mcp-server-kicad 0.5.7

MCP servers for KiCad schematic, PCB, and export automation

mcp-server-kicad

MCP servers for KiCad schematic, PCB, symbol, footprint, and project automation.

Servers

Server	Tools	Description
mcp-server-kicad-schematic	29	Schematic read/write, ERC analysis, and schematic exports (PDF, SVG, DXF, netlist, BOM)
mcp-server-kicad-pcb	19	PCB read/write, DRC analysis, and PCB exports (Gerber, drill, 3D models, pick-and-place)
mcp-server-kicad-symbol	4	Symbol library browsing, SVG export, and library upgrade
mcp-server-kicad-footprint	4	Footprint library browsing, SVG export, and library upgrade
mcp-server-kicad-project	7	Project scaffolding, hierarchical sheets, jobset execution, and version info

Installation

pip install mcp-server-kicad

Or run directly with uvx:

uvx --from mcp-server-kicad mcp-server-kicad-schematic
uvx --from mcp-server-kicad mcp-server-kicad-pcb
uvx --from mcp-server-kicad mcp-server-kicad-symbol
uvx --from mcp-server-kicad mcp-server-kicad-footprint
uvx --from mcp-server-kicad mcp-server-kicad-project

Claude Code Plugin

For Claude Code users, install the plugin to get MCP server configuration and schematic design skills bundled together:

claude plugin marketplace add ProductOfAmerica/mcp-server-kicad
claude plugin install kicad

The plugin automatically configures all five MCP servers and includes skills that teach layout conventions for schematic design. See skills/schematic-design/SKILL.md for details.

Configuration

Add the servers to your Claude Desktop or Claude Code MCP config. Set cwd to your KiCad project directory so the servers can auto-detect project files.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad-schematic": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "mcp-server-kicad", "mcp-server-kicad-schematic"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/your/kicad/project"
    },
    "kicad-pcb": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "mcp-server-kicad", "mcp-server-kicad-pcb"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/your/kicad/project"
    },
    "kicad-symbol": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "mcp-server-kicad", "mcp-server-kicad-symbol"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/your/kicad/project"
    },
    "kicad-footprint": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "mcp-server-kicad", "mcp-server-kicad-footprint"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/your/kicad/project"
    },
    "kicad-project": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "mcp-server-kicad", "mcp-server-kicad-project"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/your/kicad/project"
    }
  }
}

Project Path Resolution

The servers resolve file paths in this order:

1. Auto-detect: Scans the current working directory for a .kicad_pro file and derives schematic, PCB, symbol library, and footprint library paths from it.
2. Environment variables: KICAD_SCH_PATH, KICAD_PCB_PATH, KICAD_SYM_LIB, KICAD_FP_LIB, and KICAD_OUTPUT_DIR override auto-detected values.
3. Tool parameters: Every tool accepts an explicit path parameter that takes highest priority.

Environment Variables

Variable	Description
KICAD_SCH_PATH	Path to .kicad_sch schematic file
KICAD_PCB_PATH	Path to .kicad_pcb PCB file
KICAD_SYM_LIB	Path to .kicad_sym symbol library file
KICAD_FP_LIB	Path to .pretty footprint library directory
KICAD_OUTPUT_DIR	Output directory for exports and reports

Available Tools

Schematic Tools (27 tools)

Read Tools

Tool	Description
list_schematic_items	List schematic items by type (components, labels, wires, global_labels, summary)
get_symbol_pins	Get pin info for a symbol in the schematic's lib_symbols
get_pin_positions	Get absolute pin positions for a placed component (accounts for rotation/mirror)
get_net_connections	Get all connections for a named net
list_unconnected_pins	List unconnected pins from ERC data

Write Tools

Tool	Description
place_component	Place a component in the schematic
remove_component	Remove a component by reference designator
add_wires	Add one or more wires between points
add_label	Add a net label at a position
add_junctions	Add one or more junction dots
add_lib_symbol	Load a symbol definition from a .kicad_sym library into the schematic
move_component	Move a placed component to a new position
set_component_property	Set any property (Value, Reference, Footprint, etc.) on a placed component
add_global_label	Add a global net label visible across all sheets
add_power_symbol	Place a power symbol (VCC, GND, +3V3, etc.) with auto PWR_FLAG
add_text	Add a text annotation to the schematic
wire_pins_to_net	Wire one or more pins to a named net
auto_place_decoupling_cap	Automatically place a decoupling capacitor near an IC
connect_pins	Wire two component pins together
no_connect_pin	Place a no-connect flag on an unused pin
remove_label	Remove a net label
remove_wire	Remove a wire segment
remove_junction	Remove a junction dot

ERC Analysis

Tool	Description
run_erc	Run Electrical Rules Check (ERC) on a schematic

Schematic Export Tools

Tool	Description
export_schematic	Export schematic to PDF, SVG, or DXF format
export_netlist	Export schematic netlist
export_bom	Export Bill of Materials (BOM) as CSV

PCB Tools (16 tools)

Read Tools

Tool	Description
list_pcb_items	List PCB items by type (footprints, traces, nets, zones, layers, graphic_items)
get_board_info	Get board summary: footprint count, trace count, net count, thickness
get_footprint_pads	Get pad info for a placed footprint on the PCB

Write Tools

Tool	Description
place_footprint	Place a footprint on the PCB
move_footprint	Move a footprint to a new position
remove_footprint	Remove a footprint by reference designator
add_trace	Add a trace segment between two points
add_via	Add a via at a position
add_pcb_text	Add text to the PCB (silkscreen, fab layer, etc.)
add_pcb_line	Add a graphic line to the PCB (edge cuts, silkscreen, etc.)

DRC Analysis

Tool	Description
run_drc	Run Design Rules Check (DRC) on a PCB

PCB Export Tools

Tool	Description
export_pcb	Export PCB layers to PDF, SVG, or DXF
export_gerbers	Export Gerber files (all layers or specific layer list)
export_3d	Export PCB 3D model (STEP/STL/GLB) or render 3D view to PNG
export_positions	Export component position file (pick and place)
export_ipc2581	Export PCB in IPC-2581 format for manufacturing data exchange

Symbol Tools (5 tools)

Tool	Description
list_lib_symbols	List all symbols in a .kicad_sym library file
get_symbol_info	Get detailed pin and property info for a symbol in a library
add_symbol	Add a new symbol to a .kicad_sym library
export_symbol_svg	Export symbol library to SVG images
upgrade_symbol_lib	Upgrade a symbol library to current KiCad format

Footprint Tools (4 tools)

Tool	Description
list_lib_footprints	List all footprints in a .pretty library directory
get_footprint_info	Get pad and outline details for a footprint .kicad_mod file
export_footprint_svg	Export footprint to SVG
upgrade_footprint_lib	Upgrade a footprint library to current KiCad format

Project Tools (7 tools)

Tool	Description
create_project	Create a KiCad 9 project (.kicad_pro + .kicad_prl + .kicad_sch)
create_schematic	Create a blank schematic file
create_symbol_library	Create a blank symbol library file
create_sym_lib_table	Create a sym-lib-table file
add_hierarchical_sheet	Add a hierarchical sheet to a parent schematic
run_jobset	Run a KiCad jobset file
get_version	Get KiCad version information

System Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• KiCad 9.x -- required for CLI-based tools (ERC, DRC, exports). The kicad-cli binary must be on PATH.
• The schematic and PCB read/write tools use kiutils for file parsing and do not require a KiCad installation.

Debugging

Use the MCP Inspector to test and debug the servers interactively:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector mcp-server-kicad

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for development setup and guidelines.

License

MIT