KiCad automation scripts

A bunch of scripts to automate KiCad processes using a combination of the KiCAD Python library and UI automation with xdotool.

This work is based in big parts on Scott Bezek's scripts in his split-flap display project. For more info see his excellent blog posts.

Currently tested and working:

• Exporting schematics to PDF and SVG
• Exporting layouts to PDF and SVG
• Running ERC on schematics

Instalation

Using Docker

Build the docker image and run it:

docker build -t kicad-automation .
docker run --rm -it -v <path to a kicad project>/kicad-project -v`pwd`:/kicad-automation-scripts kicad-automation

Or fetch it from Dockerhub:

docker run --rm -it -v <path to a kicad project>/kicad-project productize/kicad-automation-scripts

Installation on your own machine:

If you want to use these scripts directly on your system, you should be able to get it to work by installing the folowing dependencies:

This tool has the folowing dependencies:

• KiCad
• python
• python-pip
• xvfb
• recordmydesktop
• xdotool
• xclip

The Python dependencies (excluding KiCad) are listed in [eeschema/requirements.txt][eeschema/requirements.txt] an can be installed with

pip install -r eeschema/requirements.txt

Installation on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get install -y kicad python python-pip xvfb recordmydesktop xdotool xclip

Usage

In the Docker image or on a system with all required dependencies installed you can use the following commands:

Export a schematic to PDF or SVG

python -m kicad-automation.eeschema.schematic export --all_pages  --file-format (pdf or svg) /kicad-project/<some-schematic>.sch <output-dir>

Run ERC:

python -m kicad-automation.eeschema.schematic run_erc /kicad-project/<some-schematic>.sch <build_dir> <svg or pdf> <all-pages (True or False)>