kicad-mcp-server/docs/ROADMAP.md

KiCAD MCP Roadmap

Vision: Enable anyone to design professional PCBs through natural conversation with AI

Current Version: 2.1.0-alpha Target: 2.0.0 stable by end of Week 12

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Week 2: Component Integration & Routing

Goal: Make the MCP server useful for real PCB design Status: 80% Complete (2025-11-01)

High Priority

1. Component Library Integration ✅ COMPLETE

• Detect KiCAD footprint library paths
• Add configuration for custom library paths
• Create footprint search/autocomplete
• Test component placement end-to-end
• Document supported footprints

Deliverable: ✅ Place components with actual footprints from libraries (153 libraries discovered!)

2. Routing Operations ✅ COMPLETE

• Test route_trace with KiCAD 9.0
• Test add_via with KiCAD 9.0
• Test add_copper_pour with KiCAD 9.0
• Fix any API compatibility issues
• Add routing examples to docs

Deliverable: ✅ Successfully route a simple board (tested with nets, traces, vias, copper pours)

3. JLCPCB Parts Database 📋 PLANNED

• Research JLCPCB API and data format
• Design integration architecture
• Download/parse JLCPCB parts database (~108k parts)
• Map parts to KiCAD footprints
• Create search by part number
• Add price/stock information
• Integrate with component placement

Deliverable: "Add a 10k resistor (JLCPCB basic part)" - Ready to implement

Medium Priority

4. Fix get_board_info 🟡 DEFERRED

• Update layer constants for KiCAD 9.0
• Add backward compatibility
• Test with real boards

Status: Low priority, workarounds available

5. Example Projects 🟢

• LED blinker (555 timer)
• Arduino Uno shield template
• Raspberry Pi HAT template
• Video tutorial of complete workflow

Bonus Achievements ✨

Real-time Collaboration ✅ COMPLETE

• Test MCP→UI workflow (AI places, human sees)
• Test UI→MCP workflow (human edits, AI reads)
• Document best practices and limitations
• Verify bidirectional sync works correctly

Documentation ✅ COMPLETE

• LIBRARY_INTEGRATION.md (comprehensive library guide)
• REALTIME_WORKFLOW.md (collaboration workflows)
• JLCPCB_INTEGRATION_PLAN.md (implementation plan)

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Week 3: IPC Backend & Real-time Updates

Goal: Eliminate manual reload - see changes instantly

High Priority

1. IPC Connection 🔴

• Establish socket connection to KiCAD
• Handle connection errors gracefully
• Auto-reconnect if KiCAD restarts
• Fall back to SWIG if IPC unavailable

2. IPC Operations 🔴

• Port project operations to IPC
• Port board operations to IPC
• Port component operations to IPC
• Port routing operations to IPC

3. Real-time UI Updates 🔴

• Changes appear instantly in UI
• No reload prompt
• Visual feedback within 100ms
• Demo video showing real-time design

Deliverable: Design a board with live updates as Claude works

Medium Priority

4. Dual Backend Support 🟡

• Auto-detect if IPC is available
• Switch between SWIG/IPC seamlessly
• Document when to use each
• Performance comparison

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Week 4-5: Smart BOM & Supplier Integration

Goal: Optimize component selection for cost and availability

1. Digikey Integration

• API authentication
• Part search by specs
• Price/stock checking
• Parametric search (e.g., "10k resistor, 0603, 1%")

2. Smart BOM Management

• Auto-suggest component substitutions
• Calculate total board cost
• Check component availability
• Generate purchase links

3. Cost Optimization

• Suggest JLCPCB basic parts (free assembly)
• Warn about expensive/obsolete parts
• Batch component suggestions

Deliverable: "Design a low-cost LED driver under $5 BOM"

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Week 6-7: Design Patterns & Templates

Goal: Accelerate common design tasks

1. Circuit Patterns Library

• Voltage regulators (LDO, switching)
• USB interfaces (USB-C, micro-USB)
• Microcontroller circuits (ESP32, STM32, RP2040)
• Power protection (reverse polarity, ESD)
• Common interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART)

2. Board Templates

• Arduino form factors (Uno, Nano, Mega)
• Raspberry Pi HATs
• Feather wings
• Custom PCB shapes (badges, wearables)

3. Auto-routing Helpers

• Suggest trace widths by current
• Auto-create ground pours
• Match differential pair lengths
• Check impedance requirements

Deliverable: "Create an ESP32 dev board with USB-C"

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Week 8-9: Guided Workflows & Education

Goal: Make PCB design accessible to beginners

1. Interactive Tutorials

• First PCB (LED blinker)
• Understanding layers and vias
• Routing best practices
• Design rule checking

2. Design Validation

• Check for common mistakes
• Suggest improvements
• Explain DRC violations
• Manufacturing feasibility check

3. Documentation Generation

• Auto-generate assembly drawings
• Create BOM spreadsheets
• Export fabrication files
• Generate user manual

Deliverable: Complete beginner-to-fabrication tutorial

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Week 10-11: Advanced Features

Goal: Support complex professional designs

1. Multi-board Projects

• Panel designs for manufacturing
• Shared schematics across boards
• Version management

2. High-speed Design

• Impedance-controlled traces
• Length matching for DDR/PCIe
• Signal integrity analysis
• Via stitching for EMI

3. Advanced Components

• BGAs and fine-pitch packages
• Flex PCB support
• Rigid-flex designs

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Week 12: Polish & Release

Goal: Production-ready v2.0 release

1. Performance

• Optimize large board operations
• Cache library searches
• Parallel operations where possible

2. Testing

• Unit tests for all commands
• Integration tests for workflows
• Test on Windows/macOS/Linux
• Load testing with complex boards

3. Documentation

• Complete API reference
• Video tutorial series
• Blog post/announcement
• Example project gallery

4. Community

• Contribution guidelines
• Plugin system for custom tools
• Discord/forum for support

Deliverable: KiCAD MCP v2.0 stable release

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Future (Post-v2.0)

Big Ideas for v3.0+

1. AI-Powered Design

• Generate circuits from specifications
• Optimize layouts for size/cost/performance
• Suggest alternative designs
• Learn from user preferences

2. Collaboration

• Multi-user design sessions
• Design reviews and comments
• Version control integration (Git)
• Share design patterns

3. Manufacturing Integration

• Direct order to PCB fabs
• Assembly service integration
• Track order status
• Automated quoting

4. Simulation

• SPICE integration for circuit sim
• Thermal simulation
• Signal integrity
• Power integrity

5. Extended Platform Support

• Altium import/export
• Eagle compatibility
• EasyEDA integration
• Web-based viewer

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Success Metrics

v2.0 Release Criteria:

• 95%+ of commands working reliably
• Component placement with 10,000+ footprints
• IPC backend working on all platforms
• 10+ example projects
• 5+ video tutorials
• 100+ GitHub stars
• 10+ community contributors

User Success Stories:

• "Designed my first PCB with Claude Code in 30 minutes"
• "Cut PCB design time by 80% using MCP"
• "Got my board manufactured - it works!"

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How to Contribute

See the roadmap and want to help?

High-value contributions:

1. Component library mappings (JLCPCB → KiCAD)
2. Design pattern library (circuits you use often)
3. Testing on Windows/macOS
4. Documentation and tutorials
5. Bug reports with reproductions

Check CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

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Last Updated: 2025-10-26 Maintained by: KiCAD MCP Team