EAGLE by CadSoft Computer Inc
Created on: Aug 13, 2009 9:30 PM by Christy Zurcher - Last Modified: May 24, 2010 4:43 PM by Randall Restle
CadSoft Computer Inc has been developing and marketing the software package EAGLE for more than 20 years. Headquartered in Germany, CadSoft has a vast user base ranging from hobbyists to global multinational companies such as 3M, AT&T, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Hewlett Packard, IBM to name a few.
EAGLE (Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor) is a low-cost, easy to use, powerful PC-board design tool with advanced features like online Forward- and Back-Annotation; UNDO/REDO function for ANY editing command, script files for batch command execution, copper pouring, and an interactive Follow-me Router.
EAGLE has been the best-selling software of its kind in Europe since the early nineties. Elected “Product of the year” for five times in a leading German electronics magazine, EAGLE has also become very successful in North America.
EAGLE is available in Light, Standard and Professional editions across the Windows®, Linux® and Mac® platforms.
You can download the EAGLE light and Freemium editions for free! Simply select the file below which contains the EAGLE installation data for your operating system. The Freemium edition has more features such as being able to design larger boards and use more schematic sheets. Freemium requires an activation code that can be obtained here http://www.element-14.com/eagle-freemium
|  Elektronik Magazine product of the Year 2009 (CAE/CAD category)
Take the guided tour Read Randall Restle's article onWhy EAGLE?Technical Articles |
Available Licenses:
EAGLE Light (Limitations: 1 schematic sheet, 2 signal layers, 100x80mm routing area)
| Modules | License |
|---|---|
| Layout+Schematic+Autorouter | Single User |
EAGLE Standard (Limitations: 99 schematic sheets, 4 signal layers, 160x100mm routing area)
| Modules | License |
|---|---|
| Layout+Schematic+Autorouter | Single User |
| Layout+Schematic | Single User |
| Layout+Autorouter | Single User |
| Layout | Single User |
| Schematic | Single User |
EAGLE Professional (Full featured version)
| Modules | License |
|---|---|
| Layout+Schematic+Autorouter | Single User |
| Layout+Schematic | Single User |
| Layout+Autorouter | Single User |
| Layout | Single User |
| Schematic | Single User |
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to Paul Casteels:
Hello,
If you like to order the non-profit license, please contact CadSoft directly. Either the U.S. office or the CadSoft hq in Germany. Contact data can be found on www.cadsoft.de/dealers.htm.
The non-profit license has the same limitations as the EAGLE Standard edition (99 sheets, 4 signal layers, maximum board size of 160mm x 100mm), but you may not use it to earn money.
Ideal for a hobbyist who doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
If you would like to order the Non-profit version, please go to
http://www.cadsoft.de/nonprofit.htm for details.
Best regards,
Richard
When, will a full Farnell catalogue Library be available?
This will certainly make it easier to find the right component either from Eagle or for Eagle. It can be both longwinded and fustrating to find a half way right PCB profile for components in the existing libraries and its even harder to find some of the library components outside europe.
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to Chris Pike:
Hello Chris,
there are indeed plans to make parts that are in the Farnell catalogue available for all EAGLE users (keyword Designlink) and to implement the possibility to check on the Farnell web site whether the parts you want to use with your design are currently on stock and available. As far as I am informed we need a few additional functions in EAGLE for realizing this. I don't have information about a time schedule currently, but I am pretty sure that this is one of the most urgent thing to be done.
-Richard
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to huayuliang:
What do you exactly mean with "multi-byte input and display"?
Richard
huayuliang
says
in response to Richard Hammerl:
I changed my name from chinese to phonetic letters, as you seen, many country using multibyte word to present on computer. and some special symbols also use multibyte..
For example, if use ASCII code to show a letter "A", in hexadecimal, should be 0x41, one byte can show 0xFF, so it only need one byte to present it, but many language, especially some language base the hieroglyph, one byte is not enough space to represent them. so we need multi-byte to to represent them.
But EAGLE don't support multi-byte input, so I can only use english to mark some infomation on my PCB.
another importent thing is document's collection, since I often use the "HTML" to save some data or text in EAGLE , but it don't support my source language, so it limit me to use this funtion....
Sorry for my bad english, many word maybe is worng, hope it can help you.
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to huayuliang:
Thank you for clarifying things. I now know what wanted to tell me.
I will forward your mail to our development people and I am prtty sure that there will be changes
in the future.
Best regards,
Richard
Anyway, i like the program mostly the way it is, but it could use some improvements.
