Suggestions from a frequent user (1/2)


What follows may look trivial, but these items are usually forgotten

In schematic drawing
Make drawings small, or you'll use up too many pages (hard to manage)
Default resistor, inductor, etc may be too big: make yours
Use smaller-than-default text: 0.04 or 0.03 inches is best (40 or 30 mils)
Use labels rather than wires, so you can change pin assignment while routing
Add diagnostic leds for your microcontroller -- you can alway not mount then
Use spare pins for board identification
Always include a power-on led
If it fits, add self-test circuitry
Be generous with 0R resistors for options and tests
Be generous with 0R1 or 1R0 resistors as amperometers
If they fit, provide multiple alternative components