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kicad-schematic-synthesizer

Generate ERC-checked KiCad schematic netlists from design specs using SKiDL.

15|1|Updated Oct 23, 2025
Search Tags:#automation#circuit synthesis#netlist#SKiDL#KiCad#ERC#schematic
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/synqing/K1.hardware --skill kicad-schematic-synthesizer
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agentโ–ผ
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: kicad-schematic-synthesizer
Source: https://github.com/synqing/K1.hardware/tree/main/.claude/skills/kicad-schematic-synthesizer
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/synqing/K1.hardware --skill kicad-schematic-synthesizer

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

๐Ÿ’ก This Skill requires skidl, kicad-cli, python3.

What problem does it solve?

Manually drawing schematics is time-consuming, error-prone, and difficult to version control. This Skill automates the generation of complete, ERC-checked schematic netlists using SKiDL (a programmatic schematic language), ensuring connectivity is code-driven, reproducible, and free from common electrical errors, saving significant design time and improving design quality.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Code-Driven Schematic Generation: Converts a high-level design specification into a KiCad schematic using Python and SKiDL.
  • Automated ERC (Electrical Rules Check): Runs headless ERC to identify and auto-fix common electrical mistakes like floating nets or power pin errors.
  • Deterministic & Version-Controlled: Ensures that the same inputs always produce the same schematic, making design iterations traceable and reliable.
  • Use Case: Rapidly generate schematics for new product variants, integrate schematic design into a CI/CD pipeline, or ensure consistent power tree and signal hierarchy across complex projects.

Quick Start

Example: Generating a schematic with SKiDL

from skidl import * set_default_tool(KICAD) def generate_schematic(): reset_connection_stack() # ... define components and nets ... generate_netlist(file="k1_schematic.net") generate_kicad_sch_file(file="k1_lightwave.kicad_sch") if name == "main": generate_schematic() print("โœ… Schematic generated: k1_lightwave.kicad_sch")

Frequently Asked Questions about kicad-schematic-synthesizer

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I generate ERC-checked KiCad schematics from code?โ–ผ

Generate ERC-checked KiCad schematics by writing a Python design specification and using SKiDL to define components, nets, and power trees programmatically. The Skill automates netlist generation, runs electrical rules checks, auto-fixes common errors, and outputs a production-ready .kicad_sch file with zero ERC violations.

Can I automate schematic generation in a CI/CD pipeline?โ–ผ

Yes. Since schematics are generated from code and design specs, the same inputs always produce identical outputs, making automation deterministic and version-controllable. Integrate SKiDL-based generation into CI/CD to catch design errors early and regenerate schematics on spec changes.

What's the advantage of using SKiDL over drawing schematics manually?โ–ผ

SKiDL eliminates manual drawing errors, enables version control of schematic logic, and automates connectivity checks. Code-driven design is reproducible, faster for variants, and integrates design intent directly into your project repository rather than binary files.

Do I need KiCad installed to generate schematics with this Skill?โ–ผ

The Skill requires kicad-cli for headless ERC validation and netlist generation, Python3 for SKiDL execution, and SKiDL itself. You don't need the KiCad GUI, but the CLI tools must be available in your environment to produce .kicad_sch output files.

How does automated ERC fix errors in my netlist?โ–ผ

The Skill runs ERC checks headlessly to identify floating nets, power pin conflicts, and unconnected signals. It applies conservative auto-fixes iteratively and re-checks until ERC violations reach zero, ensuring your netlist is electrically valid before export.

Can I generate schematics for multi-MCU and LED subsystems?โ–ผ

Yes. The Skill handles complex hierarchies including power trees, multiple MCU blocks, audio input stages, and LED output circuits. It manages signal routing and pin assignments across subsystems and outputs a unified, ERC-validated schematic.

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