gEDA-dev: Proposal for a gschem Tools menu for list of scripts

[Paul Tan <pt75234-at-NOSPAMaim_dot_com>]

Hi All,

As I was thinking about how to best implement the
"gEDA schematic menu buttons for scripts" that I
posted in the gEDA-dev forum, I thought I should
also propose an alternative generalized way of
implementing "Tools menu for list of pre-configured/
user-configured scripts" approach.

In this approach, we add a "Tools" menu to the gscheme
window, with sub-menu of list of scripts whose paths
are configured by gafrc's.

The current gschem File->Execute_script feature
is a great feature, however, it has the following
disadvantages:
  - The default location of the scheme script is
    the current project folder.
  - It only execute scheme script directly.

The current "Hooks/Scheme Extension HOWTO" approach
is great, but we can generalize it better with
"Tools menu for list of pre-configured/
user-configured sripts" approach.

By exposing the scripting capabilities using a more
generalized approach, such as the "Schematic menu
buttons for scripts" or the "Tools menu for list
of scripts", we can:

1) Facilitate rapid developement and deployment
   of gEDA, and its downstream tools, which would
   attract more users and developers.  A list of
   possible tools includes, to name just a few:
    - Advance netlists and back annotation developement.
    - Static path analysis
    - Logical Effort(LE)
    - Cross probing with simulators, layout editors, etc.
    - etc.

2) Attract more gEDA developers to experiment and
   prototype new features for gEDA with ease and
   expediency without modifying the core gEDA codes.
   It has the benefit of less maintenance of core
   gEDA code base.

3) gEDA can setup a place to gather all the useful
   scripts contributed and easily evaluate if the
   features contributed by the scripts can be
   incorporated directly, indirectly or modified
   and recoded into the core gEDA code base.

4) The current lists of gnetlist scheme code can
   be listed under "Tools" menu for better visibility
   to the user.

The current lists of scheme functions, as used by
most gEDA netlisters, plus the lists described by
Steve Meier, can form a good API for the scripting
features mentioned above.


Best Regards,

Paul Tan



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