python -m kicad_mcp_server.server


## Features

- **PCB Project Management**: Create new PCB projects
- **Footprint Operations**: Add and manage footprints programmatically
- **Design Rule Check**: Run DRC and get violation reports
- **Manufacturing Export**: Export Gerber files for PCB manufacturing
- **Board Analysis**: Get board information and footprint listings
- **BOM Export**: Generate Bill of Materials from schematics
- **CLI Integration**: Execute arbitrary KiCad CLI commands

## Prerequisites

1. **KiCad 7.0 or later** installed on your system
2. **Python 3.10+**
3. **KiCad CLI** in your system PATH
4. **(Optional)** KiCad Python API (pcbnew) for advanced features

### Installing KiCad

- **Windows**: Download from [KiCad.org](https://www.kicad.org/download/)
- **macOS**: `brew install kicad`
- **Linux**: `sudo apt install kicad` or equivalent

### Verifying KiCad CLI

```bash
kicad-cli --version

mkdir kicad-mcp-server
cd kicad-mcp-server

kicad-mcp-server/
├── kicad_mcp_server/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── server.py
├── pyproject.toml
├── requirements.txt
├── README.md
└── .env (optional)

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv

# Activate it
# On Windows:
venv\Scripts\activate
# On macOS/Linux:
source venv/bin/activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Install in development mode
pip install -e .

set PYTHONPATH=C:\Program Files\KiCad\7.0\bin\Lib\site-packages;%PYTHONPATH%

export PYTHONPATH="/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/Current/lib/python3.9/site-packages:$PYTHONPATH"

export PYTHONPATH="/usr/lib/kicad/lib/python3/dist-packages:$PYTHONPATH"

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "kicad_mcp_server.server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "/path/to/kicad/python/packages"
      }
    }
  }
}

python -m kicad_mcp_server.server

Create a new PCB project called "my-board" in /home/user/projects

Add a 0805 resistor footprint at position (50, 50) with reference R1

Run DRC on my-board.kicad_pcb

Export gerbers from my-board.kicad_pcb to ./gerbers/

Get board info for my-board.kicad_pcb

List all footprints in my-board.kicad_pcb

Export BOM from my-board.kicad_sch to bom.csv

Execute kicad-cli command: pcb export step with args [my-board.kicad_pcb, output.step]

"Create a new PCB project called 'led-blinker' in my Documents folder"

"Add a 0805 resistor footprint at position (25, 25) with reference R1 to led-blinker.kicad_pcb"

"Run DRC on my board and tell me if there are any violations"

"Export gerbers for manufacturing from my-board.kicad_pcb"

"What are the dimensions of my board?"

# test_server.py
import asyncio
import json
from kicad_mcp_server.server import handle_call_tool

async def test():
    # Test creating a project
    result = await handle_call_tool(
        "create_new_pcb",
        {
            "project_name": "test-board",
            "project_path": "./test-projects"
        }
    )
    print(result[0].text)

asyncio.run(test())

kicad-mcp-server/
├── kicad_mcp_server/
│   ├── __init__.py          # Package init
│   └── server.py            # Main MCP server implementation
├── tests/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── test_server.py       # Unit tests
├── examples/
│   └── example_usage.py     # Usage examples
├── pyproject.toml           # Project metadata
├── requirements.txt         # Dependencies
├── README.md               # This file
└── LICENSE                 # License file

pytest tests/

black kicad_mcp_server/

mypy kicad_mcp_server/

async def my_new_tool(args: dict) -> list[TextContent]:
    # Your implementation
    return [TextContent(type="text", text="Result")]