KiCad MCP Pro

Name: KiCad MCP Pro
Author: Osman Aslan

Review, check, edit and export KiCad schematics and PCBs from an MCP client

By Osman Aslan (individual) Python Local · stdio Design

GitHub npm PyPI Website

65 popularity score ★ 186 ↓ 13k/mo

Connect your client

Local (npm)

Add in one click

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Add to LM Studio Add to Goose

Opens the app, which asks before it adds the server.

Or add it by command or config

Claude CodeTerminal

claude mcp add kicad-pro -- npx -y kicad-mcp-pro

Claude Desktopclaude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad-pro": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "kicad-mcp-pro"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad-pro": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "kicad-mcp-pro"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "kicad-pro": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "kicad-mcp-pro"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Codex~/.codex/config.toml

[mcp_servers.kicad-pro]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "kicad-mcp-pro"]

Gemini CLITerminal

gemini mcp add --scope user kicad-pro npx -- -y kicad-mcp-pro

Local (PyPI)

Add in one click

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Add to LM Studio Add to Goose

Opens the app, which asks before it adds the server.

Or add it by command or config

Claude CodeTerminal

claude mcp add kicad-pro -- uvx kicad-mcp-pro

Claude Desktopclaude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad-pro": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "kicad-mcp-pro"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad-pro": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "kicad-mcp-pro"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "kicad-pro": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "kicad-mcp-pro"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Codex~/.codex/config.toml

[mcp_servers.kicad-pro]
command = "uvx"
args = ["kicad-mcp-pro"]

Gemini CLITerminal

gemini mcp add --scope user kicad-pro uvx -- kicad-mcp-pro

Settings 12

Set together: ipc
`KICAD_MCP_PROJECT_DIR`	Optional: Absolute path of the KiCad project to work on; can be left out and set at run time with kicad_set_project.
`KICAD_MCP_PROFILE`	Optional: Which tool set is offered: default (24 read-only tools), review, build, release, expert/full, or focused ones such as pcb_only. Default `default`.
`KICAD_MCP_OPERATING_MODE`	Optional: Risk gate on top of the profile: readonly, write, manufacturing or experimental. Default `readonly`.
`KICAD_MCP_WORKSPACE_ROOT`	Optional: Directory that all project reads and writes must stay inside.
`KICAD_MCP_OUTPUT_DIR`	Optional: Directory for exported files. For export_manufacturing_package.
`KICAD_CLI_PATH`	Optional: Path to kicad-cli when it is not on PATH; KICAD_MCP_KICAD_CLI is read too. For run_erc, run_drc and exports.
`KICAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL`	Optional: Log level. Default `INFO`.
`KICAD_API_SOCKET`	Optional: KiCad IPC endpoint (socket path or URI) for live editing; auto-discovered when unset. For live board editing.
`KICAD_API_TOKEN` secret	Optional: KiCad IPC token for live editing. For live board editing.
Set together: http
`KICAD_MCP_TRANSPORT`	Optional: stdio, http, sse or streamable-http. Default `stdio`.
`KICAD_MCP_HOST`	Optional: Address the HTTP transport binds to; beyond loopback it needs KICAD_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN. Default `127.0.0.1`.
`KICAD_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN` secret	Optional: Bearer token of at least 32 characters, required when HTTP listens beyond loopback.

What it does

KiCad MCP Pro is a local server for KiCad electronics projects. It reads schematics and boards, runs KiCad's own ERC and DRC through kicad-cli, checks a board for manufacturability, prices a bill of materials and exports Gerbers, drill and placement files as one package. With write mode turned on it can also change a schematic through a plan you preview, apply, verify and roll back, edit a board live in a running KiCad over its IPC interface, and keep git checkpoints of the project.

Two switches decide what a client gets. The profile picks which tools are offered, and the operating mode decides which of those may run. Unless you change them, you get the default profile in readonly mode, which is 24 review tools. The project's own snapshot of its profiles counts 388 tools in the expert profile, so most of the catalog stays hidden until you ask for it (docs/evidence/progressive-disclosure-profile-snapshot.json). The build profile pairs with write mode and release pairs with manufacturing mode, and each of those also offers 24 tools.

