Introduction: The People’s PCB Tool For over three decades, the world of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design has been dominated by a few key players: Cadence Allegro, Altium Designer, Zuken, and the subject of our deep dive— PADS (Personal Automated Design Systems). While high-end tools handled the aerospace and supercomputer markets, PADS carved out a unique legacy. It was the tool for the everyman: the small consultancy, the automotive supplier, the embedded systems engineer, and the hardware startup.
Whether you are a veteran clinging to PADS 9.5 or a student learning on VX.2.15, you are using software that has shaped the electronics of the last 40 years. From automotive ECUs to IoT sensors, the "people's PCB tool" continues to route the world. Last Updated: November 2024. Based on official Siemens EDA release notes and community version tracking. mentor graphics pads version history