In fact, there is a huge body of support for Eagle CAD all over the Internet! There is also a support community for DipTrace, but it might not be as vast-but then, because DipTrace is so much simpler, a huge support base isn't as needed.I created a similar library for DipTrace, for my own use - not nearly as comprehensive as the SparkFun library, though. In fact, SparkFun offers an Eagle library of patterns designed to make it easier to hand solder SMD parts. SparkFun offers a great deal of support for Eagle CAD, and none for DipTrace.If you want to do any sort of collaboration, probably best to use Eagle - it's a de facto standard in the maker community.The tutorial includes step-by-step design guide and many additional insets that allow you to discover program features. Unless you're doing something ridiculous, you will get a nice PCB without having to fuss with the details. DipTrace Tutorial This document allows you to get started with ease by designing simple Schematic and its PCB, pattern and component libraries, then trying different package features.
Great if you don't want to have to be bothered with such things. DipTrace handles some of the advanced stuff in the background in a very generic way. In fact, the lack of features makes it more accessible, and reduces the learning curve considerably. BUT, if all you want to do is produce simple PCBs, with nothing sophisticated, using the supplied part libraries, then not a problem. In fact, compared to Eagle, it's rather feature poor. Nor does it have any kind of tiling features. For instance, it doesn't support mask geometry very well, and doesn't have the layering capabilities that Eagle CAD does. The way I have used it, in the past, is to place several of the parts on the board, that have specific places they need to be, lock those, then I auto-place everything else. It will also automatically place the parts on the board, but I rarely use that either.
But, it can not only do lines and rectangles, it can also do curves and polygons.
And, continuing on the vain of simplicity, it does have some nice features, like you can draw a board outline with a great deal of complexity - though it's point editing tool could be better.I used to use Eagle, and got very good at it, but the first time I went for an extended period not using it, I found I had to relearn it, being that it's interface is so "strange". Unlike Eagle CAD which, unless you're familiar with the typical CAD style interface, there's a learning curve
DIPTRACE PCB LAYOUT TUTORIAL FREE
There is a generous Free version: DipTrace Freeware.
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