The quickstart command finds a supported agent on your machine, writes its MCP entry in readonly mode with a backup of the old settings, and tests the saved command over stdio. There is also an optional cloud service run by the author at kicad-mcp-pro.oaslananka.dev, which you sign in to and pair a computer with through the cloud subcommands (src/kicad_mcp/cloud_user_cli.py). Local use never needs it.

The Python package is the server. The npm package only starts the matching Python version through uvx. It talks over stdio unless you ask for Streamable HTTP, and if you expose HTTP beyond loopback the code refuses to start without a bearer token of at least 32 characters (src/kicad_mcp/config.py).

What it needs

Runtime	Python 3.13+
Runs on	macOS, Windows, Linux
Also	uv, with uvx on PATH KiCad 10.0.x with kicad-cli on PATH Node.js 22.14.0 or newer for the npm launcher only A running KiCad with its IPC API for live board edits

uv can install the needed Python version itself. The npm launcher does not install uv or the Python package, so uv must already be on PATH. KiCad 10.0.x is the main supported line (10.0.7 is the last verified patch). KiCad 8 files can only be read and migrated, and KiCad 9 support was dropped in 3.9.0. HTTP transport needs the [http] extra when installed with pip.

Limits

Limit Signal-integrity, power-integrity, EMC and thermal tools give closed-form estimates of roughly 5-10% accuracy, not field-solver results
Limit Its makers say outputs are a first pass and need human review before fabrication
Read only Starts in readonly mode with 24 tools; edits need write mode and exports need manufacturing mode
Limit Live board editing tools are hidden when KiCad's IPC endpoint cannot be reached
Not covered One project is active per server process, so one HTTP server should not be shared between users or projects
Platform KiCad 9 is not supported, and KiCad 8 files can only be read and migrated
Limit Part pricing uses the public JLCPCB catalog unless Nexar, DigiKey or Mouser credentials are set
Early release KiCad 11 headless IPC is a preview with no CI coverage
Limit Its client configuration examples set the pcb_only profile, not the default one

Its signal-integrity, power-integrity, EMC and thermal tools give closed-form estimates (the docs say roughly 5-10% accuracy), not field-solver results, and its makers say outputs need human review before fabrication. Live editing tools are hidden when KiCad's IPC is not reachable. Only one project is active per server process, so one HTTP server should not be shared between users or projects. Part pricing uses the public JLCPCB catalog unless Nexar, DigiKey or Mouser credentials are set. Its own client examples set the pcb_only profile, not the default one.

Who it suits

Hardware engineers who already design in KiCad 10 and want an assistant to review a board, run ERC and DRC, check manufacturability and prepare fabrication files on their own machine. Because it starts read-only, it can review a project without touching the files, and write or manufacturing mode has to be switched on by hand. It is a community project and KiCad does not publish it. Teams on other EDA tools, or still on KiCad 9 or earlier, should look elsewhere.

Tools 48 of 388

38 only read, 7 change things, 3 can delete or overwrite. A ? marks an optional parameter.

