kicad-auto-lib 0.0.3

Fully automated library management in Kicad. Don't open the Manage Symbol/Footprint Libraries ever again.

Kicad_Auto_Lib

Stop wasting time managing your component libraries in KiCad.
Say goodbye to opening the Manage Symbol/Footprint Libraries dialog.

Kicad_Auto_Lib is a Python script that automates the organization of symbols, footprints, and 3D models into global libraries—smartly organized and ready to use.

Simply drag and drop your .kicad_sym, .kicad_mod, and .step files into your KiCad project folder, and let the script handle the rest. Zero configuration required on KiCad's side. Works across all platforms, tested with Kicad 8.

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Features

• Launch and Forget: Runs in the background, detecting new files on startup and monitoring your project folder for changes.
• Automatic Detection: Detects new .kicad_sym, .kicad_mod, or .step files added to your KiCad project folder or subfolders (e.g., via plugins like JLC2KiCad_lib or extractions from SnapEDA).
• Library Management: Automatically adds component library files to your custom library. Supports a single library or multiple libraries.
• Path Correction: Edits footprint and 3D model paths to ensure everything works out-of-the-box.
• Library Git Syncing: Automatically syncs all changes to your git repo (Optional)
• Missing Library Handling: Makes sure that your Project Defined Libraries are always up to date.
• Flexible Organization: Use one or multiple libraries depending on your workflow. (Note: With multiple libraries, you’ll be prompted to choose where to save each file).

Library Structure Example:

/OneCustomLib
    /symbols.kicad_sym
    /footprints.pretty
    /3dmodels
/TwoCustomLib
    ...  

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Video

Coming soon..

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Installation

Install the package via pip:

pip install kicad_auto_lib  

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How to Use

First Use

1. Create or Open a KiCad Project:

   • Open your KiCad project or create a new one.

2. Open a Terminal:

   • Open a terminal in your KiCad project folder. (Right-click -> Open in Terminal on Windows or Terminal -> cd your/project/folder/path)

3. Prepare the _Libraries Folder:

   • Create a folder named _Libraries right outside your KiCad project folder: On Linux :

     mkdir ../_Libraries  
     

   • Alternatively, clone your existing library repository into the _Libraries folder if you have one.

   The folder structure should look like this:

   /KicadProject  
       project.kicad_pro  
       ...  
   /_Libraries  
       /OneCustomLib  
       /TwoCustomLib  
       ...  
   

4. Launch the Script:

   • Run the script in the terminal from the project folder:

     python -m kicad_auto_lib  
     

   • Keep the terminal window open to monitor the output.

5. Add Files:

   • You're now ready to drag and drop .kicad_sym, .kicad_mod, or .step files into your KiCad project folder. The script will automatically process any files, including those already present in the folder. It will not process the 3d models generated by Kicad of your boards.

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(Optional) Set Up a Git Repository for Your Libraries

You have two options for organizing your libraries with Git:

Option 1: One Repository for All Libraries:

/_Libraries  
    /.git  # Your Git root is here  
    /MyVacuumTubes_Lib
    /MyQuantumMCUs_Lib

Option 2: Separate Repository for Each Library:

/_Libraries  
    /MyNewCoolProject_Lib  
        /.git  # Your Git root is here  
    /MyAncientProject_Lib  
        /.git  # Your Git root is here  

Steps to Create a Repository:

1. Go to your Git platform (e.g., GitHub) and create an empty repository.
2. Copy the repository’s clone link.
3. Clone the repository into your _Libraries folder (for Option 1) or into each library folder (for Option 2):

   git clone <library_repository_link>  
   

Note: If you encounter issues with the first commit/push, manually commit and push to resolve them.

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(Optional) Create a Shortcut to Launch Kicad_Auto_Lib

To make it easier to launch the script alongside your project:

• Windows: Copy the /script/launch.bat file to your project folder.
• Linux: Copy the /script/launch.sh file to your project folder and make it executable:

  chmod +x launch.sh  
  

• Create a Shortcut: Optionally, create a desktop shortcut to the script for quick access.

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Regular Use

To use the script after the initial setup:

1. Open a terminal in your KiCad project folder.
2. Run the script:

   python -m kicad_auto_lib  
   

   • Or be lazy and use the shortcut script (launch.bat or launch.sh) if you’ve set it up (see just above)

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Create a New Library

To create a new library:

1. Create and name a new folder in the _Libraries directory:
2. The library will be initialized automatically when you add a new symbol or footprint to it.

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Build

To build the project from source:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/StepUp-Solutions/kicad_auto_lib.git
   

2. Navigate to the project root and build the package:

   python -m flit build  
   

3. Install the built package:

   pip install dist/kicad_auto_lib-x.y.z-py3-none-any.whl --force-reinstall  
   

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Here’s the polished and enhanced version of the remaining sections. I’ve improved clarity, structure, and syntax while maintaining a professional tone. Let’s proceed section by section:

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Potential Features

Upvote and suggest new features on the GitHub Issues page!

Here are some ideas for future improvements:

• Tag support: Generates some tags like the project name when added
• Background Mode with Notifications: Run the script in the background and notify users when a prompt or error occurs.
• Set a Default Library: Allow users to specify a default library when working with multiple libraries.
• Two-Way Sync with HTTP Lib Part-DB: Sync symbols and footprints with the HTTP Lib part database (e.g., adding a reference would sync the component and vice versa).
• Datasheet Management: Ensure all datasheets are linked and/or downloaded automatically.
• Pin Cleanup: Use LLM integration to remove unspecified pins while editing symbols.
• Component Tags with Board Presence: Add tags to components indicating which boards they’re present on (e.g., by analyzing BOMs or cache files).
• Automated Git Push: Automatically push changes to the _Libraries folder if it’s set up as a Git repository.
• Library UI: Develop a small UI to visualize all parts and manage their removal.

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TODO

Here’s the current roadmap:

• Add tests for core functionality.
• Implement exclusion of PCB .step files.
• Add support for setting a default library.
• Add support for datasheets.

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License

This project is licensed under the AGPL v3 License.

• What this means:
  • Anyone or any organization can use this software freely.
  • If you modify or extend the software, you must share your changes under the same license.
  • You are encouraged to contribute your improvements back to this project.

This license ensures that the project remains open and collaborative, benefiting the entire community.

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Contribute

We welcome contributions from the community! Whether it’s a new feature, bug fix, or feedback, your input is valuable.

Here’s how you can contribute:

• Feature Requests: Suggest new features on the GitHub Issues page.
• Pull Requests: Submit PRs for bug fixes or enhancements.
• Comments and Feedback: Share your thoughts and ideas!
• Documentation: Help improve the README, guides, or code comments.

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Disclaimer

This project is still in its early stages and comes with no warranty.

Important Notes:

• Always keep a backup of your project (e.g., using Git).
• Familiarize yourself with KiCad’s file structure to troubleshoot any issues.
• KiCad errors are usually explicit and easily fixable, but errors may occur.

Use this tool at your own risk — you’ve been warned!

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Third-Party Libraries

This project uses the following third-party libraries:

• sexpdata: Licensed under the BSD 2-Clause License
  Copyright (c) [2024], [jd-boyd]
  Source Code