KiCad Open-Source PCB Design Software Keeps Working Towards Its Next Big Release

[brrrrttttt]

FOX runs on macOS, but it requires XServer.

That's more or less a no-go. XQuartz appears to be unmaintained for over 2 years.

[Vistaus]

I wrote "I do not see any alternative than QT" means that its the best option by far. not that it's the only option. FOX is not even close it does not run on macos for example.

FOX runs on macOS, but it requires XServer.

[brrrrttttt]

I've also changed jobs and are doing open source designs rather than proprietary, so it helps if the tools are open as well.

That's true even for proprietary stuff if PCB design isn't a primary activity in the company. To get access to an Altium license at work I had to jump through quite a few hoops. For any co-workers, or future replacement me, to work with my Altium designs they have quite a large barrier, whereas if I do the work in KiCad, it's simply a matter of grabbing a copy of KiCad and you're done.

[PeeJay]

I used to do some stuff with Eagle because I disliked KiCAD, but I recently found out about LibrePCB. I didn't like KiCAD because I couldn't be bothered deciphering the unintuitive interface, and LibrePCB really is easy to get used to coming from Eagle.

I was in the same boat, using Eagle because v4 Kicad and earlier was absolute garbage (imho). v5 is actually quite usable now, so I've switched over. I've also changed jobs and are doing open source designs rather than proprietary, so it helps if the tools are open as well.

[brrrrttttt]

I learned Altium at uni and used it a lot for home projects... after uni I never found something I much liked to replace Altium. Fast forward a few years, bring CERN into the picture, and now KiCad is more than good enough for run-of-the-mill MCU + interfaces/sensors/misc. periphs on 2/4-layer boards. I used Altium for a work project a while back, and honestly I am more comfortable with KiCad these days. The library management could do with a lot of work though (Altium isn't exactly the bees knees there either).

[brent]

If there's one thing I don't particularly care about in a professional tool like KiCAD, it's probably the GUI toolkit (as long as it works).

Most cross-platform and/or alternative UI toolkits suck, though. Toolkit like FOX or FLTK are missing a lot of functionality you'd typically expect from a UI toolkit these days. For instance robust complex text layout support or accessibility support for screen readers and the like.

[kenjo]

There are plenty of cross-platform toolkits other than Qt, like FOX for example (although FOX apps do look very Win 95-ish by default, but that's easily fixable using FOX Control Center or by the dev using custom color scheme).

I wrote "I do not see any alternative than QT" means that its the best option by far. not that it's the only option. FOX is not even close it does not run on macos for example.

[tuxd3v]

There are plenty of cross-platform toolkits other than Qt, like FOX for example (although FOX apps do look very Win 95-ish by default, but that's easily fixable using FOX Control Center or by the dev using custom color scheme).

Yes there are, others..
Lua for example has its oficial version the tekUI, but there are also others lua Based toolkits out there, and they run virtually anywhere.

http://tekui.neoscientists.org/screenshots.html

[Vistaus]

This is not a native linux application. It needs to run on Windows and macos also so using GTK is probably never going to happen. If they do change the toolkit I do not see any alternative than to go to QT.

There are plenty of cross-platform toolkits other than Qt, like FOX for example (although FOX apps do look very Win 95-ish by default, but that's easily fixable using FOX Control Center or by the dev using custom color scheme).

[DanL]

I am not blaming the developers design choice... (goes on to point out perceived drawbacks of the developers' design choice)

You should be a politician.