[sapientiae3]

For fast prototyping I’ve started using jlpcb.com and even moved from Eagle to their easyeda designer - having a library of components that are in stock, without having to find and verify the footprint makes it a thousand times easier, even if the design software is pretty basic.

[ay]

I had noticed the interface between the easyeda and pick and place service of JLCPCB a bit bumpy, so I wrote this:

https://github.com/ayourtch/jlc-convert

Save the BoM and P&P files and then convert them using the above as a filter, save the stdout into new files and upload them at a step where it asks you for these two files. This makes the process from design to order quite seamless for me.

I also use this to fix some of the orientations that are apparently incorrect in their database.

[gedy]

Agreed, I found EasyEDA really convenient and easier for a beginner like me.