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kicad-mcp-server/CHANGELOG.md
KiCAD MCP Bot d396ccd61f docs: Update README and CHANGELOG with wiring implementation 
Documentation Updates:
- README: Updated Schematic Design section from 6 to 9 tools
- Added "Wiring & Connections" subsection highlighting new capabilities
- Documented automatic pin discovery with rotation support
- Listed smart routing options (direct, orthogonal)
- Added net label management features
- CHANGELOG: Added Phase 1 wiring system entry with complete feature list

New Features Documented:
- add_schematic_connection with auto pin discovery
- add_schematic_net_label with orientation control
- WireManager and PinLocator implementation
- S-expression precision and format compliance

Part of Issue #26 schematic wiring implementation

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-01-10 10:39:07 -05:00

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Changelog

All notable changes to the KiCAD MCP Server project are documented here.

[2.1.0-alpha] - 2026-01-10

Phase 1: Intelligent Schematic Wiring System

Major Features:

  • ✅ Automatic pin location discovery with rotation support
  • ✅ Smart wire routing (direct, orthogonal horizontal/vertical)
  • ✅ Net label management (local, global, hierarchical)
  • ✅ S-expression-based wire creation
  • ✅ Professional right-angle routing

New Components:

  • python/commands/wire_manager.py - S-expression wire creation engine
  • python/commands/pin_locator.py - Intelligent pin discovery with rotation
  • Updated python/commands/connection_schematic.py - High-level connection API
  • docs/SCHEMATIC_WIRING_PLAN.md - Implementation roadmap

MCP Tools Enhanced:

  • add_schematic_wire - Create wires with stroke customization
  • add_schematic_connection - Auto-connect pins with routing options (NEW!)
  • add_schematic_net_label - Add labels with type and orientation control (NEW!)
  • connect_to_net - Connect pins to named nets (ENHANCED)

Technical Implementation:

  • Rotation transformation matrix for pin coordinates
  • S-expression injection for guaranteed format compliance
  • Pin definition caching for performance
  • Orthogonal path generation for professional schematics

Testing:

  • End-to-end integration test: 100% passing
  • MCP handler integration test: 100% passing
  • Pin discovery with rotation: Verified working
  • KiCad-skip verification: All wires/labels correctly formed

Addresses:

  • Issue #26 - Schematic workflow wiring functionality

Phase 2: JLCPCB Integration Complete

Major Features:

  • ✅ Complete JLCPCB parts integration via JLCSearch public API
  • ✅ Access to ~100k JLCPCB parts catalog
  • ✅ Real-time stock and pricing data
  • ✅ Parametric component search
  • ✅ Cost optimization (Basic vs Extended library)
  • ✅ KiCad footprint mapping
  • ✅ Alternative part suggestions

New Components:

  • python/commands/jlcsearch.py - JLCSearch API client (no auth required)
  • python/commands/jlcpcb_parts.py - Enhanced with import_jlcsearch_parts()
  • docs/JLCPCB_INTEGRATION.md - Comprehensive integration guide

MCP Tools Available:

  • download_jlcpcb_database - Download full parts catalog
  • search_jlcpcb_parts - Parametric search with filters
  • get_jlcpcb_part - Part details + footprint suggestions
  • get_jlcpcb_database_stats - Database statistics
  • suggest_jlcpcb_alternatives - Find similar/cheaper parts

Technical Improvements:

  • SQLite database with full-text search (FTS5)
  • Package-to-footprint mapping for standard SMD packages
  • Price comparison and cost optimization algorithms
  • HMAC-SHA256 authentication support (for official JLCPCB API)

Testing:

  • All integration tests passing
  • Database operations validated
  • Live API connectivity confirmed
  • End-to-end MCP tool testing complete

Documentation:

  • Complete API reference with examples
  • Package mapping tables (0402, 0603, 0805, SOT-23, etc.)
  • Best practices guide
  • Troubleshooting section

[2.1.0-alpha] - 2025-11-30

Phase 1: Schematic Workflow Fix

Critical Bug Fix:

  • ✅ Fixed completely broken schematic workflow (Issue #26)
  • Created template-based symbol cloning approach
  • All schematic tests now passing

Root Cause:

  • kicad-skip library limitation: cannot create symbols from scratch, only clone existing ones

Solution:

  • Template schematic with cloneable R, C, LED symbols
  • Updated create_project to create both PCB and schematic
  • Rewrote add_schematic_component to use clone() API
  • Proper UUID generation and position setting

Files Modified:

  • python/commands/project.py - Now creates schematic files
  • python/commands/schematic.py - Uses template approach
  • python/commands/component_schematic.py - Complete rewrite

Files Created:

