Free Electron is a single CD customised GNU/Linux distribution containing the typical software tools required by an electronics engineering student or teacher. Apart from a host of typical desktop applications it also contains the professional typesetting tool TEX, computer numerical application suite octave, computer algebra system xmaxima, electronic design automation suite gEDA and many more simulators, emulators and compilers required for various electronic design and simulation.
The CD was developed by Free Software Cell, Government Engineering College Barton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram (http://www.gecbh.ac.in) in association with Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (www.space-kerala.org).
Free Software is a category of software which can be used,
copied, studied and modified and redistributed by the user. The
meaning of the word `free' in free software is similar to its meaning
in free speech, free people and free country and should not be
confused with its other meaning associated with zero-cost. Therefore,
in Indian languages, it is appropriate to call it Swatantra
Software. In this document, we shall call it simply Free Software.
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it
refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits
A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus,
users should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other
things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission.
This section assumes you have a system with Free Electron already installed. If not please read section 3.
- Emacs
- Emacs is the extensible, customisable, self-documenting real-time display editor. Emacs has special code editing modes, a scripting language (elisp), and comes with many packages for doing mail, news and more, all in your editor.
- Vim
- Vim is a highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing. It is an improved version of the vi editor distributed with most UNIX systems. Vim is often called a "programmer's editor," and so useful for programming that many consider it an entire IDE. It's not just for programmers, though. Vim is perfect for all kinds of text editing, from composing email to editing configuration files.
- GVim-Gui for Vim
- GVim is a hot text editor. It is basically an on-steroids version of the vi editor, with many features such as GUI support,multi level undo, syntax highlighting, command line history, on-line help, filename completion, block operations, folding, unicode support, etc..
- Gedit
- Gedit is a lightweight text editor for the GNOME desktop found in many distributions of GNU/Linux, BSD and other Unix systems. Designed for the X Window System, it uses the GTK+ and GNOME libraries. gedit supports most standard editing features, and has a powerful plugin system for adding even more.
- Texmacs
- GNU TeXmacs is a free wysiwyw (what you see is what you want) editing platform with special features for scientists. The software aims to provide a unified and user friendly framework for editing structured documents with different types of content (text, graphics, mathematics, interactive content, etc.). The rendering engine uses high-quality typesetting algorithms so as to produce professionally looking documents, which can either be printed out or presented from a laptop.
Most of the electronic packages, all though they have friendly interfaces, needs to be started from a terminal. So to run them, open a terminal and type the command name.
- electric
- The Electric VLSI Design System is a framework for all computer-aided design and engineering work. The system understands MOS, Bipolar, schematics, printed circuitry, artwork, and many others. In addition, Electric contains design-rule checkers, simulators, generators (PLA, etc.), routers, a VHDL compiler, a compactor, network comparison, and other tools. Interpretive languages can be built-in (currently LISP and TCL are available). Current versions of Electric have been rewritten from C to Java.
- geda
- gEDA is a full GPL'd suite of Electronic Design Automation tools. These tools are used for electrical circuit design, schematic capture, simulation, prototyping, and production. Currently, the gEDA project offers a mature suite of free software applications for electronics design, including schematic capture, attribute management, bill of materials (BOM) generation, netlisting into over 20 netlist formats, analog and digital simulation, and printed circuit board (PCB) layout.
- gerbv
- Gerber Viewer (gerbv) is a viewer for Gerber files. Gerber files are generated from a PCB CAD system and sent to PCB manufacturers as a basis for the manufacturing process.
- ghdl
- GHDL is a GCC front-end for the VHDL (IEEE 1076) language. Currently, GHDL implements most of VHDL-1987 and some features of VHDL-1993. It is mature enough to compile and run some complex designs (such as a DLX processor and leon1, a SPARCv7 processor).
- gnucap
- GnuCap is the Gnu Circuit Analysis Package. The primary component is a general purpose circuit simulator. It performs nonlinear dc and transient analyses, fourier analysis, and ac analysis. It is fully interactive and command driven. It can also be run in batch mode or as a server. Spice compatible models for the MOSFET (level 1-7), BJT, and diode are included in this release.
- gpsim
- gpsim is a full-featured software simulator for Microchip PIC microcontrollers.
- gnusim8085
- gnusim8085 is a simulator for 8085 micro processor.
- gtkwave
- GTKWave is a fully featured GTK+ based wave viewer for Unix which reads LXT, LXT2, and VZT files as well as standard Verilog VCD/EVCD files and allows their viewing.
