[sdiy] breadboard, was: Minimum spacing between 1/4" jacks on DOTCOM modules..

[David G Dixon]

> Hey, what's wrong with designing VCOs on a breadboard?

The Dixie was developed on breadboard, and it worked great.  The Rubicon was
only simulated and went straight to proto PCB -- all debugging was done on
the protos.

Now, I find breadboarding physically to be a big pain in the ass, so I
typically just lay out a PCB, etch, drill, and build it up to test circuits.
I use the same Excel-based graphical technique to lay out both breadboards
and PCBs, so it's actually no extra work just to go straight to the PCB (in
fact, it's easier, because I'm not constrained by the structure of the
breadboard).  This is especially effective with smaller circuits, as I
always have lots of scrap pieces of PCB laying around.  For a modest sized
PCB, I can print, transfer, etch, drill, tin, and be stuffing and testing
within about half an hour.  If the circuit works (or only needs one or two
kludges), then I have a permanent board to use.