Qucs-S was forked from the Qucs cross-platform circuit simulator in 2017. ”S” letter indicates SPICE.
The purpose of the Qucs-S subproject is to use free SPICE circuit simulation kernels with the Qucs GUI. It merges the power of SPICE and the simplicity of the Qucs GUI. Qucs intentionally uses its own SPICE incompatible simulation kernel Qucsator. It has advanced RF and AC domain simulation features, but most of the existing industrial SPICE models are incompatible with it.
Qucs-S is not a simulator by itself, but requires to use a simulation backend with it.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Backward compatible with Qucs by the component types and simulations.
- Direct support of SPICE models from components datasheets. SPICE model could be added to schematic without any adaptation.
- Basic SPICE components: RCL, BJT, MOSFET, JFET, MESFET, switches.
- Advanced SPICE components: Equation-defined sources and RCLs, transmission lines.
- Direct support of SPICE Modelcards, SPICE sections (.IC, .NODESET).
- Parametric circuits (.PARAM) and SPICE postrprocessor (Nutmeg).
- Basic SPICE simulations: DC, AC, TRAN.
- Advanced SPICE simulation: DISTO, NOISE, SENS (added in 0.0.20), Spectrum analysis.
- Single-tone and Multitone Harmonic balance analysis with XYCE backend.
- Nutmeg script simulation: direct access to the SPICE code and construct your own simulation.
- XYCE script simulation type.
- XYCE digital devices library.
- XSPICE CodeModel synthesizer.
- User mathematical functions definitions with .FUNC.
- Cross-platform support – runs under Linux, FreeBSD, Windows.
Website: ra3xdh.github.io
Support: Documentation
Developer: Vadim Kuznetsov, Mike Brinson, Tom Russo, Tom Hajjar, Maria Dubinina
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

Qucs-S is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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