  • python/templates/template_with_symbols.kicad_sch
  • python/templates/empty.kicad_sch
  • docs/SCHEMATIC_WORKFLOW_FIX.md

Testing:

  • Created comprehensive test suite
  • All 7 tests passing
  • KiCad CLI validation successful

[2.0.0-alpha] - 2025-11-05

Router Pattern & Tool Organization

Major Architecture Change:

  • Implemented tool router pattern (70% context reduction)
  • 12 direct tools, 47 routed tools in 7 categories
  • Smart tool discovery system

New Router Tools:

  • list_tool_categories - Browse available categories
  • get_category_tools - View tools in category
  • search_tools - Find tools by keyword
  • execute_tool - Run any routed tool

Benefits:

  • Dramatically reduced AI context usage
  • Maintained full functionality (64 tools)
  • Improved tool discoverability
  • Better organization for users

[2.0.0-alpha] - 2025-11-01

IPC Backend Integration

Experimental Feature:

  • KiCad 9.0 IPC API integration for real-time UI sync
  • Changes appear immediately in KiCad (no manual reload)
  • Hybrid backend: IPC + SWIG fallback
  • 20+ commands with IPC support

Implementation:

  • Routing operations (interactive push-and-shove)
  • Component placement and modification
  • Zone operations and fills
  • DRC and verification

Status:

  • Under active development
  • Enable via KiCad: Preferences > Plugins > Enable IPC API Server
  • Automatic fallback to SWIG when IPC unavailable

[2.0.0-alpha] - 2025-10-26

Initial JLCPCB Integration (Local Libraries)

Features:

  • Local JLCPCB symbol library search
  • Integration with KiCad Plugin and Content Manager
  • Search by LCSC part number, manufacturer, description

Credit:

Components:

  • python/commands/symbol_library.py
  • Basic library search functionality

[1.0.0] - 2025-10-01

Initial Release

Core Features:

  • 64 fully-documented MCP tools
  • JSON Schema validation for all tools
  • 8 dynamic resources for project state
  • Cross-platform support (Linux, Windows, macOS)
  • Comprehensive error handling
  • Detailed logging

Tool Categories:

  • Project Management (4 tools)
  • Board Operations (9 tools)
  • Component Management (8 tools)
  • Routing (6 tools)
  • Export & Manufacturing (5 tools)
  • Design Rule Checking (4 tools)
  • Schematic Operations (6 tools)
  • Symbol Library (3 tools)
  • JLCPCB Integration (5 tools)

Platform Support:

  • Linux (KiCad 7.x, 8.x, 9.x)
  • Windows (KiCad 9.x)
  • macOS (KiCad 9.x)

Documentation:

  • Complete README with setup instructions
  • Platform-specific guides
  • Tool reference documentation
  • Contributing guidelines

Version Numbering

  • 2.1.0-alpha: Current development version with JLCPCB integration
  • 2.0.0-alpha: Router pattern and IPC backend
  • 1.0.0: Initial stable release

Breaking Changes

2.1.0-alpha

  • None (additive changes only)

2.0.0-alpha

  • Tool execution now requires router for 47 tools
  • Direct tool access limited to 12 high-frequency tools
  • Schema validation stricter (catches errors earlier)

Deprecations

2.1.0-alpha

  • docs/JLCPCB_USAGE_GUIDE.md - Superseded by docs/JLCPCB_INTEGRATION.md
  • docs/JLCPCB_INTEGRATION_PLAN.md - Implementation complete

Migration Guide

Upgrading to 2.1.0-alpha from 2.0.0-alpha

New Dependencies:

  • No new system dependencies
  • Python packages: requests (already in requirements.txt)

Database Setup:

  1. Run download_jlcpcb_database tool (one-time, ~5-10 minutes)
  2. Database created at data/jlcpcb_parts.db
  3. Subsequent searches use local database (instant)

API Changes:

  • All existing tools remain compatible
  • 5 new JLCPCB tools available
  • No breaking changes to existing functionality

Upgrading to 2.0.0-alpha from 1.0.0

Router Pattern:

  • Some tools now accessed via execute_tool instead of direct calls
  • Use list_tool_categories to discover available tools
  • Search with search_tools to find specific functionality

IPC Backend (Optional):

  • Enable in KiCad: Preferences > Plugins > Enable IPC API Server
  • Set KICAD_BACKEND=ipc environment variable
  • Falls back to SWIG if unavailable

Credits

  • JLCSearch API: @tscircuit
  • JLCParts Database: @yaqwsx
  • Local JLCPCB Search: @l3wi
  • KiCad: KiCad Development Team
  • MCP Protocol: Anthropic

License

See LICENSE file for details.