kicad-mcp (Netlist Studio)
MCP serverCommunity
A small experimental server that edits the board open in KiCad 9 over the IPC API, with every write as one undo step. By Netlist Studio.
21 starsUpdated 8 months 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
- Can modify models
- Tool versions
- KiCad 9 with the API server enabled
- Operating systems
- Not stated in its documentation
- Needs a KiCad licence
- No
- Transport
- Local (stdio)
- AI clients documented
- Claude Code
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- Python
What it can do
- Reads footprints, nets, tracks, vias, zones and the board outline from the open .kicad_pcb.
- Moves and rotates footprints, adds tracks, removes items, refills zones and saves the board.
- Wraps each write in a commit, so it shows up in KiCad's editor at once and undoes in one step.
Limitations
- Marked experimental by its authors.
- Connects through KiCad's UNIX socket at /tmp/kicad/api.sock; Windows isn't mentioned.
- Some read tools return very large responses on dense boards unless you filter by reference.
Install
claude mcp add kicad -- uv --directory /path/to/kicad-mcp run kicad-mcpMCP 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.