CAD & engineering / CONNECTION GUIDE

KiCad MCP Servers & AI Integrations

Discover KiCad project analysis, PCB IPC automation and command-line checking connections.

Integration documentation

KiCad integrations and connections

MCP · Live & file workflows

KiCad MCP

An MCP server inspects KiCad projects, extracts design data and runs command-line checks and visualizations.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Claude Code · MCP compatible

MCP transport compatibility is inferred; this agent is not explicitly documented for this connection.

Codex · MCP compatible

MCP transport compatibility is inferred; this agent is not explicitly documented for this connection.

Cursor · MCP compatible

MCP transport compatibility is inferred; this agent is not explicitly documented for this connection.

Requirements and limitations

KiCad 9+, Python 3.10+, uv 0.8+ and configured project search paths.

Combines project-file analysis, CLI checks and project launching. It does not establish general editing of an open PCB session.

View setup Maintainer documentation

MCP · Live app

KiCad MCP · IPC board tools

A KiCad IPC connection exposes board queries, routing primitives and transaction-based edits.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Claude Code · MCP compatible

MCP transport compatibility is inferred; this agent is not explicitly documented for this connection.

Codex · MCP compatible

MCP transport compatibility is inferred; this agent is not explicitly documented for this connection.

Cursor · MCP compatible

MCP transport compatibility is inferred; this agent is not explicitly documented for this connection.

Requirements and limitations

Python 3.10+, a KiCad build with IPC enabled, an API token and an open PCB document.

Board tools use the IPC API. Experimental schematic tools are separate and hidden by default.

View setup Maintainer documentation

CLI · Headless workflow

KiCad CLI

KiCad’s command line exposes schematic and PCB export and checking workflows.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Claude Code · Not documented

The native interface is documented, but no setup for this coding agent is established by this source.

Codex · Not documented

The native interface is documented, but no setup for this coding agent is established by this source.

Cursor · Not documented

The native interface is documented, but no setup for this coding agent is established by this source.

Requirements and limitations

A supported kicad-cli executable and project inputs, with version-specific command options.

Command-line exports and checks do not provide interactive PCB manipulation in the open editor.

View setup Maintainer documentation

Compare connections

Compare how each route works, what it can do, and what you need to run it.

Connection	Workflow and platform	Capabilities	Documented agents	Requirements and limitations
KiCad MCP MCP	Live & file workflows Windows, macOS, Linux	List and open KiCad projects Extract netlists and bills of materials Run design-rule checks and visualize PCB layouts	See compatibility	KiCad 9+, Python 3.10+, uv 0.8+ and configured project search paths. Combines project-file analysis, CLI checks and project launching. It does not establish general editing of an open PCB session.
KiCad MCP · IPC board tools MCP	Live app Windows, macOS, Linux	Query board items and design rules Create tracks and vias	See compatibility	Python 3.10+, a KiCad build with IPC enabled, an API token and an open PCB document. Board tools use the IPC API. Experimental schematic tools are separate and hidden by default.
KiCad CLI CLI	Headless workflow Windows, macOS, Linux	Export schematic and PCB outputs Run design-rule and electrical-rule checks	See compatibility	A supported kicad-cli executable and project inputs, with version-specific command options. Command-line exports and checks do not provide interactive PCB manipulation in the open editor.

KiCad MCP

How it works
MCP · Live & file workflows
Windows, macOS, Linux

Capabilities
List and open KiCad projects · Extract netlists and bills of materials · Run design-rule checks and visualize PCB layouts

Documented agents
See compatibility

Requirements and limitations

KiCad 9+, Python 3.10+, uv 0.8+ and configured project search paths.

Combines project-file analysis, CLI checks and project launching. It does not establish general editing of an open PCB session.

KiCad MCP · IPC board tools

How it works
MCP · Live app
Windows, macOS, Linux

Capabilities
Query board items and design rules · Create tracks and vias

Documented agents
See compatibility

Requirements and limitations

Python 3.10+, a KiCad build with IPC enabled, an API token and an open PCB document.

Board tools use the IPC API. Experimental schematic tools are separate and hidden by default.

KiCad CLI

How it works
CLI · Headless workflow
Windows, macOS, Linux

Capabilities
Export schematic and PCB outputs · Run design-rule and electrical-rule checks

Documented agents
See compatibility

Requirements and limitations

A supported kicad-cli executable and project inputs, with version-specific command options.

Command-line exports and checks do not provide interactive PCB manipulation in the open editor.

Choose an AI agent

Claude Code: setup not listed in the integration documentation.

Codex: setup not listed in the integration documentation.

Cursor: setup not listed in the integration documentation.

Questions before setup

Does one integration cover every workflow?

No such claim is made. Check the capability list, requirements and limitations of each route, then test a copy of a representative project.