feat: add export_pcb_svg tool (kicad-cli, full layer-plot SVG)

New MCP tool `export_pcb_svg` wrapping `kicad-cli pcb export svg`: exposes
the full layer-plot surface (layer/common-layer lists, mirror, soldermask
subtraction, negative, B&W, theme, the four DNP fab-layer modes,
page-size-mode, fit-page-to-board, exclude-drawing-sheet, drill-shape, and
the single/multi output modes). Rich CLI sibling of the existing SWIG
export_svg (left untouched). Reads the saved .kicad_pcb.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

python/kicad_interface.py

@@ -595,6 +595,7 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             "export_gencad": self._handle_export_gencad,
             "export_pos": self._handle_export_pos,
             "export_pcb_pdf": self._handle_export_pcb_pdf,
+            "export_pcb_svg": self._handle_export_pcb_svg,
             "generate_netlist": self._handle_generate_netlist,
             "sync_schematic_to_board": self._handle_sync_schematic_to_board,
             "list_schematic_libraries": self._handle_list_schematic_libraries,
@@ -5145,6 +5146,110 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             logger.error(f"Error exporting PCB PDF: {e}")
             return {"success": False, "message": str(e)}
 
+    def _handle_export_pcb_svg(self, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Plot the PCB to SVG via kicad-cli (`pcb export svg`).
+
+        Exposes the full layer-plot option set: layer lists, mirror, soldermask
+        subtraction, negative/B&W, theme, DNP fab-layer modes, page-size mode,
+        fit-page, drill-shape, and single/multi output modes. Reads the saved
+        .kicad_pcb.
+        """
+        import subprocess
+
+        logger.info("Exporting PCB SVG via kicad-cli")
+        try:
+            board_path = params.get("boardPath") or self._current_board_path()
+            output_path = params.get("outputPath")
+
+            if not board_path:
+                return {
+                    "success": False,
+                    "message": "boardPath is required (no current board could be resolved)",
+                }
+            if not os.path.exists(board_path):
+                return {"success": False, "message": f"Board not found: {board_path}"}
+            if not output_path:
+                return {"success": False, "message": "outputPath is required"}
+
+            kicad_cli = self._find_kicad_cli_static()
+            if not kicad_cli:
+                return {"success": False, "message": "kicad-cli not found in PATH"}
+
+            output_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(output_path))
+            parent = os.path.dirname(output_path)
+            if parent:
+                os.makedirs(parent, exist_ok=True)
+
+            cmd = [kicad_cli, "pcb", "export", "svg", "--output", output_path]
+
+            layers = params.get("layers")
+            if layers:
+                cmd += ["--layers", ",".join(layers) if isinstance(layers, list) else str(layers)]
+            common_layers = params.get("commonLayers")
+            if common_layers:
+                cmd += [
+                    "--common-layers",
+                    (
+                        ",".join(common_layers)
+                        if isinstance(common_layers, list)
+                        else str(common_layers)
+                    ),
+                ]
+
+            if params.get("drawingSheet"):
+                cmd += ["--drawing-sheet", params["drawingSheet"]]
+            for kv in params.get("defineVar", []) or []:
+                cmd += ["--define-var", kv]
+
+            value_map = {
+                "theme": "--theme",
+                "pageSizeMode": "--page-size-mode",
+                "drillShapeOpt": "--drill-shape-opt",
+            }
+            for key, flag in value_map.items():
+                val = params.get(key)
+                if val is not None and val != "":
+                    cmd += [flag, str(val)]
+
+            flag_map = {
+                "subtractSoldermask": "--subtract-soldermask",
+                "mirror": "--mirror",
+                "negative": "--negative",
+                "blackAndWhite": "--black-and-white",
+                "sketchPadsOnFabLayers": "--sketch-pads-on-fab-layers",
+                "hideDnpFootprintsOnFabLayers": "--hide-DNP-footprints-on-fab-layers",
+                "sketchDnpFootprintsOnFabLayers": "--sketch-DNP-footprints-on-fab-layers",
+                "crossoutDnpFootprintsOnFabLayers": "--crossout-DNP-footprints-on-fab-layers",
+                "fitPageToBoard": "--fit-page-to-board",
+                "excludeDrawingSheet": "--exclude-drawing-sheet",
+                "modeSingle": "--mode-single",
+                "modeMulti": "--mode-multi",
+            }
+            for key, flag in flag_map.items():
+                if params.get(key):
+                    cmd.append(flag)
+
+            cmd.append(board_path)
+
+            logger.info(f"Running: {' '.join(cmd)}")
+            result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=180)
+
+            if result.returncode != 0:
+                return {
+                    "success": False,
+                    "message": f"kicad-cli failed (exit {result.returncode}): "
+                    f"{result.stderr.strip()}",
+                }
+            return {"success": True, "outputPath": output_path}
+
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return {"success": False, "message": "kicad-cli not found in PATH"}
+        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+            return {"success": False, "message": "kicad-cli timed out after 180 seconds"}
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error exporting PCB SVG: {e}")
+            return {"success": False, "message": str(e)}
+
     def _handle_generate_netlist(self, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Generate netlist from schematic and return structured JSON.
 

