KiCad

CERN Contribution

Asked by Cesar Rodriguez

Hello:
I am been having problems understanding how the development of this projects works in relation with the CERN contribution.

The branch of CERN (an the others) is merged to the main KiCad or I have to go to the branch and download and install from there.

I ask because. I download the CERN branch and is about 200 Mb size and the official kicad is about 900Mb, so I am a little confused here, plus when I tried to build the CERN branch give a Error that was fixed in the StringFix branch but what I find curious is that is the same developer.

Then I went and see the Revisions of the main KiCad project and some of the authors seems to be the same ones that are in the CERN branch, so I am guessing, the development of the branches is merged into the main KiCad (after revision I suppose ) or I am wrong and each branch is in his own journey and I will have to figure out how to keep install at lease two versions of the same program and alternate between them?

I am not sure about if I should ask this kind of questions here but I do not think that the mailing list is appropriate.

Excuses if this do not belongs here.

I have to say that I search info about this but I do not found any clear answer, just some info that could suggest some things but nothing clear, anyway thanks.

Where I can ask questions about the use of KiCad ?? Not about the development is there any forum or mailing list besides the one of yahoo? Thanks again

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KiCad Edit question
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Solved by:
Maciej Suminski
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Revision history for this message
Best Maciej Suminski (orsonmmz) said : 		#1

Hi Cesar,

If you want to use some of the features prepared by CERN, it is the best to stick to the KiCad testing branch (lp:kicad) or try the newest functionality offered from time to time in a specific branch provided by CERN. Those are announced on the development mailing list, usually looking for some brave testers to report bugs (right now, the branch for testing is lp:~cern-kicad/kicad/ratsnest). Please be aware of the fact, that the testing branch is usually tested by wider audience, so it is more stable than the highly experimental CERN branches (but these need even more volunteers eager to test the code).
CERN contributions are made with cooperation of KiCad main developers, so after a period of testing, bug fixing and reviewing the code, they are finally merged into the testing branch. At one point in the future it may be also included in the stable branch, when it gets mature enough.
There are two main mailing lists that I am aware of:
- for developers (or users interested in the freshest changes / reporting bugs): http://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
- for users (usage, howtos, tutorials): http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/
Probably there are also other lists or bulletin boards, where you can find help or advices. By asking 'about the use of KiCad' you mean questions regarding how to perform specific actions, eg. draw a footprint, change some settings and so on? If so, I think the users mailing list is the best place for that.

Regards,
Orson

Revision history for this message
Cesar Rodriguez (cesar-rd) said : 		#2

Thanks Maciej Sumiński, that solved my question.