PCB Prototyping: Why StuckAtPrototype Skips Breadboards
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PCB prototyping often begins with a solderless breadboard, but Damian Glinojecki has largely abandoned that approach. In an excerpt from Elektor Engineering Insights #63, the founder of StuckAtPrototype explains why he goes straight to a custom PCB and prefers surface-mount components for nearly everything he builds.
PCB Prototyping Without Breadboards
Glinojecki says he starts with the schematic and quickly moves on to PCB layout. The first board does not need its final shape or mechanical dimensions; its immediate purpose is to provide a working circuit that can be assembled and tested. With inexpensive PCB fabrication services and short turnaround times, he considers this a more efficient starting point than wiring up a breadboard.
He points to unreliable jumper wires and wiring mistakes as recurring problems. In one case, a faulty jumper connection cost him days of troubleshooting. As he puts it, "For me, nowadays, breadboards don't really make sense." He acknowledges that ordering a PCB is not necessarily cheaper than using parts already on the workbench, but values the reliability and clarity of a finished circuit board.
Test Points and Prototype Flexibility
Going directly to a PCB does not mean locking down every design decision. Glinojecki deliberately includes plenty of test points on his earliest boards, giving him places to probe signals, solder temporary connectors, and change pin assignments during development. His prototype layouts prioritize access and experimentation over the eventual product enclosure.
The approach also depends on his equipment and workflow. He exports pick-and-place files for his assembly machines, which he says handle around 80% of the placement work; he installs the remaining components manually. For designers without that equipment, hand assembly or outsourced PCB assembly remains an option. PCB design tools can generate component placement files for machine assembly.
From PCB Prototyping to Production
Glinojecki is similarly emphatic about surface-mount technology. He says he stopped routinely using through-hole components roughly ten years ago and now selects them only when a suitable surface-mount alternative is unavailable. For his projects, SMD assembly is easier and more reliable, particularly with his existing tools. It also means a prototype is closer to a manufacturing-ready design if the project develops into a commercial product.
The conversation also exposes a familiar limitation: Sometimes you want to test a circuit at 2 a.m., and you do not have the connector or component you need. A breadboard still has its place when immediate experimentation matters more than a fabricated board. Glinojecki's preference reflects an established, PCB-centered workflow rather than a requirement for every electronics project. Watch the full conversation for more on his development methods.
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