Installing Eagle on Ubuntu Linux

Obviously the first step is to install Eagle on your Ubuntu Linux computer.

The easiest way to install Eagle in Ubuntu is via Applications->Add/Remove…, where you can simply type “Eagle” in the search box to find Eagle from Ubuntu software repository. In Ubuntu 8.04, Eagle is located in the multiverse repository, which must be enabled before installation.

Unfortunately, the version in Ubuntu repository is rather old: 4.16r2-1. You probably want to install the latest version, which can be downloaded with a web browser directly from Cadsoft: http://www.cadsoft.de/download.htm. You should choose the Linux version, right click the download link, and select “Save Link As…”. After downloading is finished, you can install the package (the file you downloaded, e.g. “eagle-lin-5.6.0.run”) by opening a console and running the installation script as follows:

sh eagle-lin-5.6.0.run

Extracting the package contents takes a while, then a graphical installation wizard appears. You can accept the defaults and begin installation, unless you want to change the installation directory first. After copying the files the wizard requests a license file. Just select “Run as Freeware”, and the setup is then complete.

For your convenience, you might want to add a shortcut in the Ubuntu application menu as follows:

• Select System->Preferences->Main Menu
• Select Applications->Programming
• Click button “New Item”
• Settings: For Name type “Eagle 5.6.0″, for Command click Browse… and go to [Eagle installation directory]\bin, then select file named eagle
• Click OK
• New item should be visible now, and even the Eagle icon in place
• Click Close

Now you can start using Eagle by simply selecting Applications->Programming->Eagle 5.6.0.

Creating schematics for Arduino projects

When you start Eagle, first a window titled “Control Panel” opens. To draw a new schematic, select File->New->Schematic. Another window opens, this is the place to draw your circuit design.

The basic idea is to add components from different component libraries, organize them on the drawing area and make the necessary wiring connections.

You can add new items into your design by clicking the Add button in the toolbar on your left. For Arduino projects, you should be able to use a chip from Atmel category. However, I couldn’t find Atmega168 that is used in Arduino Diecimila, although Atmega169 was there.

You can get a suitable model from Rob Faludi: http://www.faludi.com/2008/10/07/arduino-avr-library-for-eagle-layout-editor/. Download the model with a web browser, and extract it to [Eagle installation directory]\lbr. Then back in Eagle, select Library->Use, browse for Arduino-AVR.lbr file, and open it. Now you can click Add button from the Eagle toolbar again, new Arduino-AVR section is visible in the component list and Atmega168 variants are there. Select the model you want to use, and click OK. Place the component in the center of the design area, and continue adding more components and wiring them together.

Happy designing!