- gwave
- Gwave is a waveform viewer. Its purpose is for viewing analog data, such as the output of Spice simulations.
- klogic
- KLogic is an application for easy building and simulating of digital circuits. It provides an easy way to build circuits containing standard components like AND, OR, XOR and flipflops like RS and JK. To build more complex and reuseable circuits, you can create sub circuits.
- ksimus
- KSimus is a KDE tool for simulation, automatization and visualization of technical processes. It is also useful for education and experiments in the scope of logical and automatic control circuits. The main feature of KSimus is the use of component libraries, the so called component packages. Because of this, KSimus is easy to extend with new components or to new areas of application. With the current version you can simulate circuits with boolean and floating point data types.
- pcb
- Unix-based gpl-ed PCB design package. Features: Up to 8 layers plus silkscreen; parts libraries; output formats: PostScript; Gerber (RS-274X); Design Rule Checking (DRC) ; Netlist comparison; Drill report. Manual routing only. Originally written by Thomas Nau of University of Ulm, Germany, and now maintained by Harry Eaton of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
- qucs
- Qucs is a circuit simulator with a graphical user interface. It aims to support all kinds of circuit simulation types, e.g. DC, AC, S parameter, and harmonic balance analysis. Qucsator, the simulation backend, is a command line circuit simulator. It takes a network list in a certain format as input and outputs a Qucs dataset. It has been programmed for usage in the Qucs project but may also be used by other applications.
- Icarus Verilog
- Icarus Verilog is a gpled Verilog simulation and synthesis tool. It operates as a compiler, compiling source code written in Verilog (IEEE-1364) into some target format. For batch simulation, the compiler can generate code to execute on the vvp simulation engine. For synthesis, the compiler generates netlists in the desired format.
The loadable code generator API, ivl_target.h provides C programmers with the API needed to write code generators and netlisters for new or custom formats. This API allows for easy integration of third-party simulation engines and netlist formats.
- xcircuit
- XCircuit is a UNIX/X11 (and Windows with an X-Server running) program for drawing publishable-quality electrical circuit schematic diagrams and related figures, and produce circuit netlists through schematic capture. XCircuit regards circuits as inherently hierarchical, and writes both hierarchical PostScript output and hierarchical SPICE netlists. Circuit components are saved in and retrieved from libraries which are fully editable. XCircuit does not separate artistic expression from circuit drawing; it maintains flexiblity in style without compromising the power of schematic capture.
- Gimp
- GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program.It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.
- Xfig
- Xfig is a menu-driven tool that allows the user to draw and manipulate objects interactively in an X window. The resulting pictures can be saved, printed on postscript printers or converted to a variety of other formats.
- Inkscape
- Inkscape is an SVG-based graphics editor featuring alpha blending, node editing, SVG to PNG export, and more. Its goal is for features similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, Visio, etc.
- Blender
- Blender is the in-house software of a high quality animation studio, Blender has proven to be an extremely fast and versatile design instrument. The software has a personal touch, offering a unique approach to the world of Three Dimensions. It is used to make technical visualizations, business graphics, to do some morphing, or design user interfaces. One can easy build and manage complex environments. The renderer is versatile and extremely fast. All basic animation principles (curves & keys) are well implemented.
- Xsanimage
- Xscanimage provides a graphical user-interface to control an image acquisition device such as a flatbed scanner or a camera. It allows previewing and scanning invidual images and can be invoked either directly from the command-line or through The GIMP image manipulation program.
- Mozilla-Firefox
- Firefox is a light weight browser based on Mozilla.It is a fast, full-featured browser that makes browsing more efficient than ever before. The version contained in Free Electron already comes with malayalam unicode support. To view non-unicode malayalam websites, all you need to do is to install a firefox plugin called padma from mozilla's website. Mozilla Firefox has the capability importing settings/bookmarks/cookies etc. from other browsers.
- Gaim
- Gaim is a GTK2-based instant messenger application. It supports multiple protocols via modules, including AIM, ICQ, Yahoo!, MSN, Jabber, IRC, Napster, Gadu-Gadu and Zephyr.
- Evolution
- Evolution is the GNOME mailer, calendar, contact manager, and communications tool. Evolution represents the next step forward in GNOME applications. The tools which make up Evolution will be tightly integrated with one another and act as a seamless personal information-management tool.
