DipTrace, a popular open source PCB design tool, is designed for small to medium-sized PCB design projects. DipTrace offers a number of unique features that enable the user to quickly generate accurate, production-ready, production-ready designs from scratch. DipTrace allows users to import or export many types of components and even includes a "pattern editor" that allows users to quickly and easily edit their layouts. DipTrace also contains high-end CAD based tools such as AutoCAD and a high-performance USB interface, making it easy to design prototypes and run a prototype before sending it to your manufacturer.
DipTrace can be used for both design verification and designing prototypes using only the Microprocessors on your computer. DipTrace has four modules: PCB Layout, PCB preview/export, high-quality/differential signal routing utilities, and PCB Pattern Editor that allow you to design pattern libraries for your projects. These tools make it easy to prototype circuit layouts and test circuit connections before designing a full-scale prototype using prototype boards. The PCB layout is typically generated automatically from an AutoCAD sketch, which enables the user to make changes to the layout without any need to enter into the software. As an example, the AutoCAD sketch can be modified to add an additional component if desired or to remove a certain component. A similar feature allows you to change the color and/or layout of your prototype by changing the sketch in AutoCAD.
Some users are frustrated by the limited hardware support for the Microprocessors in the product. The hardware support is available on a separate download but not all the software components that are available are supported on every machine. The program will often create several versions of your software board, each version having different features that have different limitations when running on different computers. The most common version is the "PCB Layout" version which can be run on any machine that is able to read AutoCAD. In order to create the PCB layout you will need the right type of USB driver installed on your system. There is software that makes this process relatively easy by downloading a precompiled program for your operating system.