10 Sep
2013
10 Sep
'13
12:05 p.m.
I also think that Tony's comparison is a bit
bogus. If someone has put
together the design, it's likely the case that they'll also provide the binaries
or even pre-programmed parts. It's not unlike someone providing the raw
PCBs.
I think a more accurate description for Tony's comparison is that for the
100 DIP board, the person would only get the Gerber (and related) files and
they'd have to get the PCB built.
I think I would equate the source files with the scheamtics of the
device. The Gerber files would be more akin to the binaries of the
firmware, useful for making that device only, not for modification.
Given a scheamtic (and since this resectoring device does not run that
first), you don't have to be able to make the PCB. You could hardwire it
on stripboard. Or wire-wrap it, or...
Incidentally, I learnt the hard way not to provide pre-programmed devices
for such designs. People buy them, make a right mess of wiring them up,
and then expect free replacements. I did it a few times, never again.
-tony