- Octave
- GNU Octave is a high-level language, primarily intended for numerical computations. It provides a convenient command line interface for solving linear and nonlinear problems numerically, and for performing other numerical experiments using a language that is mostly compatible with Matlab. It may also be used as a batch-oriented language. Octave has extensive tools for solving common numerical linear algebra problems, finding the roots of nonlinear equations, integrating ordinary functions, manipulating polynomials, and integrating ordinary differential and differential-algebraic equations. It is easily extensible and customizable via user-defined functions written in Octave's own language, or using dynamically loaded modules written in C++, C, Fortran, or other languages.
- Xmaxima
- Maxima is a full symbolic computation program. It is full featured doing symbolic manipulation of polynomials, matrices, rational functions, integration, Todd-coxeter, graphing, bigfloats. It has a symbolic debugger source level debugger for maxima code. Maxima is based on the original Macsyma developed at MIT in the 1970's. It is quite reliable, and has good garbage collection, and no memory leaks. It comes with hundreds of self tests.
OpenOffice.org version 2 is an open, feature-rich multi-platform office productivity suite. The user interface and the functionality is very similar to other products in the market like Microsoft Office or Lotus SmartSuite, but compared to these commercial products OpenOffice.org is absolutely free. One can publish your work in Portable Document Format (.pdf), and release your graphics in Flash (.swf) format - without the need for any additional software.
- Writer
- The OpenOffice Writer is a powerful tool for creating professional documents, reports, newsletters, and brochures. One can easily integrate images and charts in documents, create everything from business letters to complete books with professional layouts, as well as create and publish Web content.
- Calc
- The Calc is a feature-packed spreadsheet which can turn boring numbers into eye-catching information. Calculate, analyse, and visually communicate your data quickly and easily. Use advanced spreadsheet functions and decision-making tools to perform sophisticated data analysis. Use built-in charting tools to generate impressive 2D and 3D charts.
- Impress
- Impress is the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations. Presentations will truly stand out with special effects, animation and high-impact drawing tools.
- Draw
- OpenOffice DRAW gives you the tools to communicate with graphics and diagrams. It will produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations and special effects.
- Python
- Python is a easy to learn, powerful programming language.It has efficent high-level data structure and a simple but effective approach to object-oriented programming.It's elegant syntax and dynamic typing together with it's interpreted nature, make it as ideal language for scripting and rapid application development in many areas on most platforms.
- gnome-dictionary
- This is an easy to use dictionary. If you do not have internet connection, you can still use the dictionary bu changing the dictionary server in the preferences section to 'local host'.
- LATEX
- LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system, with features designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation. LaTeX is the de facto standard for the communication and publication of scientific documents.
- Eye Of Gnome
- The Eye Of Gnome is a GNOME image browser, as well as an image cataloging program, and is part of GNOME Office.It is the default image viewer for the Gnome Desktop.Eye of Gnome can make use of EXIF information, stored in digital camera images.
- ggv
- ggv provides a user interface for the ghostscript PostScript(TM) interpreter. Derived from the ghostview program, gv can display PostScript and PDF documents using the X Window System.
- Evince, Xpdf
- Evince and Xpdf are popular pdf viewers.
Installing Free Electron
A step by step installation guide is distributed in hard-copy along with this CD-ROM. It is also available as an OpenOffice file in directory 'doc' in the CD.
SPACE - Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment.
SPACE is a society promoted by Kerala State IT Mission with the objective of promoting alternative computing, Free, Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS). SPACE will help benefits of ICT reach larger section of society, as well as to promote employment and development through FLOSS.
SPACE will address special needs of Kerala in FLOSS, like local language computing. SPACE will act as a link between Kerala and FLOSS Community around the world.
www.space-kerala.org
SPACE
109, Mangalam Lane, Sasthamangalam
Thiruvananthapuram 10, Kerala
Ph: 0471 2318997
Free Software Cell, GECBH is a community initiative started in Government Engineering College Barton Hill, Trivandrum, Kerala, to promote the use of free software, and encourage students to be part of development of various free software projects.
www.gecbh.ac.in
Government Engineering College Barton Hill,
Vanchiyoor P. o., Thiruvananthapuram 695035, Kerala
- Vimal Joseph, SPACE
- Sriram S., GECBH
- Sreejith S. P., SPACE
- Robin V. T., GECBH
- Rahul, GECBH
- Don V. Samji, GECBH
- Deepak R. GECBH
- Arun M., SPACE