Proteus Professional

About this release

Proteus is the suite that lets you test a circuit before you ever solder one. It joins schematic capture to a mixed mode simulation engine, so the design you draw can be run on screen with virtual instruments attached, and it does the one thing most simulators cannot, which is run the actual compiled firmware on a simulated microcontroller inside the same schematic.

That firmware simulation is why so many embedded developers keep it around. Load a hex file onto a simulated part, wire up virtual LEDs, displays, sensors and a serial terminal, and step through the behaviour with a debugger before any hardware exists. It supports a long list of popular microcontroller families, so a project can be largely proven out in software first.

The other half is the PCB layout tool. Once the schematic and simulation are settled, the netlist carries straight into the board editor with autorouting, design rule checking, copper pour and a 3D view of the finished board. Output is the standard manufacturing set, so the same project goes from idea to a board house without leaving the suite. The build here is the full professional package.

What it does

• Schematic capture with a large component library
• Mixed mode SPICE simulation with virtual instruments
• Firmware simulation running real compiled hex on virtual microcontrollers
• Support for many popular microcontroller families
• Source level debugging of firmware inside the schematic
• PCB layout with autorouting and design rule checking
• Copper pour, split planes and controlled length routing
• 3D board visualisation of the finished layout
• Standard manufacturing output for board fabrication
• Virtual terminal, oscilloscope and logic analyser instruments

Changes in this version

• Added simulation models for several recent microcontroller parts
• Faster board redraw on dense multilayer layouts
• Improved autorouter behaviour around fine pitch parts
• Reworked 3D viewer with better material rendering
• Updated component library with current packages

What the package contains

• Proteus Professional 9.1 SP2 offline installer
• Full component and simulation model library
• Sample projects covering common microcontroller families
• Readme with the install order written out step by step
• Notes on loading firmware hex files into a simulation

Installation notes

Follow these in order. Most reports of a failed install come from skipping a step rather than from the package itself.

1. Disconnect from the network before you begin.
2. Turn off real time protection for the length of the install.
3. Extract the archive to a short path such as C:\Setup.
4. Run setup as administrator and complete the wizard.
5. Apply the included activation step before first launch.
6. Launch once, then reconnect to the network.

System requirements

Things worth knowing

• Firmware simulation needs a compiled hex file from your own toolchain, Proteus runs it, it does not build it.
• Very large multilayer boards benefit from more memory, the autorouter is the heaviest part.
• Keep the update check off so the activation state is not disturbed.

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Listing information

This entry is catalogued under CAD & 3D and carries the tags below. Language coverage is English interface, and the supported platform list is Windows 10, Windows 11. Version 9.1 SP2 is the current catalogued build, last checked 1 week ago, and the entry has been in the index since it was added 2 years ago.