Which integrations are available for this server?

Provides tools for interacting with KiCad EDA software, enabling control of schematics, PCBs, manufacturing outputs, design checks, and library management.

How do I use KiCad MCP Server?

1. Click on "Install Server". 2. Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state. 3. In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@KiCad MCP Server Run a design rule check on the current PCB." That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed. Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

KiCad MCP Server

by Akhil-Chaturvedi

Overview Schema Related Servers Score Discussions

Python

Local

KiCad MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for controlling KiCad EDA software — schematics, PCBs, manufacturing outputs, design checks, and library management — through any MCP-compatible AI assistant.

The server exposes 22 routers containing ~280-306 operations (the spread is because the routing router exposes 8-30 operations depending on the installed Java version). All operations return structured {ok, message, error, data} dicts.

How It Works

The server controls KiCad through three layers:

IPC API (kicad-python / kipy): live board and project control. Requires a running KiCad GUI instance with IPC enabled (KiCad 9+). Handles reads, mutations, and interactive operations.
kicad-cli: headless export, DRC, ERC, import, and file upgrades. No GUI needed. Handles all manufacturing output formats.
SWIG pcbnew (legacy): direct board manipulation via KiCad's bundled Python bindings. Deprecated since KiCad 9, removed in KiCad 11. Only loads when KiCad's bundled Python is the interpreter.

A fourth layer — kicad-sch-api — provides pure-Python schematic editing with no KiCad instance required.

On Windows, the server can auto-launch KiCad as a detached background process.

Related MCP server: KiCad MCP Server

Installation

From PyPI:

pip install kicad-eda-mcp
# Optional: HTTP/SSE transport (remote/multi-client)
pip install uvicorn starlette

From source (development):

pip install -e ".[dev]"

Quick Start

Any MCP client (stdio)

Add to your MCP client configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "kicad-eda-mcp"
    }
  }
}

With mutations enabled

python -m kicad_mcp --enable-mutations

HTTP/SSE mode (multi-client)

python -m kicad_mcp --http --port 8765

Requires uvicorn and starlette (install separately — not in the default dependencies).

Progressive disclosure (context economy)

python -m kicad_mcp --tool-mode dynamic

Exposes only kicad_discover, kicad_load_toolset, kicad_unload_toolset plus the always-loaded kicad_system and kicad_calculator routers. The LLM loads additional toolsets on demand:

kicad_load_toolset(name="board")

Available Routers

Router	Ops	Backend	Purpose
`kicad_system`	12	CLI/IPC	Connection, version, documents, capabilities, multi-instance management
`kicad_project`	5	IPC	Project text variables, net classes
`kicad_board`	53	IPC	PCB CRUD, queries, mutations, footprint ops, layer control
`kicad_board_export`	27	CLI	All PCB export formats (Gerbers, PDF, SVG, STEP, drill, position, etc.)
`kicad_board_check`	1	CLI	Design Rule Check (DRC)
`kicad_schematic`	10	CLI	ERC + exports (PDF/BOM/netlist/SVG/DXF)
`kicad_schematic_edit`	51	kicad-sch-api	Pure-Python schematic editing (no KiCad needed)
`kicad_footprint`	10	CLI/git	SVG export, upgrade, parametric generation, IPC pad calc
`kicad_symbol`	8	CLI/git	SVG export, upgrade, STM32/AVR/connector symbol generation
`kicad_gerber`	3	CLI	Gerber convert/diff/info
`kicad_jobset`	1	CLI	Jobset execution
`kicad_library`	30	CLI/git	Search, KLC checks, file format editing, visual diff
`kicad_swig`	7	SWIG	Legacy pcbnew operations (KiCad <=10)
`kicad_analysis`	5	IPC/CLI	Signal/power integrity, pin analysis, routing quality, SPICE
`kicad_analysis_tools`	14	CLI/IPC	SI/PI/EMC calculators, design lint, pin function analysis
`kicad_codegen`	0	—	Device tree / test code generation (disabled stubs)
`kicad_calculator`	10	pure math	PCB calculators (track width, via, RF, impedance, etc.)
`kicad_workflow`	6	CLI	High-level composers (manufacturing package, design check, etc.)
`kicad_worksheet`	5	pure Python	.kicad_wks worksheet parsing and creation
`kicad_routing`	8-30	CLI/API	Algorithmic routing via Freerouting (Java-dependent)
`kicad_quality_gates`	13	CLI/IPC	Cascading quality gates, checkpoints, DRC progress
`kicad_placement`	5	IPC/sch-api	Force-directed PCB and schematic auto-placement

Total: 22 routers, 276 fixed operations + 8-30 routing operations (284 without Java, 306 with Java 21+).

