[sdiy] Qspice, anyone tried it?

Sun Dec 29 22:37:53 CET 2024

There's also a SPICE built into EasyEDA if you prefer that to KiCad.

But I actually prefer TINA from TI.
________________________________
From: Synth-diy <synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org> on behalf of Tom Wiltshire <tom at electricdruid.net>
Sent: 29 December 2024 21:10
To: Ben Stuyts <ben at stuyts.nl>
Cc: synth-diy at synth-diy.org <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Qspice, anyone tried it?

+1 agree that the LTspice UI comes across like something that has been ported to new systems about ten times since the DOS era but never updated once. At least on the Mac version. It's pretty much the definition of a bad interface. Nonetheless, it's free and I've learned enough of its quirks to use it, at least in a basic way.

I wish it was easier to add new models or components though. That's completely beyond me. However many "tutorials" I've read, it never seems to work on my set-up. It can't be that hard, but it just seems like LTspice is always looking for stuff somewhere else!

Ultimately, if the Kicad version is only half as bad, it'd be a major improvement. ;)

On 29 Dec 2024, at 20:14, Ben Stuyts via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>> wrote:

Totally different UI's for LTspice and KiCad of course. I hate the UI in LTspice because the complete toolbar is missing on the Mac version. Adding models to ngspice in Kicad is pretty simple: Open the properties of the regular symbol, add simulation model and browse to e.g. the downloaded pspice model from TI. No messing with creating a symbol like in LTspice. You have to remember to use the Spice symbols for your ground, and I always forget that.

I have never compared the results between these two, could be interesting. With regards to UI, KiCad is the clear winner. But you need to learn a new tool (ngspice), which prevented me from using it for the longest time. :-)

It looks like ngspice is actively developed, but my KiCad v8 is two versions behind. (Perhaps they only update it on major updates, so that would be yearly.)

Ben

On 29 Dec 2024, at 17:34, Steve via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>> wrote:

Ah, how does the one in KiCAD compare to good ol' LTspice?

On 28.12.2024 18:59, Ben Stuyts wrote:
For one thing it’s windows-only, so no, I can’t use it. Still use the somewhat outdated Mac version of LTspice. I now tend to use KiCAD’s built in ngspice every now and then, as it’s already in KiCAD. (https://www.kicad.org/discover/spice/)

Ben

On 28 Dec 2024, at 18:39, Steve via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org><mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:

Hey list,

the guy who originally made LTspice, IIRC, some time ago started a supposedly improved, in several regards, simulator named Qspice. Working for a different company, I heard rumors stock models are hence not by LT but the other vendor... perhaps not super important to everyone.
Supposedly, you can code simulated elaborate functionality in C++ and Verilog.

Here's something about what's different, and an article geared towards LTspice users.

If anyone on here is familiar with both to feel like commenting anything the articles don't mentionm, please do.

https://hackaday.com/2023/08/25/qspice-picks-up-where-ltspice-left-us/

Introduction to QSPICE for LTspice Users, Part 1
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/introduction-to-qspice-for-ltspice-users-part-1

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