Gerbv

Gerbv is a handy software tool that lets you view Gerber files, especially those in the RS-274X format. It has a bunch of great features that cater to what users like and need.

Easy Installation Process

The setup doesn’t take much time at all, and it uses familiar settings, so you won’t feel lost right away. Once installed, Gerbv opens up to a straightforward window layout. This makes it super easy to open your Gerber files, as well as drill, pick, or place them without any hassle.

Analyze Your Files

You can dive into analyzing visible or drill layers of your Gerber files. Plus, you can check out properties for whatever object you have selected or delete items if needed. Gerbv also lets you change the layer orientation and rendering mode. Want to zoom in or out? No problem! You can even change the background color to something more comfortable for your eyes.

Saving and Exporting Options

If you're working on a project, you'll be happy to know that Gerbv allows you to save the active layer and export your projects into formats like PNG, PDF, SVG, PostScript, RS-274X, or Excellon drill files. You can look at messages in a separate window too!

Tools for Precision

This program includes tools like pointer, pan, zoom, and measurement options which help ensure you're getting everything just right.

Performance Insights

The best part? Gerbv doesn’t hog your computer’s resources! It runs smoothly with low CPU and memory usage while still responding quickly to commands. However, we did notice it crashed quite a few times when we played around with different settings during our tests.

Caution on Compatibility

A little heads up: Gerbv hasn’t seen an update in ages. So if you’re using newer versions of Windows, compatibility could be an issue.

Final Thoughts on Gerbv

While Gerbv has some cool features for viewing Gerber files effectively, you might want to consider checking out more stable applications that do the same job better!