Tool Modes and Discovery

The server supports three tool exposure modes:

Mode	Visible tools	Use case
`dynamic`	3 meta-tools + always-loaded routers	Context economy — LLM loads toolsets on demand
`router` (default)	All 22 routers	Balanced — each router is one tool with an `operation` parameter
`full`	All operations as individual tools	Future expansion (same as router for now)

Meta-tools (available in all modes)

Meta-tool	Description
`kicad_discover`	List all toolsets with descriptions and load status
`kicad_load_toolset`	Load a toolset by name (triggers background dependency check)
`kicad_unload_toolset`	Unload a toolset to free context space
`kicad_set_profile`	Switch to a pre-defined profile (see below)
`kicad_get_capabilities`	Report total routers, operations, dependency status
`kicad_search_tools`	Search all operations by keyword

Profiles

Pre-defined toolset combinations for common workflows:

Profile	Toolsets included
`read-only`	system, calculators, exports, analysis, libraries
`minimal`	system, calculators
`build`	system, calculators, board, schematic, schematic_edit, routing, workflow, exports, analysis
`schematic_only`	system, calculators, schematic, schematic_edit, libraries, workflow
`pcb_only`	system, calculators, board, exports, routing, analysis, workflow
`manufacturing`	system, calculators, exports, libraries, workflow
`high_speed`	system, calculators, board, analysis, routing, workflow
`power`	system, calculators, board, analysis, exports, workflow
`simulation`	system, calculators, analysis, schematic, workflow
`analysis`	system, calculators, analysis, board, exports, workflow
`expert`	All toolsets including legacy SWIG

Dependencies

Installed at `pip install` time (hard dependencies)

These are in pyproject.toml and installed automatically:

Package	Purpose
`mcp>=1.2.0`	MCP SDK (server, transport, types)
`kicad-python>=0.5.0`	IPC API client (kipy) for live board control
`kicad-sch-api>=0.2.0`	Pure-Python schematic editing
`psutil>=5.9.0`	Process management for auto-launch/supervisor
`tabulate>=0.9.0`	Required by the footprint generator for `list_generators`/`generate_footprint`

Optional dependencies

Package	Install command	Purpose
`uvicorn`, `starlette`	`pip install uvicorn starlette`	HTTP/SSE transport
`cadquery`	`pip install cadquery`	STEP 3D model diff and audit

The server includes a fallback self-heal mechanism (deps.py): if a hard dependency is somehow missing at runtime, it attempts a pip install in the background when the corresponding toolset is loaded. This is a safety net, not the primary install path.

Clone-on-demand library repositories

Library utility operations (KLC checks, footprint generation, symbol generation) require two GitLab repositories that are not bundled with KiCad:

kicad-library-utils — KLC checks, file format modules, symbol generators
kicad-footprint-generator — Parametric footprint generation

These are auto-cloned to ~/.cache/kicad-eda-mcp/ on first use and updated periodically (every 24 hours by default). Requires git in PATH.

Check status:

kicad_library → lib_status

Freerouting (algorithmic routing)

The routing router uses Freerouting, which requires Java:

CLI pipeline (DSN export, autoroute, SES import): Java 17+
API server pipeline (REST, sessions, jobs): Java 21+

If Java is not installed, only the 8 Java-independent routing operations (analysis, cleanup, status check) are visible. Use download_java_for_routing to auto-download a JRE from Adoptium, then restart the MCP server.

The Freerouting JAR is auto-downloaded from GitHub releases on first use.

