Still Drawing Circuits on a Napkin? Try Scheme-it Instead

Still Drawing Circuits on a Napkin? Try Scheme-it Instead

By: Natasha Baker, electronicdesign.com

2/21/2012

Ever since cloud-based services like Salesforce and Google Docs began replacing their well-entrenched desktop counterparts, there has been much speculation as to when EDA software might also make the transition to the cloud.

A lot has been written on the prospects for increased collaboration, and the new business models that could follow suit, benefitting both users and developers of design tools. However, there has not been much progress in this space -- even in the domain of simple schematic tools.

According to Randall Restle, the director of design support services for Digi-Key, this is because EDA tool vendors have traditionally focused almost exclusively on integrating more engineering functionality into their products, veering increasingly into mechanical features such as 3D visualizations for clearances or thermal transfer, while ignoring the benefits of collaboration that could surround their tools. “It’s surprising they haven’t evolved to web-based means of development because they can,” said Restle.

Now Digi-Key, the electronic component distributor, has decided to venture into this space with Scheme-it, a free web-based schematic drawing and diagramming tool.

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