KiCad

CVPCB loads slowly, requires internet connection,doesnt work correctly. PCBNEW just crashes.

Asked by Connor Crenshaw

I just downloaded the latest revision of kicad and installed it with kicad-install.sh. I have been compiling my own builds without the this script for a while, but that didn't work last time I tried. This build compiles, but libraties are SERIOUSLY messed up -- CVPCB needs an internet connection and about a minuite to even load (every time, not just the first time) on a 12 mbit/s connection, after which it loads and does not show any of my previously assigned footprints except for custom ones. PCBnew just crashes trying to load an existing board. And nothing works if I click the shortcut in my program menu instead of launching it from the command line -- it does not see the KIGITHUB environment variable that I set in bashrc, as instructed. If this is how the github libraries are supposed to work -- how do I disable them and go back to the old system? If an internet connection is required to use KiCad, I will have to switch to another program -- this just doesnt work for me, as I often work on board layout when I am in an area without wifi.

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Ken Sarkies (ksarkies) said : 		#1

I can't offer an answer but I would like to support this. The Internet connection may be a problem for many people; in my case because I want to work with Kicad when I'm in a remote area, and I know at least one other person who doesn't have reliable Internet. The CvPcb takes about 90 seconds to load, and PCBnew also when first searching for a footprint. After that it apparently works with cached footprints. I think it would be workable if there was an option to keep the downloaded footprints as local libraries and update them as needed. PCBnew also has been crashing but I haven't yet established a pattern. This is the linux version of 2 December 2013.

Revision history for this message
Dick Hollenbeck (dickelbeck) said : 		#2

On 12/08/2013 07:56 PM, Ken Sarkies wrote:
> Question #240444 on KiCad changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/240444
>
> Ken Sarkies posted a new comment:
> I can't offer an answer but I would like to support this. The Internet
> connection may be a problem for many people; in my case because I want
> to work with Kicad when I'm in a remote area, and I know at least one
> other person who doesn't have reliable Internet. The CvPcb takes about
> 90 seconds to load, and PCBnew also when first searching for a
> footprint. After that it apparently works with cached footprints. I
> think it would be workable if there was an option to keep the downloaded
> footprints as local libraries and update them as needed. PCBnew also has
> been crashing but I haven't yet established a pattern. This is the linux
> version of 2 December 2013.
>

In a recent source code change, I was able to get it down to 11 seconds on the first
attempt, late on a Sunday night when github.com has nothing to do but to listen to my
newly coded Qty (9) concurrent worker_threads.

This is a total of 71 libraries in 11 seconds.

And my internet connection is only 200 kbits/sec.

But if you cannot wait, then by all means:

$ <kicad_src>/scripts/library-repos-install.sh --install-prerequisites
$ <kicad_src>/scripts/library-repos-install.sh --install-or-update

$ less <kicad_src>/scripts/library-repos-install.sh
Ooooh, aaaaah, I see I have to then
  a) copy something and
  b) set an environment variable, aaaah.

----------------

Another option is to trim down the number of libraries in fp-lib-table. Probably you have
your own anyways.

Or install free eagle v. 6.x and use its footprints locally.
Please get these links onto the yahoo user's list:

https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg11745.html
https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg11870.html

Now please go support somebody else with getting an understanding of fp-lib-table.

Revision history for this message
Dick Hollenbeck (dickelbeck) said : 		#3

oops, my internet connection is about 185, 000 bytes per second. A cable modem is far faster, a phone modem is slower.

Revision history for this message
Maciej Suminski (orsonmmz) said : 		#4

Does pcbnew crash with all boards or only with some specific ones?

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Connor Crenshaw for more information if necessary.

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