klayout-draw-mcp
An MCP server for drawing GDS layouts with KLayout — generate, edit, and view layouts from an AI assistant such as Claude Code or Claude Desktop.
Layout geometry is built in-process with the standalone klayout Python module (no GUI needed). The installed KLayout application is launched only for viewing or manual editing.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
new_layout(top_cell, dbu) |
Start a new in-memory layout (coordinates in micrometers) |
add_box(layer, x1, y1, x2, y2, datatype) |
Add a rectangle |
add_polygon(layer, points, datatype) |
Add a polygon from [x, y] vertices |
add_path(layer, points, width, datatype) |
Add a path with width |
add_label(layer, x, y, text, datatype) |
Add a text label |
create_cell(name) / use_cell(name) |
Create/select the active drawing cell |
place_cell(cell, x, y, orient, nx, ny, dx, dy) |
Place an instance or array of a cell |
add_via(x, y, bottom_layer, top_layer, cut_layer, …) |
Via: cut array + enclosing metal |
add_wire(layer, points, width) |
Manhattan wire (auto L-corners) |
layout_info() |
Inspect current layout (layers, bbox, shape count) |
load_gds(path, top_cell?) |
Load an existing GDS/OASIS into the session for editing |
inspect_gds(path?) |
Per-layer shape count, area and bbox of a file or the session |
drc_check(rules, path?) |
Simple DRC: spacing / width / overlap / separation / enclosure |
save_gds(path, open_after) |
Write GDS/OASIS; optionally open in the editor |
open_layout(file_path) |
Open a file in KLayout (viewer) |
open_editor(file_path?) |
Open KLayout in editor mode, or a blank layout |
run_script(code) |
Run arbitrary Python with klayout.db (cell hierarchy, arrays, booleans, DRC, ...) |
Requirements
- Python ≥ 3.10
- The
klayoutandmcpPython packages (installed via the steps below) - The KLayout application — only needed for
open_layout/open_editor
Install
uv sync
Register with Claude Code
claude mcp add klayout -s user -- "<repo>/.venv/Scripts/python.exe" -m klayout_draw_mcp.server
On macOS/Linux use .venv/bin/python.
Usage
"Draw a 5×5 µm box on layer 1 and a 2 µm-wide path, then save to out.gds and open it."
Claude calls new_layout → add_box / add_path → save_gds(open_after=True).
You can also open and check an existing layout:
"Load chip.gds, check that M1 spacing ≥ 0.15 µm and that OD never overlaps POLY, and report violations."
Claude calls load_gds → inspect_gds → drc_check([...]), then edits and save_gds.
See Editing & DRC.
For anything beyond the basic shapes, run_script exposes the full klayout.db API.
Examples
Self-contained scripts in examples/. Each builds a layout with the
standalone klayout.db module and writes a GDS:
uv run python examples/cis_aps_pixel.py out.gds
You can also paste the body of a script's build() function into the run_script
tool. The scripts share one layer map (OD 3/0, POLY 6/0, NPLUS 4/0, METAL1 9/0, ...).
| Example | What it draws |
|---|---|
basic_shapes.py |
The four primitives: box, path, polygon, label |
nmos_transistor.py |
A single NMOS (active, poly gate, n+, contacts, M1 S/G/D) |
cmos_inverter.py |
A CMOS inverter: PMOS over NMOS, shared gate, Vdd/Vss rails |
cis_aps_pixel.py |
A 1 µm 4T CMOS image-sensor pixel, tiled as a 2×2 array |
Place & route skill
skills/klayout-pnr/ packages place-and-route recipes — row placement, power rails, and
an obstacle-aware maze (Lee) router — plus a SKILL.md workflow guide for assistants.
Copy it to your skills directory to have it auto-discovered:
cp -r skills/klayout-pnr ~/.claude/skills/
Documentation
Full docs (Getting Started walkthrough, examples, editing/DRC, place & route) are at https://geniuskey.github.io/klayout-draw-mcp/.
Note
run_script executes arbitrary Python locally, in-process. Only run scripts you trust.
1 maintainer
Metadata
1 maintainer
Release files for klayout-draw-mcp 0.1.2
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| klayout_draw_mcp-0.1.2-py3-none-any.whl | Python 3 | none | any | Details |
Total release size: 247.4 kB
Release files / klayout_draw_mcp-0.1.2.tar.gz
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