Workflow

PCBmodE is a script that uses Inkscaoe as a graphical interface. So
you can think of PCBmodE as a wrapper around Inkscape.

To get a feel for how to work with PCBmodE, here’s a typical design workflow:

  1. Edit JSON files with a text editor for adding components, placing them, etc.
  2. Run PCBmodE to generate the board’s Inkscape SVG
  3. Open the generated SVG in Inkscape
  4. Make modifications in Inkscape, such as routing, vias, and component positioning
  5. Run PCBmodE to extract these changes; this will put those changes back to the input JSON files

During development you’d go through many iterations of steps 1 to 5. Then when you’re ready,

  1. Run PCBmodE to generate Gerbers from the board’s SVG

It is possible to design a complete circuit board in a text editor without using Inkscape at all! The most challanging part would be generating (using scripts), or hand crafting SVG paths for the routing.

Tip

Inkscape does not reload SVGs when they change on the disc after PCBmodE regenerated them. To reload quickly, press ALT+f and the v.

Tip

Until you get used to it the extraction process may not do what you’d expect. One trick is to extract and then run PCBmodE with also generating Gerbers (--fab switch). Then review the Gerbers instead of reloading the SVG to notice that your changed are gone. It might also be practical to design in a separate Inkscape window and then copy over the shapes to the design’s SVG.