Fritzing

About Fritzing

Fritzing is an open-source initiative to support designers and artists to take the step from physical prototyping to actual product. We are aiming to create a software in the spirit of Processing and Arduino, that allows the designer/artist/researcher/hobbyist to document their Arduino-based prototype and create a PCB layout for manufacturing. The complimenting website helps to share and discuss drafts and experiences as well as to reduce manufacturing costs.

Fritzing is essentially an Electronic Design Automation software with a low entry barrier, suited for the needs of designers and artists. It uses the metaphor of the breadboard, so that it is easy to transfer your hardware sketch to the software. From there it is possible to create PCB layouts for turning it into a robust PCB yourself or by help of a manufacturer. This functionality is currently based on EAGLE.

Why Fritzing is needed

Physical prototyping tools have come a long way and already allow non-engineers to quickly turn their ideas into functional interactive prototypes. However, the prototypes on this stage are still raw and not robust. This is where Fritzing comes in: It allows the designer to move to the next stage and create a finished PCB of your individual circuit in the desired shape. This makes the circuit robust and is the basis for a permanent installation or even batch production of your project.

Who is behind it

Fritzing was started in August 2007 by the Interaction Design Lab at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, Germany. It is initiated by Prof. Reto Wettach, André Knörig, Zach Eveland, Jonathan Cohen, Dirk van Oosterbosch, Brendan Howell and Mariano Crowe. Made possible through funding of the MWFK Brandenburg and the sponsoring of IxDS.

FRIENDS OF FRITZING FORUM '08

..was a great success! There is now documentation available, and big changes are coming up--stay tuned.

Download Alpha

Give a warm welcome to an early but fully functional alpha release 0005 and let us know how you like it.

Contribute

Try it out on your project and let us know what requirements you have, or plainly introduce yourself. Contribute to the part library and if you're a developer, have a look at the code. We greatly appreciate every contribution. Please join the discussion in our forums.