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KiCAD MCP Server

MCP serverCommunity

A large KiCad 9+ server for schematic capture, placement, routing, DRC/ERC and fab exports, using pcbnew bindings with an experimental IPC mode. By mixelpixx.

3.2k starsUpdated 2 days agoGitHub data from 5 Nov 2026

At a glance

Type
MCP server
Works with
KiCad
How it connects
Drives a running copy of the tool
Access
Read-only or read-write (configurable)
Tool versions
KiCad 9.0 or later; KiCad 10 supported in recent releases (v2.8.x)
Operating systems
Windows, macOS, Linux
Needs a KiCad licence
No
Transport
Local (stdio)
AI clients documented
Claude Desktop, Claude Code, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Cline, OpenCode
Licence
MIT
Language
Python

What it can do

  • Registers about 250 tools across 20 categories, covering project setup, schematic editing, footprint placement, routing, DRC/ERC, Gerber and BOM export, and custom symbol and footprint creation.
  • Uses the SWIG pcbnew bindings for board work and kicad-skip plus direct S-expression edits for schematics; when KiCad's IPC API server is switched on, more than 20 board commands update the open KiCad window directly.
  • Toolboxes (KICAD_MCP_TOOLBOXES) start a client with a 37-tool core so it stays under tool limits such as VS Code Copilot's 128.
  • An operating-mode setting limits the agent to read-only or read-plus-export tools for review work.
  • Optional Freerouting autorouting, JLCPCB parts search and LCSC datasheet lookup.

Limitations

  • The IPC backend is marked experimental; without it the server falls back to the SWIG bindings, which KiCad has deprecated and plans to remove in KiCad 11.
  • macOS support is described as experimental; Linux is the primary tested platform.
  • Needs Node.js 18+ and KiCad's bundled Python with pcbnew, so installs involve several runtimes.
  • New feature work has moved to the author's Konnect project; this server stays MIT and maintained.

Install

git clone --branch stable https://github.com/mixelpixx/KiCAD-MCP-Server.git
cd KiCAD-MCP-Server
npm install
npm run build

Source: github.com/mixelpixx/KiCAD-MCP-Server

MCP servers and skills run code on your computer. Review the source before installing.

AI-generated models, drawings and results must be checked by a qualified engineer before use.