Post-V9 New Features and Development News

[craftyjon]

This topic will be used to announce new features and other significant development updates during the KiCad 10 development cycle. KiCad 10 is expected to be released around February, 2026.

This topic is only for announcements. Please start new topics to discuss new features.

[Seth_h]

You can now import Altium projects and it will automatically link the schematic and pcb import items as well as any libraries that it finds

[Seth_h]

Thanks to @Aris_Kimi we can now add arbitrary numbers of cursors to the simulation panel

[Seth_h]

Thanks to Damjan, we now support arbitrary table rotation angles

[craftyjon]

Daniel Treffenstädt has contributed support for IPC-4761 via protection features (filling, capping, etc in addition to tenting), which can be specified on a per-via basis and are included in drill file, IPC-2581, and ODB++ outputs.

[Seth_h]

You can now create “Local” power symbols. Whereas normal power symbols (hereafter “global power” symbols) will create a global label with the symbol value, local power symbols will create a local label.

Local power symbols also show a distinct “place marker” next to their value, allowing you to see that the power symbol has scope of only the current sheet.

[JamesJ]

Component Classes can now be dynamically assigned in the PCB editor. Matching conditions can be created from any combination of:

• Reference
• Footprint library name
• Orientation
• Board side
• Footprint field contents
• Source symbol schematic sheet name
• Custom DRC expression

A few pointers as there isn’t yet documentation:

• Text fields (matching references, footprint library names, and fields) accept * and ? wildcards, for matching any number of characters, or matching one character respectively.
• The References condition accepts a comma-delimited list of references (including wildcards) to match.
• A list of references can be imported automatically from the currently selected footprints on the board by clicking on the cog icon in the References condition panel.
• Footprints matching a set of assignment conditions can be previewed (highlighted) by clicking the net highlight button at the top right of each assignment (this is a temporary icon).
• Dynamic component class assignments are configured in the Board Setup dialog:

[JeffYoung]

You can now create hatched fills for shapes.

[JeffYoung]

The measurement tool has been added to the Footprint Chooser.

[JeffYoung]

You can now make textboxes “knockout” (for better control over the margins to the enclosing copper).

[mikebwilliams]

Create Array can now arrange existing items by selection order.

Box selection has also been tweaked to sort items by row, then column, instead of randomly. Cross-selection should preserve the selection order.

This allows quickly arranging items that tend to be laid out geographically:

[craftyjon]

Support for jumper symbols and footprints has been added. There are two ways to define jumper symbols/footprints: you can enable an option that will mark pins/pads with the same number as being internally connected, or you can explicitly define groups of pins/pads that should be considered internally connected. Jumpered pins/pads will always have the same net.

[JeffYoung]

The status bar now reports the copper area of the selected items. Might be useful for determining heat-sinking, etc.