Hello there,
I am new to the world of open source hardware and am particularly interested in DIY projects involving microcontrollers and custom PCB designs. I have been following the developments from 1BitSquared with great interest and am impressed by the innovative solutions and community engagement.
I am currently working on a project that involves designing a custom PCB for a small embedded system; and I am looking for advice on best practices and common pitfalls to avoid.
What are some essential design practices when creating a custom PCB for a microcontroller-based project? 
Are there any particular tools or software that you recommend for schematic capture and PCB layout?
How do you go about selecting components for your designs? Are there any guidelines for choosing components that are both cost effective and reliable?
What are the most effective methods for testing and debugging custom PCBs before finalizing a design? Any tips on troubleshooting common issues?
Also, I have gone through this post; https://forum.1bitsquared.com/t/spinning-a-prototype-based-on-the-icebreaker-schematic-blue-prism/ which definitely helped me out a lot.
I have done some research and read through various forums; but I would love to hear from the community here at 1BitSquared for firsthand advice and experiences.
Thank you in advance for your help and assistance. 