Personally, I’m hoping for an interface that allows users to comprehensively define design rules, similar to Altium or maybe OrCAD.
What are your thoughts on this? I believe such a feature would be a game-changer. If KiCad offered this functionality, I think companies would stop purchasing expensive PCB EDA software like Altium, OrCAD, or Mentor PADS. Even in its current state, KiCad is making significant strides in the PCB world.
When do you think we might see such a feature in KiCad?
Let me share a little story. Toward the end of 2017, my colleague Mr. Mehmet—an excellent software developer at the company I worked for—started developing a comprehensive Design Rules interface for KiCad. Around that time, the dedicated developers of KiCad sent an email saying, “We’re already working on this. Don’t waste your time on it.” I was very hopeful back then. At the time, we were using KiCad v4. For years, we’ve been eagerly waiting for this feature.
KiCad v9 is expected to be released either later this month or early February. As a devoted follower and user of KiCad, it seems we still won’t see this feature in v9.
Do you think it will come in KiCad v10? Or perhaps v20? Or maybe in a version released in 2050?
We already have the custom design rules, but I understand you are looking for a graphical user interface. I think it’s quite difficult to make a GUI that works in all cases. Perhaps they could add some GUI for things like creapage clearance (some kind of matrix).
What I have been waiting for is the PADS importer. It was on the roadmap for V9 so perhaps we will see it in V10.
A game changer for working together would be some graphical diff for schematics and layout.
Yes, I know how to use Custom Design Rule based code in KiCad. However, what I mean is that you can configure various possibilities in the GUI for your design, such as Clearance Net Matrix, High-Speed constraints, Signal Integrity, and so on, as shown in the picture.
Disclaimer. I at this point do net yet know what Kicad 9 brings.
Integration of the best and most used plugins.
I use 3. I use the JLCPCB plugin of Bouni’s
And the place footprint as well as replicate layout plugins. Extremely usefull.
I would like a quick method to add an extra field to schematic symbols. When I use one-of-kind thing, I always have to manually add a field and type JLCPCB Part#. I’d like an option to add this to every standard library elements when I insert them in my schematic (provided the component does not have the field already)
And I haven’t used KiKit before. But perhaps a built-in easy to use panelize things. Now I still manually add mousebites and screw around with the edgecuts. I am likely going to do more paneling things in the future.
Duplicate 3d models with their positioning offsets to similar footprints. If I add plugable screw terminals. I need to manually add and ajust the mating component. To save me the hassle from adding a thing to my own library, I’d like to duplicate/push the 3D model + offsets to all the same screw terminal sockets. It is no different than pushing pad properties to other pads in footprint editor.
I still have to manually do some mouse button clicks (i believe 5) to adjust all texts of basic library footprints to halve them in size. I’d like to push certain custom design rules… such as silk text sizes and such… automatically to be applied to basic library components once they are added.
Actually the trend in large software suites is to spin off functionality into plugins provided the performance penalty is not significant, for the sake of easier maintenance. Some things like teardrops is better done internally for the sake of performance.
On a more serious note; I’m happy with whatever the developers choose to create or refine. Kicad is Free Open Source software. Those who write the software, do so as an interest or hobby or because they just can’t help themselves .
I don’t criticize, complain, expect or want. I’m just happy and grateful that I can continue, as a hobby, in my retirement, a lifelong occupation, without the commercial costs.
I must say I happy too. In KiCad 7 I was frequently annoyed by too many crashes. But with 8, it hardly happened and I can essentially do whatever I want so far.
There is however this one ‘feature’ that continuous to plague me. In combination with Dropbox, these things are sorta a royal payne. So an option to turn off the use of lock files for single users like myself would be appreciated
I’m happy with how KiCad is now
I don’t know what is in V9 so may be what I write here is already done.
I’d like to see in KiCad User layer pairs (I need only one pair).
I start using KiCad from V4 and to make documentation files we ‘since always’ do for us (element rectangles with reference inside, and separate file with values inside I decided to have reference and value at Courtyard layer (to add to rectangles that are already there). KiCad V4 had nothing against it but later started to complain on it. The only alternative I find is to use Adhesive layers for it as we had never used them, but as you never know if you will not to have some feature there is no idea to block it for yourself. If we will have User layer pair I will move there with value and reference and will have Courtyard in the form satisfying KiCad.
I’d like to have block dragging.
Beginning PCB design I divide footprints into blocks and connect everything in blocks. Then I move blocks on the PCB and make connections between blocks. If I find that block should have little different position my current way is to cut it out (disconnect its connections) move a block and re-route connections.
But as I have written at the beginning - KiCad practically fulfills all my needs but I mainly design 2 layer boards and recently some 4 layers.
When I was using Protel 3 (1997 - 2017) I was using few design rules.
One example: to make thermal connections width being dependent on element belonging to class (I was dividing elements into small / medium / big classes). In KiCad I just made correct settings for each footprint in my library.
Second example: to delete default paste layer opening for thermal pad to be able to replace it by defined by me openings. As I remember I didn’t found the other way. In KiCad I have correct openings specified just in footprint definition.
I have never used even a one design rule in KiCad, but my pcbs are relatively simple.
Kicad ist not only developed by hobbyist but also by paid developers at KiPro (KiCad Services Corporation). And it is not only used by hobbyists but also by companies and organisations of any size. When migrating from any kind of EDA system like Altium, PADS, Eagle etc. to KiCad, it is very important to have a reliable roadmap for further development of the software. Keep in mind that migration includes many tasks which are very costly.
It is also a misunderstanding that FOSS means that there are no professional activities. Instead there are big ecosystems around many FOSS projects, especially Linux. Many companies use Linux based servers for business critical services, and other companies build their entire hardware products around a Linux based firmware.
For my company the planning of a migration from Altium to KiCad took several years because some important features were missing. And I wouldn’t have started the migration without joining the KiCad conference and talking to the lead developers because this means a complete shift of my business model.
Thermal simulation, using the board setup with tracks, copper thickness, via position, count, copper surface and thickness would be great. Even if done outside of Kicad (maybe in Freecad with an exported 3D).
What is that simulation picture taken from?
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