Kicad MCP Server

PCB design tasks in KiCAD 9.0+ controlled via natural language AI workflows.

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50★ 1,689PythonMIT

Overview

KiCAD MCP Server provides a bridge between AI assistants and KiCAD 9.0+, utilizing the Model Context Protocol to automate schematic editing, component placement, and routing. It supports custom library management and production-focused tasks like generating symbols and footprints, alongside integrations for JLCPCB part data and Freerouting automation.

Our verdict

This server carries a high risk level with a security score of 50/100. Because it is community-maintained rather than official and lacks an independent editorial or security review, users should exercise caution when integrating it into sensitive design environments. The project is actively maintained, which helps mitigate some operational concerns, but the lack of verified authentication and read-only mode protocols means it is best suited for hobbyists or non-critical design tasks.

Supports KiCAD 9.0+ cross-platform workflows
Small footprint with only four direct dependencies
Active development with commits as recent as one day ago
Includes JLCPCB catalog and Freerouting integrations

High risk score due to lack of security/authentication review
Community-maintained project without official vendor support
Development focus is shifting to the newer Konnect project

Setup

Claude Desktop

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

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.

No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.

Compatibility

Client	Local	Docker	Remote	Read-only
ChatGPT
Claude Desktop
Cursor
VS Code
Windsurf

Frequently asked questions

›What are the core software dependencies for this MCP server?

You must have KiCAD 9.0 or higher, Node.js 18 or higher, and Python 3.11 or higher installed on your system.

›Which operating systems are supported?

The server is cross-platform and supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.

›Does this server support automatic PCB routing?

Yes, it supports automatic PCB routing through integration with Freerouting, which requires Docker.

›How can I integrate the server with Claude Desktop?

You must add the server configuration to the 'claude_desktop_config.json' file located in your user application data directory (AppData on Windows or .config on macOS/Linux).

›Is there a more advanced version of this project available?

Yes, the project Konnect is a re-implementation built in Rust as a native KiCAD 10 plugin, which is where new development is currently focused.