 316
| works
| disable-all
| export
| simple positional file format to compare exports
|
|---|
| export_dxf | 2350
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export dxf
|
|---|
| export_emsim | 203
| WIP
| disable-all
| export
| export in emsim-rnd tEDAx format for electromagnetic simulation
|
|---|
| export_excellon | 577
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export to excellon drill/cnc files
|
|---|
| export_fidocadj | 283
| WIP
| buildin
| export
| Export to FidoCadJ format (.fcd)
|
|---|
| export_gcode | 309
| WIP
| buildin
| export
| Export to gcode
|
|---|
| export_gerber | 916
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export to gerber
|
|---|
| export_hpgl | 881
| works
| buildin
| export
| draw one pen or one file per layer in thin-draw mode
|
|---|
| export_ipcd356 | 385
| works
| buildin
| export
| IPC-D-356 Netlist export.
|
|---|
| export_lpr | 35
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export to lpr (using export_ps to generate postscript)
|
|---|
| export_oldconn | 235
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export subc/terminal connection map in an old, custom file format
|
|---|
| export_openems | 3208
| WIP
| buildin
| export
| Export copper to OpenEMS simulation
|
|---|
| export_openscad | 844
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export openscad
|
|---|
| export_png | 834
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export to png, gif and jpeg
|
|---|
| export_ps | 820
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export postscript or embedded postscript.
|
|---|
| export_stat | 322
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export various board statistics in lihata format
|
|---|
| export_stl | 1419
| works
| buildin
| export
| Export triangulated surface model
|
|---|
| export_svg | 324
| works
| buildin
| export
| Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) exporter
|
|---|
| export_vfs_fuse | 312
| WIP
| disable
| export
| Export all data and config of a board to a FUSE mountable filesystem
|
|---|
| export_vfs_mc | 149
| WIP
| disable
| export
| Export all data and config of a board to GNU mc
|
|---|
| export_xy | 1212
| works
| buildin
| export
| Template based export of XY centroid subcircuit data e.g. for pick & place.
|
|---|
| extedit | 356
| works
| buildin
| feature
| invoke external program to edit parts of the current board
|
|---|
| exto_std | 1449
| WIP
| buildin
| feature
| Extended objects for: line-of-vias, dimension
|
|---|
| fontmode | 1064
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Font editing actions.
|
|---|
| fp_board | 120
| WIP
| buildin
| fp
| Footprint: load a board and expose all the unique subcircuits on that board as a footprint library
|
|---|
| fp_fs | 526
| works
| buildin
| fp
| Footprint: file system based implementation. Used to be called Newlib: load footprints from directories. Run external processes for the parametric footprints.
|
|---|
| fp_wget | 700
| works
| buildin
| fp
| Footprint: get static (file) footprints from the web, e.g. from http://gedasymbols.org
|
|---|
| import_accel_net | 211
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from a Accel netlist.
|
|---|
| import_calay | 239
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from a calay netlist.
|
|---|
| import_edif | 3637
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import plugin for netlists in the EDIF format.
|
|---|
| import_fpcb_nl | 224
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from freepcb format (exported by e.g. easyeda)
|
|---|
| import_gnetlist | 184
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import gEDA/gschem schematics running gnetlist
|
|---|
| import_hpgl | 154
| works
| buildin
| import
| Emulate a plotter and import the plot as lines, arcs and polygons.
|
|---|
| import_ipcd356 | 456
| works
| buildin
| import
| IPC-D-356 Netlist and pad centroid import
|
|---|
| import_ltspice | 593
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from an ltspice .asc and .net pair of files
|
|---|
| import_mentor_sch | 549
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import Mentor Graphics Design Capture from flattened .edf netlist, using a parts conversion table.
|
|---|
| import_mucs | 142
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import lines and vias from MUCS unixplot .pl files
|
|---|
| import_net_action | 81
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from an action script.
|
|---|
| import_net_cmd | 73
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import schematics/netlist by running a commandline
|
|---|
| import_netlist | 151
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import plugin for netlists in the classic pcb netlist format.
|
|---|
| import_orcad_net | 186
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from a Orcad netlist.
|
|---|
| import_pads_net | 209
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from a PADS netlist.
|
|---|
| import_protel_net | 222
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from a Protel netlist.
|
|---|
| import_sch2 | 560
| works
| buildin
| import
| Imports footprints and netlist data from the schematics (or some other source).
|
|---|
| import_sch_rnd | 127
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import sch-rnd schematics or sch-rnd/Ringdove project, running sch-rnd
|
|---|
| import_tinycad | 225
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import the netlist and footprints from a tinycad netlist.
|
|---|
| import_ttf | 759
| works
| buildin
| import
| Import outline ttf glyphs into the current font, either as polygons or lines
|
|---|
| io_altium | 2572
| WIP
| buildin
| io
| load boards in the altium PcbDoc format
|
|---|
| io_autotrax | 1597
| works
| buildin
| io
| Import and export autotrax layouts and footprints.
|
|---|
| io_bxl | 3007
| works
| buildin
| io
| load footprints from the BXL format.
|
|---|
| io_dsn | 2469
| works
| buildin
| io
| Load and save specctra DSN files, import SES
|
|---|
| io_eagle | 4598
| works
| buildin
| io
| Load the design from eagle's xml and binary formats.
