A Hybrid Approach to the Electronics Design Process

Abstract

This master's thesis addresses the topic of a hybrid approach to the electronics design process. It shows the current state of individual design approaches using graphical or textual representations and defines a methodology that is followed in order to implement a hybrid electronics design environment. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analyses shows the potential of a hybrid design environment that makes use of both graphical and textual design approaches. The implementation is realized using the graphical open source Electronic Computer-Aided Design (ECAD) software KiCad in combination with the Python software module SKiDL, as a textual design environment. Two different design approaches are presented in order to evaluate the usage of the hybrid design solution. A real-world example design is used to compare the design approaches and their outcome, which is represented as a realistic PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design snapshot.