kicad_get_server_info: Reports the active profile, operating mode, KiCad IPC state and which tools each mode allows
kicad_get_version: Reports the KiCad and server versions in use
kicad_get_project_info: Summarises the active KiCad project and its files
kicad_set_project: Switches the active project directory for later calls
kicad_list_tool_categories: Lists the tool categories available beyond the current profile
kicad_get_tools_in_category: Lists the tools inside one category
kicad_capability_parity: Reports how much of KiCad's scriptable surface the server covers, per workflow area
run_erc: Runs KiCad's electrical rules check on the schematic
run_drc: Runs KiCad's design rules check on the board
validate_design: Runs a combined validation pass over schematic and board
validate_footprints_vs_schematic: Checks that board footprints match the schematic symbols
project_quality_gate: Gives a pass or fail summary of the project's checks
project_design_workflow: Describes the recommended next steps of the design flow
project_get_next_action: Suggests the next action for the current project state
project_get_design_spec: Reads the project's stored design specification
project_validate_design_spec: Checks a design specification for problems
project_assess_edit_impact: Estimates what a proposed edit would affect before it is applied
sch_get_symbols: Lists the symbols placed in the schematicsheet?: stringsheet_file?: string
sch_get_connectivity_graph: Returns the schematic's nets and pin connections as a graph
sch_get_bounding_boxes: Returns the positions and extents of schematic items
sch_visual_qa: Renders the schematic for a visual review
sch_plan_from_spec: Builds a schematic change plan from a specification
sch_preview_plan: Shows what a schematic change plan would do without saving
sch_apply_plan changes: Applies a schematic change plan to the files
sch_verify_plan: Checks that an applied schematic plan produced the expected result
sch_rollback_plan changes: Undoes an applied schematic plan
pcb_get_board_summary: Summarises the board: size, layers, footprints and nets
pcb_get_design_rules: Reads the board's design rules
pcb_get_stackup: Reads the board's layer stackup
pcb_get_tracks: Lists the routed tracks on the board
pcb_get_vias: Lists the vias on the board
pcb_visual_qa: Renders the board for a visual review
get_board_stats: Returns counts and statistics for the board
pcb_begin_commit changes: Opens a grouped set of live board edits in a running KiCad
pcb_push_commit changes: Commits a grouped set of live board edits
pcb_drop_commit changes: Discards a grouped set of live board edits
pcb_delete_items deletes: Deletes several items from the boarditem_ids: array
pcb_delete_object deletes: Deletes one item from the board
pcb_revert deletes: Reverts the board to its last saved state
vcs_commit_checkpoint changes: Saves a git checkpoint of the project
vcs_list_checkpoints: Lists saved project checkpoints
vcs_diff_with_checkpoint: Shows what changed since a checkpoint
lib_get_bom_with_pricing: Builds a bill of materials with part pricing from a parts catalog
lib_verify_component_contract: Checks components against their expected footprint and part data
check_design_for_manufacture: Runs design-for-manufacture checks on the board
dfm_run_manufacturer_check: Checks the board against a named manufacturer's limits
manufacturing_quality_gate: Gives a pass or fail verdict before manufacturing handoff
export_manufacturing_package changes: Exports Gerbers, drill files, BOM and placement files as a package

Popularity

65 popularity score, on our list (the bar is 36)

★ 186 ↓ 13k/mo

GitHub stars, whole repository	186	27.3 points
Stars in 30 days	+62	9 points
npm downloads, last week	1,352
PyPI downloads, last month	13,397	28.2 points

It lives in the folder packages/mcp-npm of oaslananka/kicad-mcp-pro, which holds more than this server. Its stars are the whole repository's, so in the score they never count for more than its own downloads.

Measured 2026-11-07. How the score works.

Where it is published

Code	oaslananka/kicad-mcp-pro/packages/mcp-npm ★ 186, the whole repository
npm	kicad-mcp-pro 4.9.0, 2026-11-07, the one the command runs
PyPI	kicad-mcp-pro 4.3.0, 2026-10-11
Container	ghcr.io/oaslananka/kicad-mcp-pro

What it can reach

Runs	On your machine
Reaches	Files on your machine, The internet
Changes things	Yes: it can write, send, create or delete
Sign-in	None
Licence	MIT (npm)
Usage data	Only if you turn it on (`KICAD_MCP_TELEMETRY_ENABLED`) OpenTelemetry data to the OTLP endpoint you set in KICAD_MCP_OTEL_ENDPOINT
Last code change	2026-11-07 (a release)

Runs on your machine and works on the KiCad project files in the chosen directory. With KICAD_MCP_WORKSPACE_ROOT set, reads and writes stay inside that root. It starts in readonly mode. Write mode changes and saves schematic and board files, manufacturing mode writes export packages, and experimental mode opens every tool. It runs kicad-cli as a subprocess and can create git commits in the project. BOM pricing calls the JLCPCB public catalog, or Nexar, DigiKey or Mouser with your keys. Telemetry is off unless enabled with an OTLP endpoint. HTTP binds to 127.0.0.1 by default, and a non-loopback bind is refused without a bearer token of 32 or more characters. The optional cloud subcommands sign in to the author's service and pair the computer by browser approval. Local use does not touch it.

Over time

GitHub stars, whole repository 186 +62 (+50 %)

186124

12 Oct 20267 Nov 2026

npm downloads a week 1.4k +889 (+192 %)

2.0k134

1 Jun 20267 Nov 2026

Before the site measured it, read from npm's daily download counts.

Popularity score 65 +11 (+21 %)

6553

12 Oct 20267 Nov 2026

What is rising across the directory

Sources

Page checked 2026-11-04.

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Connect your client

Add in one click

Or add it by command or config

Add in one click

Or add it by command or config

Settings 12

What it does

What it needs

Limits

Who it suits

Tools 48 of 388

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