Resources

Browsable context available without a tool call:

Resource	Description
`kicad://capabilities`	System capabilities and available control layers
`kicad://layers`	Complete list of board layer names and IDs
`kicad://export-formats`	All available export formats
`kicad://calculators`	Available PCB calculators
`kicad://klc-rules`	KiCad Library Convention rules (S/F/G/M categories, 84 rules)
`kicad://spice-models`	Built-in SPICE simulation models (opamp, varistor, potentiometer)
`kicad://library-utils`	Available KLC check and library management operations
`kicad://quality-gates`	Available quality gate operations and descriptions
`kicad://subcircuit-templates`	Pre-built circuit templates for rapid design

Key Operations by Category

KLC compliance checks (`kicad_library`)

Operation	Description
`check_klc_symbol`	Validate symbols against 20+ KLC rules (S3-S7, EC01-03, G1)
`check_klc_footprint`	Validate footprints against 18+ KLC rules (F5-F9, EC01, G1)
`check_3d_coverage`	Audit which footprints have 3D models
`compare_libraries`	Diff two library versions (added/removed/changed)
`check_lib_table`	Validate library table files

Footprint/symbol file editing (`kicad_library`)

Operation	Description
`parse_footprint`	Load `.kicad_mod` and return structure (pads, graphics, 3D models)
`create_footprint`	Create new footprint programmatically
`edit_footprint`	Modify existing footprint (name, description, tags)
`parse_symbol_library`	Load `.kicad_sym` and list symbols with properties/pins
`create_symbol`	Create new symbol in a library
`edit_symbol`	Modify existing symbol properties

Symbol generation (`kicad_symbol` + `kicad_library`)

Operation	Description
`generate_symbol_from_csv`	Create symbol from CSV pinout table
`generate_stm32`	Generate STM32 symbols from STM32CubeMX XML
`generate_avr`	Generate AVR DA/DB symbols from IO mux CSV
`generate_connector`	Generate connector symbols
`generate_resistor_network`	Generate resistor network symbols
`generate_dip_switch`	Generate DIP switch symbols

Parametric footprint generation (`kicad_footprint`)

Operation	Description
`list_generators`	List available generators (gullwing, no_lead, BGA, DIP, connectors, etc.)
`generate_footprint`	Generate IPC-7351 compliant footprint with 3D model
`generate_batch`	Batch generate multiple footprints in parallel
`dry_run_generation`	Preview without writing files
`calc_ipc_pad`	Calculate IPC-7351 pad dimensions (gullwing/nolead, 3 density levels)

Visual diff (`kicad_library`)

Operation	Description
`visual_library_diff`	Generate HTML visual diff with renders and overlays
`diff_symbols`	Text diff between two symbols
`diff_yaml`	Diff YAML generator spec files
`compare_sexpr`	Normalize and compare S-expression files

Quality gates (`kicad_quality_gates`)

Operation	Description
`project_quality_gate`	Top-level cascading gate: runs all sub-gates, returns PASS/FAIL/BLOCKED
`schematic_quality_gate`	Check schematic completeness (missing footprints, unannotated, empty values)
`schematic_connectivity_gate`	Check net connectivity (unconnected pins, single-pin nets)
`pcb_quality_gate`	Check PCB design rules via DRC
`pcb_placement_quality_gate`	Check placement geometry (overlaps, off-board, courtyard)
`pcb_transfer_quality_gate`	Check schematic-to-PCB net parity
`manufacturing_quality_gate`	Check manufacturing readiness (drill sizes, annular rings)
`design_review_snapshot`	One-call review: board info, nets, DRC, footprints, stats
`project_checkpoint`	Snapshot project files to a timestamped backup
`project_restore_checkpoint`	Restore project files from a checkpoint

Common Workflows

Export manufacturing files

kicad_workflow → export_manufacturing_package
  pcb_file: "myboard.kicad_pcb"
  output_dir: "fab/"

Run design checks

kicad_workflow → full_design_check
  sch_file: "mysch.kicad_sch"
  pcb_file: "myboard.kicad_pcb"

Calculate track width

kicad_calculator → track_width
  current_a: 2.0
  temp_rise_c: 10
  layer: "external"

Calculate IPC-7351 pad dimensions

kicad_footprint → calc_ipc_pad
  package_type: "gullwing"
  body_length: 5.0
  body_width: 4.4
  lead_width: 0.42
  density_level: "nominal"

Check KLC compliance

kicad_library → check_klc_symbol
  library_path: "mylib.kicad_sym"
  verbose: 2

kicad_library → check_klc_footprint
  footprint_paths: "SOIC-8.kicad_mod"
  verbose: 2

