Hi everyone,
I would like to provide a short update on the status of the KiCad libraries, and an overview of what has been accomplished in the last year. There have been a number of significant improvement which users will notice in the upcoming v5 software release.
1. Footprint repository consolidation
The “old” footprint libraries were previously each stored on GitHub as a separate .pretty repo - https://github.com/KiCad?utf8=✓&q=.pretty
This was a devil to maintain and also very difficult for users wishing to contribute.
These repositories have been marked as legacy - you can still access the old footprint libraries as before but they are no longer accepting any contributions.
The new footprint libraries can be found at https://github.com/kicad/kicad-footprints. These are the footprint libraries that will be distributed with the KiCad v5 release. A few points to note:
a) Many of the footprints are script generated due to the large advantage of using parametric data to generate an entire family of footprints
b) The footprint libraries have been reorganized and there is a new ‘no plural’ naming scheme.
c) No more Housings_xxx footprints
d) A lot of KLC improvements / fixes
Additionally the naming schemes devised for the new KLC have been applied to (most of) the footprints. The naming is based on IPC naming conventions and lends a more consistent and professional feel to the library.
.2. Split symbols and 3D models
The old kicad-library repository contained both schematic symbol data and all the 3D models. With the recent (fantastic) work developing a better database of 3D models, the size of this repository ballooned!
a) https://github.com/kicad/kicad-library has been marked as legacy
b) Symbols can be found at https://github.com/kicad/kicad-symbols
c) 3D models can be found at https://github.com/kicad/kicad-packages3d
.3. Complete restructure of symbols library
There was very little coherent organization of the symbol libs. Now they are organized by function, which provides a very clear categorization of the library.
.4. Library information on the website
Library information has been now included on the website, which means that the libraries now feel much more like an official part of the KiCad ecosystem.
.5. New KLC
The KLC (KiCad Library Convention) has had a major overhaul and is now also on the KiCad website - https://kicad.org/libraries/klc/
.6. Library download page
The libraries are now compiled every couple of days and are available for direct download at https://kicad.github.io
.7. Automated testing suite
Contributions to the KiCad libraries via GitHub are now checked against a number of automated tests to ensure that they conform to the KLC requirements. This speeds up the merging process and allows for contributions to be more thoroughly checked.
In short, a lot has been improved and the libraries continue to grow.
The volume of user contributions has continued to grow throughout 2017 and there have been some really fantastic improvements made by various users. Keep it coming!
I am stepping down from the library administrator role and passing the baton to @Rene_Poschl who has already been a major contributor to the libraries. Thanks everyone for the support and please continue to assist Rene to make the KiCad libraries even better 