kicad-cruncher 2026.6.3

Cross-platform KiCad CLI workflows built on public kicad-monkey

KiCad Cruncher

kicad-cruncher is a cross-platform command-line application for KiCad design workflows. It consumes the public kicad-monkey package and keeps higher-level CLI behavior outside the core parser package.

The initial public commands generate KiCad-native design review bundles and PCB SVG artifacts from public kicad-monkey parsers/renderers.

Install

Install uv first if it is not already available:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

On macOS or Linux:

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

Install as a uv tool:

uv tool install kicad-cruncher
uv tool update-shell
kicad-cruncher --help

During local development:

uv sync --extra test
uv run kicad-cruncher --help
uv run python -m kicad_cruncher version

Commands

Run kicad-cruncher <command> --help for command-specific options.

Command	Purpose	Status
design / design-review / dr	Generate a design review bundle with KiCad-native design JSON, schematic SVGs, PCB copper-layer SVGs, a manifest, and a README for agents.	Public
pcb-svg	Generate PCB layer SVG artifacts and configured design views, including geometer-backed assembly HLR overlays.	Public
version	Print kicad-cruncher and controlled dependency versions.	Public

The design command writes to ./output/design/ by default. Its aliases design-review and dr produce the same output:

kicad-cruncher design board.kicad_pro
kicad-cruncher design-review board.kicad_pro
kicad-cruncher dr board.kicad_sch --no-indexes
kicad-cruncher design -o output/design

The design review output includes <input-stem>_design.json, design_review_manifest.json, README.md, enriched black-and-white schematic SVGs under schematics/, and one PCB review SVG per copper layer under pcb/copper_layers/ when a board is present. Schematic review SVGs preserve the kicad-monkey enrichment metadata while applying the kicad_cruncher.design_review.schematic_svg.a0 black-and-white role theme. PCB review SVGs include the copper layer, Edge.Cuts, and kicad-monkey enriched drill/slot records. Plated pads and vias, and KiCad np_thru_hole mechanical pads, are distinguished with data-hole-plating and data-hole-kind attributes. Design-review styling colors those existing records in place: plated drills are blue, plated slots are cyan, non-plated drills are red, and non-plated slots are orange. KiCad Cruncher does not add a second drill/slot overlay or duplicate the kicad-monkey plating metadata.

The pcb-svg command writes to ./output/pcb-svg/ by default and uses pcb.svg.config JSON/JSONC configs compatible with the A0 PCB SVG view contract. This is a preview feature in the 2026.6.3 release: SVG structure, virtual-layer metadata, default views, and config controls may change as more real-world boards are tested.

kicad-cruncher pcb-svg board.kicad_pcb
kicad-cruncher pcb-svg project.kicad_pro --views assembly-top
kicad-cruncher pcb-svg board.kicad_pcb --config pcb.svg.config -o output/pcb-svg

pcb-svg composes KiCad Monkey enriched physical layer SVG with explicit virtual layers. BOARD_OUTLINE and BOARD_CUTOUTS are synthesized from closed Edge.Cuts regions, with derived arc/curve/circle smoothness controlled by styles.board_outline.max_*_segment_mm, DRILLS and SLOTS preserve KiCad Monkey hole metadata, PIN1_TOP/PIN1_BOTTOM add configurable pad-linked marker groups, and ASSEMBLY_HLR_TOP/ASSEMBLY_HLR_BOTTOM append geometer-backed STEP hidden-line overlays or footprint-bound fallbacks. Default assembly views use pad bounding boxes with aspect-preserving fitted ASSEMBLY_DESIGNATORS_TOP/ASSEMBLY_DESIGNATORS_BOTTOM labels drawn above the 75% opacity HLR/bounds overlay. Assembly labels are blue by default and rotate 90 degrees in the configurable ccw/cw direction when their fitted bounds exceed the configurable height/width aspect threshold. Assembly designator style overrides can target exact refs, prefixes, wildcards, or ranges.

Output Layout

Output-producing commands follow the same directory policy:

• when -o/--output is omitted, write artifacts under ./output/<command>/;
• when -o/--output is supplied, use that directory directly;
• command modules own filenames inside their command output directory.

Tests

Run the Rack suite:

uv run --extra test rack run --all

Run build and installed-console smoke tests:

uv run --extra test python -m build
uv run --extra test twine check dist/*
uv run --extra test python tests\support_scripts\install_test.py

Rack is the primary local gate. L0_public_cli covers startup and command manifest alignment, L3_public_workflows covers fixture-backed command behavior, and L99_signoff covers versioning, docs, contracts, source hygiene, ruff, and pyright.

Architecture Docs

• docs/adrs/ records accepted architecture decisions.
• docs/design/ records durable interface, command, data-flow, and format design notes.
• docs/contracts/ stores stable manifests and future schemas for public JSON or config formats.

Release Policy

Versioning, tagging, release, and traceability are defined in docs/adrs/ADR-0001-versioning-tagging-release-policy.md. The intended release workflow is GitHub Actions plus PyPI Trusted Publishing/OIDC. Local Twine upload is fallback only.