Generate footprint from parametric generator

kicad_footprint → generate_footprint
  generator: "package/gullwing"
  part: "SOT-23"
  output_dir: "footprints/"

Generate symbol from CSV

kicad_library → generate_symbol_from_csv
  csv_path: "pinout.csv"
  output_path: "mysym.kicad_sym"

Run the full quality gate

kicad_quality_gates → project_quality_gate
  pcb_file: "myboard.kicad_pcb"
  sch_file: "mysch.kicad_sch"

Configuration

Environment variables

Variable	Default	Description
`KICAD_MCP_ENABLE_MUTATIONS`	`0`	Enable write operations (0=read-only, 1=writes allowed)
`KICAD_MCP_DRY_RUN_DEFAULT`	`1`	Default dry_run for mutations unless explicitly overridden
`KICAD_MCP_AUTO_LAUNCH`	`1`	Auto-launch KiCad if not running
`KICAD_MCP_IDLE_TTL`	`1800`	Auto-shutdown KiCad after N seconds idle (0=never)
`KICAD_MCP_SUPERVISOR_INTERVAL`	`60`	Health-check interval for the supervisor (seconds)
`KICAD_API_SOCKET`	auto	Override IPC socket path
`KICAD_API_TOKEN`	auto	Override IPC authentication token
`KICAD_MCP_CLIENT_NAME`	`kicad-eda-mcp`	Client name reported to KiCad
`KICAD_MCP_IPC_TIMEOUT_MS`	`60000`	Timeout for IPC API requests (milliseconds)
`KICAD_MCP_IPC_CONNECT_RETRIES`	`10`	Max retries when connecting to the IPC socket
`KICAD_MCP_IPC_CONNECT_DELAY`	`0.5`	Delay between IPC connect retries (seconds)
`KICAD_BIN_PATH`	auto	Override KiCad executable path
`KICAD_CLI_PATH`	auto	Override kicad-cli path
`KICAD_PYTHON_PATH`	auto	Override KiCad bundled Python path (for SWIG)
`KICAD_MCP_LIB_CACHE_DIR`	`~/.cache/kicad-eda-mcp`	Cache directory for cloned library repos
`KICAD_MCP_LIB_UPDATE_INTERVAL`	`86400`	Seconds between library repo updates (0=pull every call)
`KICAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL`	`INFO`	Logging level: DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR
`KICAD_MCP_LOG_FILE`	none	Log file path (default: stderr only)
`KICAD_MCP_HTTP_HOST`	`127.0.0.1`	HTTP bind host
`KICAD_MCP_HTTP_PORT`	`8765`	HTTP port
`KICAD_MCP_COMMIT_PREFIX`	`KiCad MCP`	Commit message prefix for mutation operations

CLI flags

python -m kicad_mcp [options]

  --http                Run in HTTP/SSE mode (default: stdio)
  --host HOST           HTTP bind host (default: 127.0.0.1)
  --port PORT           HTTP port (default: 8765)
  --editor-type TYPE    Scope tools to an editor: all|schematic|pcb|symbol|footprint
                        (default: all). NOTE: filtering is not yet implemented —
                        the flag is accepted but has no effect.
  --tool-mode MODE      Tool visibility: dynamic|router|full (default: router)
  --enable-mutations    Allow write operations (default: read-only)
  --auto-launch on|off  Auto-launch KiCad if not running (default: on)
  --log-level LEVEL     Logging level: DEBUG|INFO|WARNING|ERROR (default: INFO)

Requirements

KiCad 9+ (10 recommended for full IPC API support)
Python 3.10+
kicad-cli in PATH (included with KiCad)
git in PATH (for clone-on-demand library repos)
For algorithmic routing: Java 17+ (CLI pipeline) or Java 21+ (API server)

Known Limitations

These are inherent to KiCad's version or are unimplemented features, verified against KiCad 10.0.5 and the official KiCad documentation.

Gerber tool (`kicad_gerber`)

KiCad's kicad-cli has no gerber or gerbview subcommand (only fp, jobset, pcb, sch, sym, version). Gerber viewing/conversion/diff is a GUI-only (GerbView) feature. The kicad_gerber router detects this and returns a clear error pointing to alternatives (GerbView GUI, gerbv, or a Python Gerber library). This is an upstream KiCad limitation, not a bug in this server.

