Good IC / Electronic Component Inventory Software? 70
Smerky writes "As I've been getting more and more into hobby electronics I have been finding it difficult to keep track of all the different ICs and other electronics that I have (resistors, capacitors, etc.). What are Slashdotters' recommendations for some inventory software? Certain qualifications that I'd be looking for personally are that it has to run on Linux/OSX well or be web-based (to run well on an Apache2 server)."
Why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why do you need something like that when you can just buy some plastic compartments [sourcingmap.com]?
The solution is well organized physical storage. (Score:4, Insightful)
Forget the software. I purchased a set of storage racks from a hardware store - the kind with 30 little drawers of varying sizes. They're stackable, so you can combine them into a fairly impressive wall of drawers on the back of your workbench. The drawers are somewhat transparent, so it's possible to see when they're empty. I use a label maker to run off stickers for the drawers that say things like "5.6K res" and "10 uF cap."
The reality of electronics is that there are some pieces (dip sockets, 0.1uF caps, 220 ohm resistors, 1N4148 diodes, 7805 voltage regulators) that get used over and over again, so it makes sense just to build a well stocked physical rack. Checking inventory levels periodically is simply a matter of peeking into the drawers and seeing what needs re-ordering. I tend to order resistors, caps and diodes in quantities of at least 100 anyway, just to get more reasonable pricing.
Why not ask the experts? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The solution is well organized physical storage (Score:3, Insightful)
That's why I have 1000 each of 100 and 220 ohm resistors. I needed 50 or so of each, but the price breaks were such that:
50 would have been $2.50 (5 cents each)
200 would have been $3.40 (1.7 cents each)
1000 was $8.00 (0.8 cents each)
Got a recommended source for a multivalue resistor kit? I could use one of those for initial stock.
I think for almost any hobbyist, it will be difficult for any software based solution to match the simple approach of physical organization with transparent labeled bins. Lowes sells some good ones at reasonable prices with slide-out drawers, other people use compartmented boxes designed for fishing lures/bait/flies/etc. These are more economical for "lots of small stuff" but a little harder to access since the compartments are top-access.
Most parts will not be static anyway... (Score:2, Insightful)
I think you'll come to find that aside from every-day components (caps, resistors, voltage regulators, etc), most of your projects will end up using *some* sort of specialized part.
Unless you are running a small business, you're wasting your time with any database.
My reccomendation - sure, combine caps, resistors, LEDs, etc, into either those 50-drawer wall-mount storage bins (for leaded), or 'bug' cases with the little flip-top lids (as mentioned above) for SMT parts.
Otherwise, organize specialized parts via 'project' boxes - keep all of the unique parts with the project. You'll remember "hey, I used a nice D/A converter on that retro-redbox", go to the box, dig out the original pkg, blamo, the part number you need to lookup specs.
Keep a small dry-erase board near your 'warehouse' to jot down part #'s as they become low - when you've accumulated enough parts to justify an order, they're all there in one place.