Fritzing, A Software For Arduino Lovers: have you tried??

Yes, arduino platform is an Open Source Platform, as a result anyone can make his/her own arduino, with his/her own name mentioned. Like my name is Bunty, so i can make it as a Buntyduino.[Funny but true!]
So as Arduino is opensource, its sofrwares also generally an opensource one. Fritzing is also an open source software.

Fritzing's Own Description about themselves:
Fritzing
Fritzing (Courtsey: Fritzing.org)
Fritzing is an open-source hardware initiative to support designers, artists, researchers and hobbyists to work creatively with interactive electronics. We are creating a software tool, a community website and services in the spirit of Processing and Arduino, fostering an ecosystem that allows users to document their prototypes, share them with others, teach electronics in a classroom, and layout and manufacture professional pcbs.

They have their own PCB fab lab! Just send yours designed Arduino Shield to them, they will check it & send the finished product to you. ( http://fab.fritzing.org/fritzing-fab )
Here's a video, about 1 minute Arduino Shield Design by Fritzing.

#The software is multi-platform, it supports, Linux(32 & 64 bits), Windows & MAC OS. Coded in Qt.


Download it & extract in a folder. And To start Fritzing:
  • on Linux: double-click Fritzing, or try ./Fritzing in your shell window
  • on Windows: double-click fritzing.exe
  • on Mac: double-click the Fritzing application
The source-code & software is available for download on its official website, "www.fritzing.org/download". This software has a pretty cool look out, and when u start it, the the splash screen it shows up, will clearly give an idea what you are soon going to see.

We were so impressed by its look out that we have pinned it on our taskbar. So here's the screen shot of the same.
FRITZING under the taskbar, with fritzing logo
FRITZING under the taskbar

And the splash screen looks like this,
Fritzing Software Splash Screen
Fritzing Software Splash Screen
 You might be able to see some MCU board, A computer, & some other creature like that. On the Splash screen while it is loading.

The main interface looks like, i have opened here a prebuilt example of Parking Assistant, Build from Arduino UNO board, the interface in the first look is great, to me it was a wow moment. Generally i havn't got any chance to see such a beautiful Open Source software. The GUI looks fantastic.
Fritzing Software Breadboard View, with an open project, Parking Assistant
Fritzing Software Breadboard View, with an open project, Parking Assistant
The Fritzing offers 3 views in its project, Namely the Breadboard View, Schematic View, & the PCB view.
Above one of Breadboard View.
Below are the 2 screenshots, indicating the Schematic & PCB View.
Schematic View in Fritzing Software:
Fritzing Software in Schematic View, with an open project, Parking Assistant
Fritzing Software in Schematic View, with an open project, Parking Assistant
PCB View in Fritzing Software:
Fritzing Software in PCB View, with an open project, Parking Assistant
Fritzing Software in PCB View, with an open project, Parking Assistant

One speciality of this software it that, you just have to place the component on the breadboard, and wire it with necessary things such as wires, then by just switching the view, to any of the available, Schematic or PCB view, you will see that the component have been placed automatically there. If you are seeing any broken connecting in the PCB view, you have to just click on "Auto Route", and your work is done.

Visit this section of their website ( http://fritzing.org/projects/ ), for getting an idea, what all projects can be done with this software. The are having loads of examples. May be later, you will also contribute something to this section.