Our journey with KiCad

A simple repository with scripts, codes and tips that I'm using every day, to wish you a pleasant journey with KiCad, for your studies or hobbies.

Code :

• For new project, Bash scripts : new_project folder
• To manage project, Bash scripts : manage_project folder

Text variables :

💡 In KiCad, you can define common global variables for the schematic/PCB drawing sheets.

To not re-enter these text variables in each new project, you can add this JSON code in the .kicad_pro file, in the section text_variables (don't forget to close all KiCad windows before) :

"text_variables": {
    "PROJECT_TITLE": "Your project name",
    "PROJECT_LINK": "Your project link : https://your-project-url",
    "PCB_VERSION": "V1.0.0",
    "SCHEMATIC_VERSION": "V1.0.0",
    "YOUR_VARIABLE_NAME": "Your text, component reference, link"
}

After that, just add any variable names in your schematic or PCB (texts, symbols, drawing sheet zones...) with a specific call ${PROJECT_TITLE} for the project name.

Otherwise if you have these text variables in one of your project, you can import it directly from KiCad :

• From the schematic or board setup window, select the button 'Import settings from another project' or 'Import settings from another board'
• Select 'Text variables' in the options list

More informations : https://docs.kicad.org/master/en/eeschema/eeschema.html#variant-text-variables

TODO :

• [code] Add script for managing KiCad project with a normal workflow : schematic, PCB...
• [code] Add a empty KiCad project files, version 9 or 10 ?
• [code] Add more scripts and codes, any ideas ? 😆

## Projects using KiCad :

• https://passionelectronique.fr with many tutorials from Jérôme Tomski [FR] 👌

Documentation :

KiCad :

• https://www.kicad.org
• https://docs.kicad.org
• Plugins repository : https://www.kicad.org/pcm/

KiCad Command Line Interface (CLI) :

• https://docs.kicad.org/master/en/cli/cli.html

KiCad useful plugins :

• Interactive HTML BOM : https://github.com/openscopeproject/InteractiveHtmlBom
• Board2Pdf : https://gitlab.com/dennevi/Board2Pdf
• KiKit PCB panelization : https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit
• PcbDraw convert PCB into 2D drawing : https://github.com/yaqwsx/PcbDraw
• Solarized Dark theme : https://github.com/pointhi/kicad-color-schemes

KiCad manufacturers support repositories :

• https://github.com/AislerHQ/aisler-support

KiCad books :

• Elektor Ebooks bundle "KiCad Like a Pro" : https://www.elektor.fr/products/kicad-like-a-pro-e-book-bundle from Peter Dalmaris 👌

Bash script :

• https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/
• https://linuxcommand.org from William Shotts 🐧 🙏
• https://github.com/bobbyiliev/introduction-to-bash-scripting 👌
• https://itsfoss.com/bash-scripting-tutorial/ [beginners]

Note

Big thanks to the GNU/Linux, KiCad and plugins communities. ❤️

Happy commanding, schematicing, routing, soldering & have fun ! 🥳