Mostly, the GUI could be improved slightly. I've had problems in the past with the weird [alt] [backspace] undo command not working with both [alt] keys. it would be cool if you guy's added more language support for other languages. But, most of all it would be cool if you guy's added a ton of IMPORT support for other schematic/PCB programs. The FIRST robotics program publishes thier designs now, but i dont want to use Altium designer. Im sure other people share thier designs (sometimes in EPS format), and it would be sweet if we could import those. Even sweeter if we could import from a jpeg or png image, but i bet that would be hard.
http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=16337
Stefan Skoog
says:
Eagle is indeed a very good software. I've used it for many years already, and I'm vary happy with the improvements the last years (since the 4.xx version). Sice some whishes about increased functionality ha already been posted and acknowledged, here's some more from me:
* Show multiple units. At least in objects 'property' window. For example, i most often use 'mil' for grids, pads, components, etc, but I always have to be aware of the metric measures (mm) at the same time! I would love a feature where I don't have to switch grid each time I want a mm-measure!
* Keyboard bindings! It would increase productivity to allow simple key strokes to change mouse tool, instead of repeated point-and-click to the tool menu. The latter tends to be rather annoying when you layout PCBs for many hours a day. Sure, the right-click-menu is an improvement, and the console is awesome too, but the most efficient way is this missing (i.e. key bindings).
* Don't ever take away the multi-platform support! In my experience, that's very often a motivation to pick this very software among smaller companies!
* I'm looking forward to the future Farnell-library. But letting the user creating his own components will always be a key matter. How about a wizard to create basic pad/pin layout? You can find this feature in more comprehensive suites (for example Mentor PADS). I tell you, It's a catch!
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to Andrew Barney:
Since version 5.7.0 your license, no matter whether you bought it for Windows or Linux ar Mac or a combination of these OSs, will work on all platforms. You no longer have to pay an additional fee for multi-platform licenses from now on.
The EAGLE User Language is a very powerful tool that allows to import almost any data into EAGLE. The main problem in writing converter programs is the lack of good and reliable documentation of the source data format. And of course you need a bit of time to write an ULP. 
Richard
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to Stefan Skoog:
As i just wrote in my reply to Andrew we will continue our supoprt for Mac and Linux.
Concerning libraries:
There is for example an ULP that allows to extract library data from BSDL files (Boundary Scan Description Language). It generates Symbol, Package and Devices. It's named make-symbol-device-package-bsdl.ulp and part of your EAGLE installation.
I use Eagle for my projects, and find it very good, but it is very limiting for the small time user. I do sell my projects for profit, but it's only on a hobby basis - so I don't qualify for the not-for-profit version. There doesn't seem to be an option between £35.00 and over £500.00 and keep all three modules. To have to spend nearly 15x as much to be able to make a board twice the size is disappointing - I'm sure there would be a market for something inbetween.
Mark.
Hello,
Is EAGLE ecad tool supports for Unix also, if yes can you brief about the common commands used to run the script.
And i have one BOM needs to convert the xls file to COMPONENT LIBRARY DEVELOPEMENT , for example it's Passive components around 10,0000 components.
I needs to shows the parameters like res value,tolerance,wattage,package and manufacturer name and manufacturer part number, Is it possible to do in one shot without any errors, if yes tell me the clear cut picture.
Thanks in advance
Ganesh
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to ganesh shetty:
Hello,
sorry it's not so easy to understand what you wanted to say, but....
EAGLE is available for Linux, as well.
Concerning additional information for components: You could define attributes for the components and use bom_with_attributes.ulp for generating a parts list. This ULP is available in the ULP directory at
www.cadsoft.de/download.ulp.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Richard
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to satoshi shinotsuka:
The Freemium has the following limits:
max. 4 sheets in a schematic
4 signal layers in the layout
max. size 100mm x 80mm
limited to one computer, you need an internet connection for working, valid for 60 days
The Standard Edition:
max. 99 sheets in a schematic
6 signal layers in the layout
max. size 160mm x 100mm
Regards,
Richard
Gregory M. Brettell
says
in response to Richard Hammerl:
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to Gregory M. Brettell:
The non-profit license is available for individual persons only, not for universities or educational facilities for example. But we offer special discounts for educational licenses. Please contact our sales office for details.
Regards,
Richard
Richard Hammerl
says
in response to John Honniball:
John,
the board size is the same as in the Freeware. It is 100mm by 80 mm, which is half a Euro card. The advantage of the Freemium is that you can use 4 signal layers instaed of 2 layers with the Freeware.
Regards,
Richard
Christy Zurcher
says
in response to Richard Hammerl: