On 05/24/2013 01:17 PM, Karl Schmidt wrote: > In eeschema - library-editor/fields and properties - there is a 'footprint' > field. > > In PCBnew - the 'footprint' field is actually specifying a 'module'. > > I think kicad should use one name ( I like footprint - it is the most > descriptive ( at least in > English), but I'm not fussy as long as the name can be consistent). > > There are other names that have been used for this in other software: > 'footprint', 'decals', 'land > patterns', 'cell', 'model' > > IPC standardized on land-pattern (which I don't like as it is not intuitive) > > Programmatically, a module is more than a footprint - as it can point to > other bits - 3D models, > documentation etc - but using different names introduces needless confusion > to beginning users. > > I bring this up as I get quite a few questions about this via the kicad pages > wiki at > http://wiki.xtronics.com > > Probably the most common confusion of new users .. > > I did address this at http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/EE_CAD_Terminology > > but I still get questions..
I have similar feelings, but I do not think there is a reason to race to a resolution for one main reason: I think in the future it would be nice if a module could hold tracks and vias, in addition to one (or several) footprint(s). So the answer to your disciples might be that a module is potentially a superset of a footprint. If and when that happens, we will need both terms, so there is insufficient justification and motivation to eliminate one term now IMO. Dick _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers Post to : kicad-developers@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
