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KiCad automation scripts

A bunch of scripts to automate KiCad processes using a combination of the PCBNew Python library and UI automation with xdotool.

This work is based in big parts on Scott Bezek's scripts in his split-flap display project. For more info see his excellent blog posts.

Currently tested and working:

  • Exporting schematics to PDF and SVG
  • Exporting layouts to PDF and SVG
  • Running ERC on schematics
  • Running DRC on layouts

Versions

This repository has a branch per supported major KiCad version, prefixed with kicad-. Note that installation instructions and supported features can be different per version.

The master branch and latest Docker tag will always be the latest supported stable KiCad version.

Installation

Using Docker

Build and run the docker image:

docker build -t kicad-automation-scripts .
docker run --rm -it -v <path to a kicad project>:/kicad-project kicad-automation-scripts

Or fetch it from Dockerhub:

docker run --rm -it -v <path to a kicad project>:/kicad-project productize/kicad-automation-scripts

Installation on your own machine:

If you want to use these scripts directly on your system, you should be able to get it to work by installing the folowing dependencies:

This tool has the following dependencies:

  • KiCad
  • python
  • python-pip
  • xvfb
  • recordmydesktop
  • xdotool
  • xclip

The Python dependencies (excluding KiCad) are listed in [eeschema/requirements.txt][eeschema/requirements.txt] and can be installed with

pip install -r eeschema/requirements.txt

Installation on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get install -y kicad python python-pip xvfb recordmydesktop xdotool xclip

Usage

In the Docker image or on a system with all required dependencies installed you can use the following commands:

Run schematic ERC:

python -m kicad-automation.eeschema.schematic run_erc /kicad-project/<some-schematic>.sch <build_dir>

Add the flag --warnings_as_errors to make all warnings also return an error code of 1.

Export a schematic to PDF or SVG

python -m kicad-automation.eeschema.schematic export /kicad-project/<some-schematic>.sch <build_dir> <svg or pdf> <all-pages (True or False)>

Run layout DRC:

python -m kicad-automation.pcbnew_automation.run_drc /kicad-project/<some-layout>.kicad_pcb <build_dir>

Generate a zip file with gerber files for PCB manufacuring:

python -m kicad-automation.pcbnew_automation.plot /kicad-project/<some-layout>.kicad_pcb <plot_dir> [<layers to plot>]

Generate a pdf with the layout layers and drill map file:

python -m kicad-automation.pcbnew_automation.plot -f pdf /kicad-project/<some-layout>.kicad_pcb <plot_dir> [<layers to plot>]

Hacking

If you want to test the scripts in this repository and run them inside a docker image, the base image can be used. This base image contains all the required dependencies and the required environment for the script to work.

To build and run the base image:

docker build -f Dockerfile-base -t kicad-automation-base .
docker run --rm -it -v <path to a kicad project>/kicad-project  -v `pwd`/src:/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/kicad-automation kicad-automation-base

Or fetch it from Dockerhub:

docker run --rm -it -v <path to a kicad project>:/kicad-project -v `pwd`/src:/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/kicad-automation productize/kicad-automation-base

The scripts can now be used the same way as in the main image, but changes on the host will automatically be reflected on the container (though note that Python does not autoreload libraries).