CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
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Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#2When they say "shop", I thought it was going to be a specialized store for buying parts.
In fact, it seems to be more focused on becoming some kind of cross-application database of parts information, storing data sheets and CAD models for use in schematics design. Their own description includes the word "library", which is more descriptive. I guess I'm (as a non-native speaker) is intepreting the term "one stop shop" too literally, when the context seems to allow it.
At least that's what I think, so far. Also, the only way to "log in" seems to be to connect my Dropbox account to their site, which I found odd.
Also, since they promise free access, I'm not at all sure about the business model here. Of course, lots of other people seem to be so I'm sure it's fine. :)
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#3When they say "shop", I thought it was going to be a specialized store for buying parts. In fact, it seems to be more focused on becoming some kind of cross-application database of parts information, storing data sheets and CAD models for use in schematics design. Their own description includes the word "library", which is more descriptive. I guess I'm (as a non-native speaker) is intepreting the term "one stop shop"…
Agreed. I was expecting Octopart II, when I like the original Octopart just fine. I hope these guys work together with Upverter and Octopart to become the killer platform for online hardware development though--Upverter's existing Octopart integration is good, but it sounds like Circuithub could be the missing link since adding device footprints, different package styles and pinouts etc. is still a PITA with just about anything (without even getting into SPICE models).
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#4Am I missing something? I realize I didn't login (I don't use dropbox), but every part I click on has nothing but a datasheet and specifications? No footprints, no symbols, etc. listed?
Unless this is a bug, perhaps it would do well to show that there are X symbols and Y footprints for those of us just perusing? Additionally, only getting reference to about 140 parts, I'd hope that you would've launched with more than that.
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#5"The world's free universal parts library"
"There are 124 more parts"
A ways to go!
If footprint/symbol files and part metadata will be sourced from users, will that communal resource be made available through an API and/or bulk data releases? Or will it be controlled and enclosed?
The screencast has an old front page which mentions "Like Wikipedia[, we will not charge for access]", so my hopes and expectations are high! Of course Wikipedia is not a for-profit endeavor.
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#6When they say "shop", I thought it was going to be a specialized store for buying parts. In fact, it seems to be more focused on becoming some kind of cross-application database of parts information, storing data sheets and CAD models for use in schematics design. Their own description includes the word "library", which is more descriptive. I guess I'm (as a non-native speaker) is intepreting the term "one stop shop"…
No worries, I'm a native speaker and I was just as disappointed to learn that it isn't a parts store.
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#7Speaking as someone who designs hobby electronics, this is a very good idea. I can't count the number of times I had to type things like "mcp23018 eagle library" into google. And get no useful results except link farms. And then have to create a library part in Eagle, which is a painful process, thinking all the while that many other people are probably doing the same thing right now.
I will definitely be contributing my libraries.
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#8As a professional electronics design engineer, this is potentially a hugely valuable service. A big chunk of time is, as @jwr states, spent creating CAD representations of real parts. Other professional library services exist, but they are very expensive. Well done.
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#9When they say "shop", I thought it was going to be a specialized store for buying parts. In fact, it seems to be more focused on becoming some kind of cross-application database of parts information, storing data sheets and CAD models for use in schematics design. Their own description includes the word "library", which is more descriptive. I guess I'm (as a non-native speaker) is intepreting the term "one stop shop"…
It looks like it's trying to be a better datasheetarchive.com, which is definitely nice to have because those sites are utter crap. However, I guess these guys will have to play catch up getting google to index all their datasheets, so when I google "lm1117t", I actually get the relevant power regulator datasheet.
At the moment, they appear to be relatively empty. I tried searching for anything beginning with "LM" or "2N" and got basically nothing. Would be nice to have a few of the basic components in there!
Re: CircuitHub (YC W12) Aims To Be A One-Stop Shop For Electrical Parts
#10I am wondering - how do these startups get the media (techcrunch in this case) to write about them on their launch day. They just launched, have no business. There are countless new startups everyday. Is it because of the relationship (YC, Google Ventures)? Or do they pay for the articles? Or the journalists' personal preferences? Or what?