Board PNG export

pcb export png is documented in the KiCad master branch but is absent from the installed KiCad 10.0.x CLI. The export router detects the supported-format list at runtime and returns a clear error suggesting svg or pdf instead. PNG export will work once KiCad adds the png subcommand to the CLI.

SWIG backend (`kicad_swig`)

The SWIG-based pcbnew Python bindings are deprecated since KiCad 9.0 and are scheduled for removal in KiCad 11. The SWIG backend only loads when KiCad's bundled Python is used as the interpreter; with a system Python (the common case), swig_pcbnew reports as unavailable. The IPC API is the supported replacement for KiCad 10+. The autoroute, panelize, and silkscreen_fix operations under kicad_swig are unimplemented stubs.

IPC API scope (KiCad 9/10)

Per the KiCad developer documentation, the IPC API in KiCad 9 and 10 supports communication with a running GUI instance only. Headless mode via kicad-cli api-server is a KiCad 11 feature. The IPC API in KiCad 9/10 has no support for plotting or exporting files from designs (also added in KiCad 11); exports are handled by the kicad-cli backend instead. There is no IPC-based autorouter or panelizer in any KiCad version.

Code generation (`kicad_codegen`)

The device_tree and test_code operations are unimplemented stubs. They return a descriptive message but do not parse the schematic or generate any file. Device-tree and test-scaffold generation are not KiCad features; implementing them is future work.

Editor-type filtering (`--editor-type`)

The --editor-type flag is accepted by the CLI but tool filtering is not yet implemented. All routers are exposed regardless of the value passed. This is reserved for future use.

Mutations

Board and project write operations (add tracks/vias/text/footprints, place footprints, commit/save) are disabled by default for safety. Set KICAD_MCP_ENABLE_MUTATIONS=1 (or pass --enable-mutations) to enable them. Every mutation supports dry_run=true to preview without writing.

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for development setup, testing, and code style guidelines.

License

MIT. See LICENSE.

This server cannot be installed

license - permissive license

quality - not tested

maintenance

How are these scores calculated?

Maintenance

–Maintainers

–Response time

–Release cycle

1Releases (12mo)

Commit activity

Resources

GitHub Repository

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KiCad MCP Server

How It Works

Installation

Quick Start

Any MCP client (stdio)

With mutations enabled

HTTP/SSE mode (multi-client)

Progressive disclosure (context economy)

Available Routers

Tool Modes and Discovery

Meta-tools (available in all modes)

Profiles

Dependencies

Installed at pip install time (hard dependencies)

Optional dependencies

Clone-on-demand library repositories

Freerouting (algorithmic routing)

Resources

Key Operations by Category

KLC compliance checks (kicad_library)

Footprint/symbol file editing (kicad_library)

Symbol generation (kicad_symbol + kicad_library)

Parametric footprint generation (kicad_footprint)

Visual diff (kicad_library)

Quality gates (kicad_quality_gates)

Common Workflows

Export manufacturing files

Run design checks

Calculate track width

Calculate IPC-7351 pad dimensions

Check KLC compliance

Generate footprint from parametric generator

Generate symbol from CSV

Run the full quality gate

Configuration

Environment variables

CLI flags

Requirements

Known Limitations

Gerber tool (kicad_gerber)

Board PNG export

SWIG backend (kicad_swig)

IPC API scope (KiCad 9/10)

Code generation (kicad_codegen)

Editor-type filtering (--editor-type)

Mutations

Contributing

License

Maintenance

Resources

Looking for Admin?

Related MCP Servers

mcp-server-kicad

KiCad MCP Server

KiCad MCP Server

kicad10-mcp

Related MCP Connectors

Latest Blog Posts

MCP directory API

Installed at `pip install` time (hard dependencies)

KLC compliance checks (`kicad_library`)

Footprint/symbol file editing (`kicad_library`)

Symbol generation (`kicad_symbol` + `kicad_library`)

Parametric footprint generation (`kicad_footprint`)

Visual diff (`kicad_library`)

Quality gates (`kicad_quality_gates`)

Gerber tool (`kicad_gerber`)

SWIG backend (`kicad_swig`)

Code generation (`kicad_codegen`)

Editor-type filtering (`--editor-type`)