Operating Kicad Eda

Operating KiCad EDA

> MCP tool router for KiCad 9. Never guess, never hand-route, never parallelize PCB writes.

When to use

| Scenario | Use | Approach | |----------|-----|----------| | Create schematic from design doc | Yes | schematic() operations | | Generate PCB from schematic | Yes | build_pcb_from_schematic | | Route a PCB | Yes | autoroute(operation="run") only | | Fix DRC violations | Yes | drc(operation="autofix") | | Export manufacturing files | Yes | export() Gerber/BOM/render | | Hand-place a single trace | NO | LLM traces violate clearances |

Iron rules

1. NEVER hand-route — pcb(add_trace/add_via) produces DRC-failing garbage. Use autoroute(operation="run").
2. NEVER guess names — footprint and symbol names change between KiCad versions. Always library(operation="search") first.
3. SERIALIZE PCB ops — MCP PCB tools do load/modify/save. Parallel calls corrupt the .kicad_pcb file.
4. VERIFY after changes — drc(operation="run") + audit(operation="all") before declaring done.

MCP tool routing table

| Task | MCP Tool | Operation | |------|----------|-----------| | Search parts | library | search | | Create/edit schematic | schematic | create_symbol, add_wire, add_label | | Build PCB from schematic | build_pcb_from_schematic | — (standalone) | | Place footprints | pcb | place_footprint | | Set board outline | pcb | set_board_outline | | Add zones (copper pour) | pcb | add_zone | | Auto-route | autoroute | run | | Run DRC | drc | run | | Auto-fix DRC | drc | autofix | | Export Gerber | export | gerber | | Export BOM | export | bom | | 3D render | export | render | | Estimate board size | estimate_board_size | — (standalone) | | Suggest placement | suggest_placement | — (standalone) | | Full audit | audit | all |

Standard pipeline

1. library(search) → find symbols and footprints
2. schematic(create_symbol) → place all components
3. schematic(add_wire/add_label) → connect nets
4. [Python] footprint injection script → fix kicad-cli lookup
5. build_pcb_from_schematic → initial PCB
6. pcb(set_board_outline) → product form factor
7. suggest_placement or pcb(place_footprint) → position components
8. autoroute(run) → FreeRouter
9. drc(run) → check
10. drc(autofix) → fix violations
11. pcb(add_zone) → GND copper pour both layers
12. export(gerber) → manufacturing files
13. export(render) → 3D views

References

| Topic | File | |-------|------| | KiCad 9 parse quirks | [kicad9-quirks.md](references/kicad9-quirks.md) | | DRC fix strategies | [drc-strategies.md](references/drc-strategies.md) | | Footprint injection | [footprint-injection.md](references/footprint-injection.md) |

Exit criteria

• [ ] ERC: 0 errors (warnings acceptable)
• [ ] DRC: 0 violations
• [ ] All nets routed (no unconnected)
• [ ] Gerber zip exportable

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: telagod
• Source: telagod/code-abyss
• License: MIT
• Homepage: https://www.npmjs.com/package/code-abyss

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.