The main change is in the format of the DRL file produced when doing Gerber export for a PCB.
I noticed there was a problem with the format I was using before (although this never stopped me getting PCBs made successfully).
I noticed the Gerber viewer "gerbv" in Linux Mint 20.3 was not reading the old DRL files correctly if they were exported in metric units, and was reading them with warnings if they were exported in imperial units. I noticed a similar problem with some online Gerber viewers. I have now fixed these problems by making the DRL file follow the XNC format described here: https://www.ucamco.com/files/downloads/file_en/305/xnc-format-specification_en.pdf?1af7da772950b137447931f5470712f0
Note that Linux Mint 19.3 reaches end of life (i.e. end of Long Term Support) at start of April 2023 and I have upgraded my development system to Linux Mint 20.3. This means that starting with VeroRoute V2.30 (this version) the prebuilt Linux version of VeroRoute that I upload to SourceForge will be compiled against a newer Qt version (Qt 5.12.8) than before (Qt 5.9.5).
If you are a Linux user and want to use the pre-built binary then you probably need a version of Qt on your system that is no lower than Qt 5.12.8.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I have reuploaded 2.30 with an extra bug fix.
It was possible for the Gerber export to sometimes write invalid polygons.(i.e. a set of lines lying on top of each other with zero polygon area). This has not caused problems in the past with the PCB manufacturer that I use (JLCPCB) , but it was flagged as a problem by the online reference Gerber viewer provided by Ucamco.
Last edit: Alex Lawrow 2023-03-23
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I have an old machine that still runs Linux Mint 19.3. So I have also built VeroRoute V2.30 for that version also and uploaded it here, as well as the version for Linux Mint 20.3.
I have done a quick test, and the precompiled version for Linux Mint 19.3 will actually install and run OK on both Linux Mint 19.3 and Linux Mint 20.3.
But the version compiled for Linux Mint 20.3 will not run on Linux Mint 19.3.
Last edit: Alex Lawrow 2023-03-23
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Changes to V2.30
The main change is in the format of the DRL file produced when doing Gerber export for a PCB.
I noticed there was a problem with the format I was using before (although this never stopped me getting PCBs made successfully).
I noticed the Gerber viewer "gerbv" in Linux Mint 20.3 was not reading the old DRL files correctly if they were exported in metric units, and was reading them with warnings if they were exported in imperial units. I noticed a similar problem with some online Gerber viewers. I have now fixed these problems by making the DRL file follow the XNC format described here:
https://www.ucamco.com/files/downloads/file_en/305/xnc-format-specification_en.pdf?1af7da772950b137447931f5470712f0
Note that Linux Mint 19.3 reaches end of life (i.e. end of Long Term Support) at start of April 2023 and I have upgraded my development system to Linux Mint 20.3. This means that starting with VeroRoute V2.30 (this version) the prebuilt Linux version of VeroRoute that I upload to SourceForge will be compiled against a newer Qt version (Qt 5.12.8) than before (Qt 5.9.5).
If you are a Linux user and want to use the pre-built binary then you probably need a version of Qt on your system that is no lower than Qt 5.12.8.
I have reuploaded 2.30 with an extra bug fix.
It was possible for the Gerber export to sometimes write invalid polygons.(i.e. a set of lines lying on top of each other with zero polygon area). This has not caused problems in the past with the PCB manufacturer that I use (JLCPCB) , but it was flagged as a problem by the online reference Gerber viewer provided by Ucamco.
Last edit: Alex Lawrow 2023-03-23
I have an old machine that still runs Linux Mint 19.3. So I have also built VeroRoute V2.30 for that version also and uploaded it here, as well as the version for Linux Mint 20.3.
I have done a quick test, and the precompiled version for Linux Mint 19.3 will actually install and run OK on both Linux Mint 19.3 and Linux Mint 20.3.
But the version compiled for Linux Mint 20.3 will not run on Linux Mint 19.3.
Last edit: Alex Lawrow 2023-03-23