Open Source Hardware...What about the tools?

by Chris GammellElectrical Engineer

Founder of Contextual ElectronicsCo-host of The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast

Outline

● What is open source hardware (OSHW)?● Why do we do it?● How do we design it?● When will the tools improve?

A note about free

● "Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer." — Richard Stallman

● We'll refer to the “free beer” example as “gratis” and the “free speech” example as “libre”

Open Source Hardware Official Definition

● Open source hardware is hardware whose design is made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the design or hardware based on that design. The hardware’s source, the design from which it is made, is available in the preferred format for making modifications to it. Ideally, open source hardware uses readily-available components and materials, standard processes, open infrastructure, unrestricted content, and open-source design tools to maximize the ability of individuals to make and use hardware.

Shades of gray in openness

● Closed hardware● Open hardware, closed format files, closed tools● Open hardware, open format files, closed tools● Open everything

Comparing Open Source Hardware and Software

● Closed hardware– like having object code/executable only

● Open hardware, closed format files, closed tools– Like having an encrypted library

● Open hardware, open format files, closed tools– Like having all the necessary library with a expensive, closed

compiler (i.e. not GCC)● Open everything

– Like having source code and using GCC or similar.

A practical test for openness of the hardware

● “Can one other person in the world build what you have built?”

● What about 10 people? 100? 1000?● How much above BOM did it cost them?

Why do designers like OSHW?

● Sharing● Giving Back● Support● Community● Marketing

Why do users like open?

● Relational data (which parts go with which)● Easy modification for new versions.● Open hardware makes easier firmware/software● Platforms upon which to build

Do the tools really matter?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityhunter12/2520752983

Especially given the reality

Some are going to modify and advance your OSHW project

● Hard to track progress to an open source platform over time when a variety of closed source tools are used.

● Open tools and standards allows tracing a chain back through GitHub or similar and viewing the differences.

The design files are the documentation as well

Levels of compressions

● Schematic to PDF● Layout to gerbers● Mechanical designs to STL

Are open tools the only way?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chewbackski/11222467824

Of course not, OSHW already exists

● Many of which were designed and propagated with non-open tools.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arduino316.jpg

Tradeoff between usability and risk.

Usability Risk

What about gratis (freeware) tools?

● Usability: – Non-open source, no cost to user.– Often offered as an add-on or loss

leader for some other service.● Risks:

– No guarantee of long term availability.

– No guarantee of it always being gratis.

● Example: LTspice

LTspice IV

What about freemium?

● Usablity:– Non-open source, no cost to

user until a level is reached inside the program.

● Risks:– Projects that grow outside the

constraints impose necessary costs for OSHW projects.

– Vendor lock in.● Example: Cadsoft EAGLE

What about tools (non-gratis, non-libre) with open standards?

● Usability:– Can import/export a variety of

files.– User could build applications

on top of data structure.● Risks:

– Changing or closing of the standard.

– Imported files often are kept at an ongoing cost.

● Example: Upverter

Open (gratis, libre) Tools

● Usability:– Can download for multiple platforms– Have access to and ability to modify

source code or build separate versions if necessary.

– Can retain source and build for any platform in perpetuity.

● Risks:– Build instability – Loss of developer interest– Changing formats

● Example: KiCad

The impact of commercial involvement

● Open tools have the greatest chance at longevity without vendor lock in.

● There is no “magic” part of the design file that could be held ransom by a company.

● Tools available to all

The impact of rising complexity

● The set of low-cost/no-cost tools capable of doing increasingly complex boards dwindles– i.e. BeagleBone Black vs Arduino

● A common, open standard and open source tools will speed innovation by allowing building on top of existing work.

● Many of these tools are available today (with increasing ease of use)

Electrical Examples

● CAD– KiCad– GEDA

● Other tools– Berkeley SPICE – Octave

Mechanical Examples● CAD

– OpenSCAD– FreeCAD– LibreCAD– Blender– Inkscape (2D)

● CAM– PyCAM– OpenSCAM– BlenderCAM

● Machine control– LinuxCNC– GRBL

When will the tools improve?

● Sponsored development, such as at CERN● Software companies moving into hardware

(Autodesk)● Premium support models (ie. RedHat for

hardware)● Converging hardware and software.● Contests encouraging openness.

Summary

● Do the design tools HAVE to be open/free for Open Source Hardware? No.

● Improving the availability of open and accessible design tools will help to speed innovation.

Questions?

Questions?