KiCad
Open-source electronics design automation suite for schematic capture and PCB layout.
HN commenters use it for hobby PCB design and like that it is an open-source tool12345 with a Python API, plugins and handy project templates.6789 The most common caveat is that it was not built for AI-driven design,10 and attempts to have LLMs or computer-use agents draw schematics or route boards in it give mixed results.111213
Why people recommend it
Scriptable · 3
Its Python API and plugin support let users automate routing, part numbering and design checks.
“pin a few key traces (using the kicad python api)”
“Currently I use a JLCPCB plug-in to do this in KiCAD.”
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“KiCad 10, tested on Windows.”
Hobby PCB design · 3
Hobbyists and learners use it to design their own boards for microcontroller projects.
“If you get to the point of having PCBs made you can use KiCad to design the boards.”
“spent 40 or so hours in KiCad learning how read IC reference documents, picking components, and of course, doing the PCB trace layout.”
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“I'm pretty amazed and happy with the results.”
Open source · 3
Commenters love it as open-source software, cite it as gaining commercial use, and donate to support it.
“start attracting more commercial usage, much like KiCad and Blender did in their spaces”
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“Just donated $250; I'm trying to get in the habit of supporting the open source projects I use”
AI-assisted editing · 3
Some report good results having LLMs edit, debug or route KiCad designs via scripts.
“edit/debug kicad schematics”
“I just gave it kicad and it wrote python to route it.”
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“the reason for forking KiCad is to use the upstream/yet to be released IPC API features”
Templates · 1
Built-in templates for Arduino, hats and pmod boards save time.
“KiCAD comes with all the usual suspects, including Arduino and the various hats. You can get pmod templates, etc. They're actually really nice.”
Caveats and dissent
AI automation limits · 3
Commenters say it wasn't built for AI generation and LLM or computer-use attempts produce poor schematics or routes.
“KiCad wasn't built for AI-gen with things like automatic routing/placement”
“I tried to use KiCAD through computer-use. This doesn't produce great results.”
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“to do the schematic in KiCad”
Past UX pain · 1
One commenter found it painful to use before its big UX overhaul.
“I used KiCad (but that was prior to their big UX overhaul so it was pretty painful)”
3D model workflow · 1
One user makes 3D models through a multi-step OpenSCAD conversion chain with manual coloring.
“I use openscad for all my kicad 3d models”
Mouse preferred · 1
One commenter finds a mouse more natural than a trackpad for using it.
“Mouse has better ergonomics for accurate pointing, and is more natural in some apps (eg KiCAD).”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- AI-assisted PCB design for KiCad 10 5 mentions
- Show HN: Copperhead – Cursor for circuit boards 2 mentions
- Show HN: VelaTrace KiCad plugin: Catch PCB mistakes before you order the board 1 mention
- Everything 1 mention
- OpenSCAD the Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller 1 mention
- I said no and Apple said yes 1 mention
Data: kicad.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 26
“I'm pretty amazed and happy with the results.”
“KiCad 10, tested on Windows.”
“I love KiCad.”
“the reason for forking KiCad is to use the upstream/yet to be released IPC API features”
“pin a few key traces (using the kicad python api)”
“to do the schematic in KiCad”
“I tried to use KiCAD through computer-use. This doesn't produce great results.”
“I use openscad for all my kicad 3d models”
“Mouse has better ergonomics for accurate pointing, and is more natural in some apps (eg KiCAD).”
“I used KiCad (but that was prior to their big UX overhaul so it was pretty painful)”
“KiCad wasn't built for AI-gen with things like automatic routing/placement”
“edit/debug kicad schematics”
“I just gave it kicad and it wrote python to route it.”
“I've actually downloaded KiCad and just started using it”
“If you get to the point of having PCBs made you can use KiCad to design the boards.”
“convert kicad geometry primitives to cadquery”
“Currently I use a JLCPCB plug-in to do this in KiCAD.”
“spent 40 or so hours in KiCad learning how read IC reference documents, picking components, and of course, doing the PCB trace layout.”
“KiCAD comes with all the usual suspects, including Arduino and the various hats. You can get pmod templates, etc. They're actually really nice.”
“implementing my own take on the cascade design in KiCAD”
“start attracting more commercial usage, much like KiCad and Blender did in their spaces”
“Just donated $250; I'm trying to get in the habit of supporting the open source projects I use”
“I use Flatpaks to install many GUI apps, such as FreeCAD, KiCad, Darktable, Steam, Reaper, and a lot more.”
“punched up some boards on kicad”
“I created a fork of toon for Kicad”
“The world needs more playful abuse of serious tools.”