[cruise9]

I do component purchasing for a small electronics manufacturer. It's been a hellish time looking for alternatives, trying to compare crappy data sheets (that often miss key specs) and trying to get one part from multiple sources.

Octopart has been key in this process but it can't fix supply chain issues like these. Luckily there are drop-in alternatives available for the 1N4148.

Shortages on specialty parts like high power transistors - we often don't have a drop in alternative and end up having to redesign whole PCBs around a different part.

There are other component issues too - long lead times and ridiculous pricing on connectors (amphenol, huber + suhner), but that wasn't too unusual before the pandemic.