kicadpy

Kicad Scripting toolbox.

It enables the easy usage of the scripting capabilites of Kicad. It is based on Kicad's scripting python API.

It is still in its infant state and will undergo many changes and restructuring until the first stable version.

visit the official documentation here

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Setup of kicadpy

The following steps will show you how to set up kicadpy.

1. Clone the repository in a directory of your choice

   cd ~
   git clone https://github.com/polymurph/kicadpy 

2. Copy the absolute directory path of the newly cloned kicadpy repo.

3. Find the PyShell_pcbnew_startup.py file inside the Kicad application directory.

Tip

For Windows the PyShell_pcbnew_startup.py file is normally located under ~\AppData\Roaming\kicad\8.0. For Linux it is under~/.config/kicad/8.0/PyShell_pcbnew_startup.py.

Open it up and insert the following code snippet.

``` Python
import sys
# the absolute file path to the kicadpy repo
kicadpy_dir = '~/AbsPathTo/kicadpy/'
sys.path.append(kicadpy_dir)
import kicadpy as kp
sys.path.append(kp.getProjectPath())
```

Replace the

~/AbsPathTo/kicadpy/ with the prevoius copied absolute path to kicadpy.

This code will append the kicadpy to the system paths at startup of the Kicad Console. It creates a link sothat kicadpy is callable.

3. Now lets test the implementation by opening up the kicad project and opening up the layout. Inside the layout editor open the console. In the output test you should see the message Info: Kicadpy is ready to be used pop up.

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How to use

interactive Scripting inside the kicad console

TODO: explain how its done. Give some examples with pictures etc.

Creating a script for the layout

Let's say you want to create a script which places 10 vias in a circular pattern around a given center point. The following steps will show you how this can be done. This example uses the following file structure as a demonstration.

YourProjectName (root)
├── .git
└── YourKicadProjectFolder
    ├── file1.kicad_pcb
    ├── file2.sch
    ├── file3.pro
    └── file4.lib

1. Create a python file inside the folder YourKicadProjectFolder . In this case we name it layoutScript.py Your folder structure should look as shown below.

   YourProjectName (root)
   ├── .git
   └── YourKicadProjectFolder
       ├── file1.kicad_pcb
       ├── file2.sch
       ├── file3.pro
       ├── file4.lib
       └── layoutScript.py
   

   This file will contain the python script for your layout.

2. Open the file layoutScript.py and add the following code snippet.

   import kicadpy as kp
   
   kp.via.placeCircularArray(
       0,      # centerX_mm
       0,      # centerY_mm
       10,     # radius_mm
       0.2,    # drillDiameter_mm
       0.5,    # width_mm
       0,      # startAngle_DEG
       360,    # endAngle_DEG
       10)     # n_vias
   
   kp.layoutRefresh()

3. Save and close the file.

4. Now open up the layout and open up the console. Inside the console execute the script as followed.

   exec(open(r"AbsolutePathTo\YourProjectName\YourKicadProjectFolder\layoutScript.py").read())

   After execution the layout should look like this.

   

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FAQ

Questions related to Kicad

How to remove silkscreen from footprint

link

How to execute a script?

exec(open('<file name>.py').read())

How to install Python modules for Kicad Scripting?

Reddid source

For Windows go to the folder where Kicad program files are places on your system. In the designated folder open the command promt. There you can run pip install <module name>

How to create custom DRC rules

Inside the PCB editor go to the board setup and there go under Design Rules to Custom rules. There open up the Syntax help and copy the entire content and paste it inside chatGPT. then thell Chat gpt to create e.g a clearance rule between the net class A and B of 5 mm fo all entitys. Copy paste the output of chatGPT into the DRC rules window. This way of creating rules must be further investigatet for new methods and possibilities.

Questions related to Python

How to create a Python library

How to create a Python library by Kia Eisinga

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Ideas

https://jeffmcbride.net/kicad-track-layout/

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Sources

https://docs.kicad.org/doxygen-python-7.0/index.html

KiCad Developer Documentation