Post-v7 new features and development news

[JeffYoung]

Independently fixable scales for simulation plots.

[craftyjon]

Graphic shapes (lines, arcs, rectangles, polygons) can now have nets assigned just like tracks.

This allows creating custom copper shapes without having to define them as custom pads inside a footprint.
This is handy for various reasons, for example if you want to define a copper polygon on the board to connect some pads together but don’t want it to be a filled zone (because you do not want it to ever keep clearance from anything like a zone would)

[marekr]

There are now cli options to run drc and erc

kicad-cli pcb drc
kicad-cli sch erc

Additionally both the cli and gui have an option to save a json formatted report
The schema of which can be found here resources/schemas · master · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab

[mikebwilliams]

Grids can now be modified in the UI, and grid overrides can be applied that set certain grids based on the item you’re acting upon.

[JeffYoung]

Note: grid settings shown in previous message have now been moved to Preferences.

[JeffYoung]

Alternate pin functions from context menu:

[dsa-t]

Added importers for EasyEDA / JLCEDA, both Standard and Professional editions.

To download STEP 3D models for imported boards, a separate plugin must be used:

1. Download the latest “PCM Package” from EasyEDA 3D Loader Releases
2. In KiCad, open “Plugin and Content Manager” > “Install from File…”, choose the downloaded archive
3. Close PCM.

After importing your project/board, in PCB Editor, click on the plugin icon and then “Download and convert STEP 3D models from JLC”.

[Seth_h]

Altium Libraries are fully supported.

You can now use SchLib and PcbLib files directly in KiCad.

[mikebwilliams]

Pin Helpers: a set of tools to rapidly break out from symbols.

[JeffYoung]

[JeffYoung]

Pad Edit Mode; number box:

.

And custom spoke templates:

[JeffYoung]

Hover previews in the footprint (and symbol) editor:

[dsa-t]

Import SVG and DXF graphics directly into Schematic and Symbol editors.

[dsa-t]

EAGLE libraries can now be used directly in Symbol Libraries, as well as in Footprint Libraries.

Also, the descriptions are much better now.

[dsa-t]

Tools to fix discontinuities in graphical shapes (shape healing):

[JeffYoung]

3D viewer appearances tab:

[JeffYoung]

Length-tuning pattern properties:

(I don’t want to steal @dsa-t 's thunder, but perhaps he will upload a video of interactive editing of length-tuning patterns…)

[dsa-t]

Support arcs with 180+ degrees angle in Schematic and Symbol editors.

[dsa-t]

Support Altium Integrated Library (.IntLib) files in Footprint and Symbol library tables.