{"slug": "backplane", "name": "Backplane", "category": "media", "category_name": "Media and creative", "description": "", "recommenders": 2, "commenters": 3, "warners": 0, "score": 2.278, "rising": 2.0, "first": "2026-10-16", "latest": "2026-10-16", "why": "I use Backplane more for overall \"acceleration\" of hardware", "why_is_quote": true, "has_verdict": false, "sentiment": {"recommend": 2, "neutral": 1, "compare": 0, "warn": 0}, "spark": [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2], "listed": false, "loved": [], "caveat": "", "short_quote": "I use Backplane more for overall \"acceleration\" of hardware", "icon": false, "domain": "backplane.works", "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://backplane.works", "pricing": "", "aliases": ["Backplane"], "verdict": null, "praise": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 801927456, "item_id": 50120466, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50120466", "by": "i2cjak", "date": "2026-10-16", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Backplane more for overall \"acceleration\" of hardware", "excerpt": "glad you're trying it out. the reason for forking KiCad is to use the upstream/yet to be released IPC API features for schematic and PCB manipulation, vs. having the LLM directly edit or have to interact with S-expressions. Many ways to skin a cat. I use Backplane more for overall \"acceleration\" of hardware vs. proompt -> product stuff (this is still mostly slop imo)", "context": "", "use_case": "hardware design acceleration", "switched_from": "", "story": "AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10"}, {"id": 801919120, "item_id": 50119945, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50119945", "by": "Certified", "date": "2026-10-16", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Backplane also does this", "excerpt": "Backplane also does this https://github.com/i2cjak/Backplane", "context": "", "use_case": "AI-assisted PCB design", "switched_from": "", "story": "AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10"}]}], "caveats": [], "who": [], "tags": [], "use_cases": ["hardware design acceleration", "ai-assisted pcb design", "pcb design"], "compared": [{"slug": "kicad", "name": "KiCad", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50085553", "title": "AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10", "mentions": 3}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {}, "2025-12": {}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {}, "2026-05": {}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {}, "2026-08": {}, "2026-09": {}, "2026-10": {"neutral": 1, "recommend": 2}}, "quotes": [{"id": 801927456, "item_id": 50120466, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50120466", "by": "i2cjak", "date": "2026-10-16", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Backplane more for overall \"acceleration\" of hardware", "excerpt": "glad you're trying it out. the reason for forking KiCad is to use the upstream/yet to be released IPC API features for schematic and PCB manipulation, vs. having the LLM directly edit or have to interact with S-expressions. Many ways to skin a cat. I use Backplane more for overall \"acceleration\" of hardware vs. proompt -> product stuff (this is still mostly slop imo)", "context": "", "use_case": "hardware design acceleration", "switched_from": "", "story": "AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10"}, {"id": 801919120, "item_id": 50119945, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50119945", "by": "Certified", "date": "2026-10-16", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Backplane also does this", "excerpt": "Backplane also does this https://github.com/i2cjak/Backplane", "context": "", "use_case": "AI-assisted PCB design", "switched_from": "", "story": "AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10"}, {"id": 801892560, "item_id": 50118285, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50118285", "by": "spamizbad", "date": "2026-10-16", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "Currently been using Backplane (https://backplane.works/) which is a straight-up fork of Kicad.", "excerpt": "This is very interesting, I'll need to give it a try. Currently been using Backplane (https://backplane.works/) which is a straight-up fork of Kicad.", "context": "", "use_case": "PCB design", "switched_from": "", "story": "AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10"}]}