Hey Kicad community!
I’m currently wrestling with a little hiccup while trying to install Kikit on Kicad 6 in my Debian 12, and I need the wisdom of the experts around here. Here’s the rundown:
When I attempt to install it using pip and execute it, I encounter this error message:
pip install kikit
error: externally-managed-environment
× This environment is externally managed
╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install
python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to
install.
If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
sure you have python3-full installed.
If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.
See /usr/share/doc/python3.11/README.venv for more information.
note: If you believe this is a mistake, please contact your Python installation or OS distribution provider. You can override this, at the risk of breaking your Python installation or OS, by passing --break-system-packages.
hint: See PEP 668 for the detailed specification.
So, I opted for the pipx route, successfully installed it, but when I run the Kikit command, I bump into another ‘pcbnew’-related error:
pipx install kikit
⚠️ Note: kikit was already on your PATH at /usr/local/bin/kikit
⚠️ Note: kikit-info was already on your PATH at /usr/local/bin/kikit-info
installed package kikit 1.4.0, installed using Python 3.11.2
These apps are now globally available
- kikit
- kikit-info
done! ✨ 🌟 ✨
kikit --help
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/home/x/.local/bin/kikit", line 5, in <module>
from kikit.ui import cli
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/kikit/ui.py", line 2, in <module>
from kikit import (panelize_ui, export_ui, present_ui, stencil_ui,
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/kikit/panelize_ui.py", line 7, in <module>
from kikit.panelize_ui_sections import *
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/kikit/panelize_ui_sections.py", line 4, in <module>
from kikit import plugin
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/kikit/plugin.py", line 10, in <module>
from kikit.panelize import Panel
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/kikit/panelize.py", line 3, in <module>
from pcbnewTransition import pcbnew, isV6
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pcbnewTransition/__init__.py", line 23, in <module>
from .transition import *
File "/home/xmon/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pcbnewTransition/transition.py", line 15, in <module>
from . import pcbnew
File "/home/x/.local/pipx/venvs/kikit/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pcbnewTransition/pcbnew.py", line 1, in <module>
from pcbnew import *
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pcbnew'
I’ve tried a few solutions, but nothing seems to work. Anyone got any ideas on how to overcome this snag in installing Kikit on Debian 12 with Kicad 6? Any help would be greatly appreciated, folks!
Thanks in advance for your expertise and wisdom! 