KiCad is an electronic design automation suite for creating circuit schematics and printed circuit board layouts. It provides an integrated environment for developing electronic hardware, from initial design through to manufacturing output.
The application brings schematic capture, circuit simulation, PCB layout and design verification together in a coordinated workflow. Changes to a schematic can be transferred into the board editor without relying on the separate netlist-based processes used by older versions.
KiCad is suitable for hobbyists, educators and professional electronic designers. Its extensive design tools allow users to develop complex multilayer circuit boards, inspect three-dimensional models and prepare the files required for fabrication.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Integrated schematic editor and printed circuit board editor.
- SPICE circuit simulation using the ngspice simulation engine.
- DC operating point, DC sweep and AC small-signal analysis.
- Transient, noise, pole-zero and S-parameter analysis.
- Graphical simulation results with interactive measurements and plots.
- Extensive schematic symbol and component footprint libraries.
- Custom symbol and footprint editors.
- Interactive PCB routing with push-and-shove functionality.
- Differential pair routing and track length tuning.
- Design rules checking for PCB layouts.
- Three-dimensional PCB viewer with component models.
- Generate Gerber files and other manufacturing outputs.
- Bill of materials generation.
- Electrical rules checking for schematic designs.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: kicad.org
Support:
Developer: KiCad development team
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
KiCad is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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