src/tools/export.ts

@@ -719,5 +719,81 @@ export function registerExportTools(server: McpServer, callKicadScript: CommandF
     },
   );
 
+  // ------------------------------------------------------
+  // Export PCB SVG Tool (kicad-cli, full layer-plot option set)
+  // ------------------------------------------------------
+  server.tool(
+    "export_pcb_svg",
+    "Plot the PCB layout to SVG via kicad-cli, exposing the full layer-plot option set (layer + common-layer lists, mirror, soldermask subtraction, negative, black-and-white, theme, DNP fab-layer modes, page-size mode, fit-page-to-board, exclude-drawing-sheet, drill shape, single/multi output modes). Rich CLI sibling of export_svg. Reads the last SAVED state of the .kicad_pcb.",
+    {
+      outputPath: z.string().describe("Output SVG file path (or directory in multi mode)"),
+      boardPath: z.string().optional().describe("Path to the .kicad_pcb (default: current board)"),
+      layers: z
+        .array(z.string())
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Layers to plot, untranslated names e.g. ['F.Cu','B.Cu','Edge.Cuts']"),
+      commonLayers: z
+        .array(z.string())
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Layers to include on every plot (e.g. ['Edge.Cuts'])"),
+      drawingSheet: z.string().optional().describe("Path to a drawing sheet override"),
+      defineVar: z
+        .array(z.string())
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Project variable overrides as 'KEY=VALUE' strings"),
+      subtractSoldermask: z.boolean().optional().describe("Subtract soldermask from silkscreen"),
+      mirror: z.boolean().optional().describe("Mirror the board (to show bottom layers)"),
+      negative: z.boolean().optional().describe("Plot as negative"),
+      blackAndWhite: z.boolean().optional().describe("Black and white only"),
+      theme: z.string().optional().describe("Color theme to use (default: PCB editor settings)"),
+      sketchPadsOnFabLayers: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Draw pad outlines and numbers on fab layers"),
+      hideDnpFootprintsOnFabLayers: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Don't plot DNP footprint text/graphics on fab layers"),
+      sketchDnpFootprintsOnFabLayers: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Plot DNP footprints in sketch mode on fab layers"),
+      crossoutDnpFootprintsOnFabLayers: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Plot an 'X' over DNP footprint courtyards and strike out their refdes"),
+      pageSizeMode: z
+        .number()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Page sizing mode (0 frame+title block, 1 current page size, 2 board area only)"),
+      fitPageToBoard: z.boolean().optional().describe("Fit the page to the board"),
+      excludeDrawingSheet: z.boolean().optional().describe("No drawing sheet"),
+      drillShapeOpt: z
+        .number()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Pad/via drill shape option (0 none, 1 small, 2 actual; default 2)"),
+      modeSingle: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Single file; output path is full path; LAYER_LIST controls all layers"),
+      modeMulti: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Multi output; output path is a directory (GUI-like plotting)"),
+    },
+    async (args) => {
+      logger.debug(`Exporting PCB SVG to: ${args.outputPath}`);
+      const result = await callKicadScript("export_pcb_svg", args);
+      return {
+        content: [
+          {
+            type: "text",
+            text: JSON.stringify(result),
+          },
+        ],
+      };
+    },
+  );
+
   logger.info("Export tools registered");
 }

src/tools/registry.ts

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ export const toolCategories: ToolCategory[] = [
       "export_gencad",
       "export_pos",
       "export_pcb_pdf",
+      "export_pcb_svg",
       "export_pdf",
       "export_svg",
       "export_3d",