|
|---|
| io_easyeda | 3722
| works
| buildin
| io
| load boards and footprints in the EasyEDA
|
|---|
| io_hyp | 4109
| works
| buildin
| io
| Import plugin for hyperlynx geometry (no polygons yet).
|
|---|
| io_kicad | 3696
| works
| buildin
| io
| Load and save the design and footprints in Kicad's s-expression format - this is the new, currently preferred format in Kicad.
|
|---|
| io_kicad_legacy | 914
| works
| buildin
| io
| Export the design and footprints in Kicad's legacy format.
|
|---|
| io_lihata | 5231
| works
| buildin
| io
| Load and save the design and footprints in the lihata board format.
|
|---|
| io_mentor_cell | 1841
| WIP
| disable
| io
| Load Mentor Graphics cell footprint library and make footprints available (e.g. for fp_board)
|
|---|
| io_pads | 4087
| works
| buildin
| io
| load boards in the PADS ASCII format
|
|---|
| io_pcb | 3486
| works
| buildin
| io
| Load and save the design and footprints in the original gEDA/PCB text format.
|
|---|
| io_tedax | 3739
| works
| buildin
| io
| Import and export tEDAx netlists and footprints.
|
|---|
| jostle | 421
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Pushes lines out of the way.
|
|---|
| lib_compat_help | 1445
| works
| buildin
| lib
| a library of functions providing a simplified API compatibility layer, mainly for I/O plugins
|
|---|
| lib_formula | 748
| works
| buildin
| lib
| simple formulas, for efficient rule-of-thumb calculations
|
|---|
| lib_hid_pcbui | 2459
| works
| disable-all
| lib
| PCB related helper functions for GUI HIDs
|
|---|
| lib_netmap | 1465
| works
| disable-all
| lib
| create disposable cross-reference maps between all objects and all nets
|
|---|
| lib_polyhelp | 1493
| works
| buildin
| lib
| functions to help plugins processing polygons and PolyHatch() action
|
|---|
| lib_vfs | 458
| works
| disable-all
| lib
| Retrieve, sort and query data under VFS export plugins
|
|---|
| millpath | 495
| WIP
| disable
| feature
| Calculate and simulate toolpath for milling away opper
|
|---|
| mincut | 893
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Use the minimal cut algorithm to indicate shorts: instead of highlighting two random pins/pads, try to highlight the least number of objects that connect the two networks.
|
|---|
| oldactions | 363
| works
| disable
| feature
| Random collection of old/obsolete actions. Bell(): audible feedback, DumpLibrary(): print footprint library on stdout, a set of debug actions useful for writing pcb scripts: Debug(), DebugXY(), Return(). Old plugin actions to toggle or set settings that are now accessible via the unified config system (vendordrill, djopt)
|
|---|
| order | 2041
| works
| buildin
| feature
| order boards through the Internet
|
|---|
| order_pcbway | 1185
| works
| buildin
| feature
| order from PCBWay through the Internet
|
|---|
| polycombine | 206
| works
| buildin
| feature
| The selected polygons are combined together according to the ordering of their points.
|
|---|
| polystitch | 95
| works
| buildin
| feature
| The polygon under the cursor (based on closest-corner) is stitched together with the polygon surrounding it on the same layer. Use with pstoedit conversions where there's a "hole" in the shape - select the hole.
|
|---|
| propedit | 2504
| works
| buildin
| feature
| List and edit properties of a group of objects.
|
|---|
| puller | 1823
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Pull traces to minimize their length.
|
|---|
| query | 6184
| works
| buildin
| feature
| pcb-rnd query language: execute expressions on objects and rules for the programmed drc.
|
|---|
| rbs_routing | 1931
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Assisted routing by stretching traces as if they were rubber bands
|
|---|
| renumber | 313
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Renumber subcircuits (renaming them) and generate a text file for back annotation.
|
|---|
| report | 1018
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Report() and ReportObject() actions - print a report about design objects.
|
|---|
| rubberband_orig | 1242
| works
| buildin
| feature
| The original rubberband code.
|
|---|
| serpentine | 375
| WIP
| disable-all
| feature
| Create serpentines on existing lines.
|
|---|
| shand_cmd | 165
| works
| buildin
| feature
| vi-like command shorthands (1..3 character long commands)
|
|---|
| shape | 926
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Generate objects of regular shape (regular polygons, circle, round rect)
|
|---|
| show_netnames | 317
| works
| buildin
| feature
| display network names as overlay when zoomed in enough
|
|---|
| smartdisperse | 164
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Improve the initial dispersion of subcircuits by choosing an order based on the netlist, rather than the arbitrary subcircuit order. This isn't the same as a global autoplace, it's more of a linear autoplace. It might make some useful local groupings. For example, you should not have to chase all over the board to find the resistor that goes with a given LED.
|
|---|
| suite | 407
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Suite integration: features spanning across tools in the suite
|
|---|
| teardrops | 423
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Draw teardrops on pins.
|
|---|
| tool_std | 2356
| works
| buildin
| feature
| The basic set of PCB drawing tools
|
|---|
| trimesh | 67
| WIP
| buildin
| feature
| generic surface triangulation
|
|---|
| vendordrill | 605
| works
| buildin
| feature
| Vendor drill mapping.
|
|---|
Each plugin implements a class (rarely a set of classes). Classes are:
