Blog on KiCad

KiCad 10.0.5 Release

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 10.0.5 bug fix release. The 10.0.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 10.0.5 Release Candidate 1 Available

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 10.0.5 is available for testing. Version 10.0.5 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 10.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 10.0.5 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Linux testing AppImage Ubuntu: Using the 10.

KiCad 10.0.4 Release

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 10.0.4 bug fix release. The 10.0.4 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 10.0.4 Release Candidate 1 Available

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 10.0.4 is available for testing. Version 10.0.4 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 10.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 10.0.4 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Linux testing AppImage Ubuntu: Using the 10.

KiCad 10.0.3 Release

Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 10.0.3 bug fix release. The 10.0.3 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 10.0.2 Release

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 10.0.2 bug fix release. The 10.0.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 10.0.2 Release Candidate 1 Available

Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 10.0.2 is available for testing. Version 10.0.2 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 10.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 10.0.2 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Linux testing AppImage Ubuntu: Using the 10.

KiCad 9.0.9 Release

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.9 bug fix release. The 9.0.9 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.9 Release Candidate 1 Available

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.9 is available for testing. Version 9.0.9 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.9 is released. This will be the last bug fix release of the 9.0 branch now that version 10 has been released.

KiCad 10.0.1 Release

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 10.0.1 bug fix release. The 10.0.1 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 10.0.1 Release Candidate 1 Available

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 10.0.1 is available for testing. Version 10.0.1 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 10.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 10.0.1 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Linux testing AppImage Ubuntu: Using the 10.

Version 10.0.0 Released

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It’s the turning of the seasons today, and to celebrate, the KiCad project is proud to announce the release of Version 10! This release is packed with new features, improvements, and hundreds of bug fixes. We hope you enjoy it! Head to the KiCad download page to get your copy (note that some packages may still be in the process of being released at the time this announcement is published). Our thanks go out to everyone who contributed to KiCad this past year. Whether your contribution was large or small, writing code, submitting bug reports, improving our libraries and documentation, or just supporting us financially: your help made a difference.

Read on to see some of the highlights of the new version!

KiCad 9.0.8 Release

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.8 bug fix release. The 9.0.8 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 10.0.0 Release Candidate 2 Available

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The second release candidate for version 10.0.0 is available for testing. Version 10.0.0 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 10.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 10.0.0 is released. Testing version release AppImages are now available for Linux. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here:

KiCad Version 9.0.8 Release Candidate 1 Available

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.8 is available for testing. Version 9.0.8 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.8 is released. There is no Flatpak beta due to 10.0.0-rc1 being released in the Flatpak beta channel. There will be a 9.

Three New Importers in KiCad 10: Allegro, PADS, and gEDA

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Proprietary file formats are vendor lock-in by another name. Years of design work trapped in a format only one tool can read is a moat that keeps users paying for software they’d rather leave. We think your designs belong to you, to modify as you see fit. KiCad 10 adds importers for Cadence Allegro, Mentor PADS, and gEDA/Lepton EDA, so your existing work is yours to keep and move forward with in KiCad. These importers are the result of months of reverse engineering, testing, and refinement, and we’re excited to share them with you.

KiCad Version 10.0.0 Release Candidate 1 Available

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 10.0.0 is available for testing. Version 10.0.0 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Linux AppImage x86_64 Linux AppImage x86_64 (lite) Ubuntu: Using the 10.0 release PPA Fedora: Using the @kicad/kicad COPR Flatpak: Using testing builds You can see a nearly complete list of new features and usability improvements on the "Post-V9 New Features and Development News" on the KiCad User Forum.

2025 End of Year Fund Drive: The Year We Lost Count

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We tried to count the new features in KiCad 10. We gave up. Somewhere between "lasso selection tool" and "45° full-screen crosshairs," someone on the team stopped tallying and just started giggling. Dark mode on Windows? Native rounded rectangles? Undo/redo inside dialog boxes? Variant support? The list kept going. What Your Donations Built KiCad 10 lands next month, and we need to talk about what’s in it. Not the polite corporate summary—the real list.

KiCad 9.0.7 Release

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.7 bug fix release. The 9.0.7 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.7 Release Candidate 2 Available

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The second release candidate for version 9.0.7 is available for testing. Version 9.0.7 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.7 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad Version 9.0.7 Release Candidate 1 Available

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.7 is available for testing. Version 9.0.7 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.7 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad 9.0.6 Release

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.6 bug fix release. The 9.0.6 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.6 Release Candidate 2 Available

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The second release candidate for version 9.0.6 is available for testing. Version 9.0.6 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.6 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad Version 9.0.6 Release Candidate 1 Available

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.6 is available for testing. Version 9.0.6 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.6 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad 9.0.5 Release

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.5 bug fix release. The 9.0.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.5 Release Candidate 1 Available

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.5 is available for testing. Version 9.0.5 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.5 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad Conference Asia 2025 Announcement

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the third annual Asian KiCad Conference (KiCon) in Shenzhen, China November 14th through the 15th, 2025. The conference will be held at the Atour Hotel (Shenzhen Nanshan Vanke Yuncheng),Nanshan District,Shenzhen,Guangdong. On line registration ends November 1st. This conference is geared towards KiCad users. There will be talks and workshops from users of all skill levels as well as members of the KiCad Lead Development Team.

KiCad 9.0.4 Release

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.4 bug fix release. The 9.0.4 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.4 Release Candidate 1 Available

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.4 is available for testing. Version 9.0.4 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.4 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad 9.0.3 Release

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.3 bug fix release. The 9.0.3 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.3 Release Candidate 1 Available

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.3 is available for testing. Version 9.0.3 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.3 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad Conference Europe 2025 Announcement

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the third annual European KiCad Conference (KiCon) in Bochum, Germany September 10th through the 12th, 2025. The conference will be held at the UFO - Ruhr Universität Bochum. On line registration ends September 1st. This conference is geared towards KiCad users. There will be talks and workshops from users of all skill levels as well as members of the KiCad Lead Development Team.

KiCad and Wayland Support

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad development team frequently receives questions about our support for Wayland. Given that Fedora and Ubuntu are both planning to drop X11 support from their main desktop environments in the near future, we want to provide clear, transparent guidance to our users about the current state of Wayland support in KiCad. Current Status Is Functional but Degraded KiCad does run on Wayland systems, but with significant limitations and known issues that substantially degrade the user experience.

KiCad 9.0.2 Release

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.2 bug fix release. The 9.0.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.2 Release Candidate 1 Available

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.2 is available for testing. Version 9.0.2 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.2 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad 9.0.1 Release

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 9.0.1 bug fix release. The 9.0.1 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 9.0.1 Release Candidate 2 Available

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The second release candidate for version 9.0.1 is available for testing. Version 9.0.1 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.1 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad Version 9.0.1 Release Candidate 1 Available

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 9.0.1 is available for testing. Version 9.0.1 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. There may be additional bug fixes to the 9.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 9.0.1 is released. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the 9.

KiCad Conference North America 2025 Announcement

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce that after the first ever KiCon in Chicago in 2019 that there will finally be a North American KiCad Conference (KiCon) in San Diego, California, USA from May 28th through the 30th, 2025. The conference will be held at the Qualcomm Institute. Early bird registration ends April 1st. On line registration ends May 25th. This conference is geared towards KiCad users. There will be talks and workshops from users of all skill levels as well as members of the KiCad Lead Development Team.

Version 9.0.0 Released

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the release of the next major version of KiCad. Version 9 is packed with new features, improvements, and hundreds of bug fixes. We hope you enjoy the new version! Head to the KiCad download page to get your copy of the new version (note that some packages may still be in the process of being released at the time this announcement is published). Our thanks go out to everyone who contributed to KiCad this past year. Whether your contribution was large or small, writing code, submitting bug reports, improving our libraries and documentation, or just supporting us financially: your help made a difference.

In accordance with the KiCad stable release policy, version 8 of KiCad will no longer be actively maintained, and we will release bug fix versions of KiCad 9.x over the next year as we develop new features for KiCad 10. Read on to see some of the highlights of the new version!

KiCad 8.0.9 Release

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.9 bug fix release. The 8.0.9 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 8.0.9 Release Candidate 1 Available

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The first release candidate for version 8.0.9 is available for testing. Version 8.0.9 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. This will most likely be the final 8.0 series bug fix release with the release of the 9.0 series is happening soon. There may be additional bug fixes to the 8.0 series available as testing builds for users who require those bugs fixed after 8.

KiCad Version 9.0.0 Release Candidate 3 Available

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The third release candidate for version 9.0.0 is available for testing. Version 9.0.0 will be released soon unless critical issues are found in testing this release candidate. You can obtain the release candidate for your platform here: Windows x86_64 Windows arm64 macOS Ubuntu: Using the nightly builds PPA Fedora: Using the @kicad/kicad COPR Flatpak: Using testing builds You can see a nearly complete list of new features and usability improvements on the "Post-V8 New Features and Development News" on the KiCad User Forum.

Learn to Code KiCad 2025 and Open Hardware Dinner

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Once again, KiCad will host a Learn to Code KiCad event at FOSDEM 2025. This year’s event will be held on Friday, January 31st, 2025, at Atelier des Tanneurs in Brussels, Belgium. The event will be a full day of hands-on KiCad development. The event is free to attend and we’ll provide lunch and snacks. Click here to sign up for the event.

KiCad 8.0.8 Release

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.8 bug fix release. The 8.0.8 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

2024 End of Year Fund Drive

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The end of the year is approaching, and the KiCad project is excited to announce our 2024 End of Year Fund Drive. With the release of KiCad version 9.0 just around the corner, we are looking forward to another successful year of development. Our supporters' contributions have been instrumental in building the features of version 9, and we are counting on your continued support to make version 9 even better!

KiCad 8.0.7 Release

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.7 bug fix release. The 8.0.7 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 8.0.6 Release

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.6 bug fix release. The 8.0.6 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 8.0.5 Release

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.5 bug fix release. The 8.0.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 8.0.4 Release

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.4 bug fix release. The 8.0.4 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Conference Europe 2024 Announcement

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the third annual KiCad Conference (KiCon) in Bochum, Germany from Sept 19th through the 20th, 2024. The conference will be held at the Rotunde Bochum. This conference is geared towards KiCad users. There will be talks from users of all skill levels as well as members of the KiCad Lead Development Team. The conference keynote talk will be given by Wayne Stambaugh, the KiCad project leader.

KiCad 8.0.3 Release

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.3 bug fix release. The 8.0.3 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

2023/24 Funding Drive Success

Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The 2023/24 funding drive has been a great success! We have raised $100,000 from more than 2500 donors. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our campaign. Your support is greatly appreciated. We look forward to another successful year of KiCad development.

KiCad 8.0.2 Release

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.2 bug fix release. The 8.0.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad's Historic Price Increase: A Leap into the Future

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Dear KiCad Community,

In light of recent global economic trends and the inflationary pressures that have affected all economies, we at KiCad have arrived at a difficult decision. After much deliberation and extensive analysis, we are announcing our first ever price increase of 50% for downloading KiCad.

KiCad 8.0.1 Release

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 8.0.1 bug fix release. The 8.0.1 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

Version 8.0.0 Released

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the release of version 8.0.0. Despite coming only a year after KiCad 7 was released, version 8 is packed with new features, improvements, and hundreds of bug fixes. We hope you enjoy the new version! Head to the KiCad download page to get your copy of the new version (note that some packages may still be in the process of being released at the time this announcement is published). Our thanks go out to everyone who contributed to KiCad this past year. Whether your contribution was large or small, writing code, submitting bug reports, improving our libraries and documentation, or just supporting us financially: your help made a difference.

In accordance with the KiCad stable release policy, KiCad 7.x will no longer be actively maintained, and we will release bug fix versions of KiCad 8.x over the next year as we develop new features for KiCad 9. Read on to see some of the highlights of the new version!

KiCad 7.0.11 Release

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 7.0.11 bug fix release. The 7.0.11 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 8 Release Candidate 3

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the third release candidate for the upcoming version 8 stable release. Version 8 will contain many new features compared to the current version 7 release. Please consider giving 8.0.0-rc3 a try to discover any additional issues so they can be fixed before release by the end of February. Thank you to everyone who contributed to version 8. How to Download Release Candidate Builds The release candidate packages can be found in the "Stable Builds" folder on the KiCad Download Page.

KiCad Version 8 Release Candidate 2

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the second release candidate for the upcoming version 8 stable release. Version 8 will contain many new features compared to the current version 7 release. Please consider giving 8.0.0-rc2 a try to discover any additional issues so they can be fixed before release at the end of January. Thank you to everyone who contributed to version 8. How to Download Release Candidate Builds The release candidate packages can be found in the "Stable Builds" folder on the KiCad Download Page.

KiCad Version 8 Release Candidate 1

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the first release candidate for the upcoming version 8 stable release. Version 8 will contain many new features compared to the current version 7 release. Please consider giving 8.0.0-rc1 a try to discover any additional issues so they can be fixed before release at the end of January. Thank you to everyone who contributed to version 8. How to Download Release Candidate Builds The release candidate packages can be found in the "Stable Builds" folder on the KiCad Download Page.

2023 End of Year Fund Drive

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

It is that time of year again! The KiCad project is excited to announce our 2023 end of year funding drive. With the release of KiCad version 8.0 just around the corner, we are looking forward to the next year of development. Our supporters' contributions have done more to build the features of version 8 than any other source of funding. With your help, we can make version 9 better than ever!

KiCad 7.0.10 Release

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 7.0.10 bug fix release. The 7.0.10 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

Malicious Site Warning

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad team has become aware of an unknown actor running Google Ads pointing to a clone of the official kicad.org site. This site serves an unknown payload targeting Windows when the Download button on the front page is clicked. Unforunately, due to the nature of this attack, the options for action by the KiCad team remain limited. We advise users to remain diligent on the internet. In particular it is best to never click Sponsored Links in Google Search results as the KiCad team does not spend money on advertising.

KiCad 7.0.9 Release

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 7.0.9 bug fix release. The 7.0.9 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 7.0.8 Release

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the version 7.0.8 bug fix release. The 7.0.8 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

CERN Support Changes

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

CERN has recently announced a change in their support of the KiCad project. They are stopping the KiCad donations program and are now paying for KiCad support contracts directly with KiCad Services Corporation. The full announcement is available on the CERN & Society Foundation website. The KiCad project would like thank CERN for all of their contributions. Their generosity has allowed the KiCad project rapidly progress to where it is today.

KiCad Asia Conference 2023 Announcement

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the first annual KiCad Asia Conference (KiCon Asia) in Shenzhen, China on Sunday November 12th. The conference will be held at the Aliyun Innovation Center. This conference is geared towards KiCad users in Asia. There will be talks from users of all skill levels as well as members of the KiCad Lead Development Team. The conference keynote talk will be given by Wayne Stambaugh, the KiCad project leader.

KiCad 7.0.7 Release

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the fifth series 7 bug fix release. The 7.0.7 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 7.0.6 Release

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the fourth series 7 bug fix release. The 7.0.6 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

HQ NextPCB Platinum Sponsorship

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce that HQ NextPCB has upgraded their sponsorship level from silver to platinum. HQ NextPCB has been generously providing user forum support for KiCad users in China. They have also greatly improved the Chinese translation of KiCad as well as our user documentation. They are also in the process of providing developer support for the KiCad project. The KiCad project would like to thank HQ NextPCB and their customers who use KiCad to design their boards for their support of the KiCad project.

KiCad 7.0.5 Release

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the third series 7 bug fix release. The 7.0.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release. Due to a last minute critical bugs which affected 7.0.3 and 7.0.4 packages, there was no official 7.0.3 or 7.0.4 releases.

KiCad 7.0.2 Release

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the second series 7 bug fix release. The 7.0.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Conference 2023 Announcement

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the second annual KiCad Conference (KiCon) in A Coruña, Spain from Sept 9th through the 10th, 2023. The conference will be held at the Palexco Conference Center. This conference is geared towards KiCad users. There will be talks from users of all skill levels as well as members of the KiCad Lead Development Team. The conference keynote talk will be given by Wayne Stambaugh, the KiCad project leader.

KiCad 7.0.1 Release

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the first series 7 bug fix release. The 7.0.1 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

Version 7.0.0 Released

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the release of version 7.0.0. KiCad 7 is a significant upgrade from KiCad 6, and comes with a number of exciting new features as well as improvements to existing features. The KiCad project hopes you enjoy version 7! Head to the KiCad download page to get your copy of the new version (note that some packages may still be in the process of being released at the time this announcement is published). Many thanks to all of the hard working folks who contributed to KiCad during the version 7 development cycle.

In accordance with the KiCad stable release policy, KiCad 6.x will no longer be maintained, and we will release bug fix versions of KiCad 7.x over the next year as we develop KiCad 8.

KiCad 6.0.11 Release

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest and most likely last series 6 stable release. The 6.0.11 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Version 7 Release Candidate 1

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the first release candidate for the upcoming version 7 stable release. Version 7 will contain many new features compared to the current version 6 release. Please consider giving 7.0.0-rc1 a try to discover any additional issues so they can be fixed before release at the end of January. Thank you to everyone who contributed to version 7. How to Download Release Candidate Builds The release candidate packages can be found in the "Nightly Development Builds" folder on the KiCad Download Page.

Development Highlight: December Edition, features coming to KiCad 7

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The end of 2022 is here and quite some work has been accomplished on various parts of KiCad over the year.

We are all working to hopefully have a KiCad 7 release by the end of January 2023 but no promises!

This is a highlight of some (but not all) of the new features added since the last development highlight.

KiCad 6.0.10 Release

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.10 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

2022 End of Year Fund Drive

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

It’s that time of year to prepare for our annual end of year funding drive. With the next stable release (7) just around the corner (January 31st, 2023), it’s time to start thinking about building version 8. Our supporters' contributions have done more to build the features of version 7 than any other source of funding. With your help, we can make version 8 better than ever! Our year end donation campaign with begin December 1st and run through January 15th.

KiCad 6.0.9 Release

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.9 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 6.0.8 Release

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.8 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad Project Awarded NLnet Grant

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce that it has been awarded a 50K Euro grant by the NLnet Foundation. This grant will fund the development of the SPICE simulation improvements, design import/migration wizard, CADSTAR library importer, database symbol libraries, footprint and 3D model wizard, flat schematics, and more. Many of the features funded by this grant will be available in the version 7.0 release of KiCad. A detailed list of the features and their development status can be found on the KiCad Developer’s Wiki.

KiCad 6.0.7 Release

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.7 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

New Developer Mailing List

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

After 13 years, it is time to retire the Launchpad developer mailing list. The new developer mailing list will be hosted on the KiCad Google Workspace instance at devlist@kicad.org. You can subscribe to the new list by sending an e-mail to devlist+subscribe@kicad.org

KiCad 6.0.6 Release

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.6 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 6.0.5 Release

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

Development Highlight: April Update

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

It has been two full months since the February development highlight went over the changes in January.

Here’s a fresh update on new features and changes that have happened to 6.99 nightlies. This isn’t a complete list as many changes come in smaller incremental changes that are hard to talk about.

KiCad 6.0.4 Release

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.4 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

If you are wondering why there was no "official" 6.0.3 release, there was a serious issue after 6.0.3 was tagged and some users had downloaded the unreleased 6.0.3 builds from the KiCad build server. The only way to prevent install conflicts was to create a new 6.0.4 tag with the bug fix and spin new builds. The KiCad project would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

KiCad 6.0.2 Release

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

Development Highlight: February Update

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

It’s only been a month since the 6.0 release and work is well under way for the future 7.0 release with many features and improvements to come over the course of the year.

As a friendly reminder, nightlies are currently unstable, you can use them for testing and experimenting but we make no guarantees on the stability right now. Use them at your own risk, keep backups, especially if you are upgrading nightly versions.

KiCad 6.0.1 Release

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 6 stable release. The 6.0.1 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

KiCad 6.0.0 Release

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the release of version 6.0.0. This is the first major version release of KiCad since 5.0.0 was released in July of 2018. KiCad binaries are available for download for Windows, MacOS, and Linux or will be in the very near future. See the KiCad download page for guidance. There have been many important changes that make this release a substantial improvement over the 5.

Development Highlight: Third Party Content Improvements

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

We are fast approaching the eventual release of 6.0 targeted for very early next year with the tagging of the 6.0 RC 1. Plugin & Content Manager One final new feature that has been snuck in is the new Plugin & Content Manager (PCM) contributed by Andrew Lutsenko in MR #841 The KiCad community has created an array of valuable python tools and libraries over the years. The PCM now provides the greater KiCad audience an easier way to both learn of these tools and install them with more ease.

KiCad's 2021 End of Year Fund Drive

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Looking back on 2021, we at the KiCad Project feel a deep sense of gratitude. What could have been a lost year to the global pandemic and its associated effects (hello, supply chain!) has instead been a year of great progress at KiCad. This is in large measure due to our supportive and engaged community of users. Community Building We were not able to gather in person again this year.

KiCad 5.1.12 Release

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.12 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release. If you are wondering why there was no official 5.1.11 stable release, it’s because there was an issue with the 5.1.11 tagged code which some users downloaded before the actual release announcement. This required a fix and a new release tag. The KiCad project would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Avoid links to former kicad domain

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The original KiCad domain name (kicad-pcb.org) was recently sold to an unnamed third party that is not affiliated with the KiCad Project or members of the KiCad Development Team. This sale was unexpected and may pose a risk to KiCad users. The new owners may simply post advertisements or (worst-case scenario) they may host malicious versions of the KiCad software for download. How did this happen? The domain name was originally registered in 2012 by the then project lead Dick Hollenbeck.

AISLER Becomes First Platinum Sponsor

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce that AISLER B.V. has become our first platinum sponsor. AISLER has been making monthly donations for many years by sharing a percentage of all orders designed with KiCad as well as allowing their customers to make direct donations to KiCad. Their last twelve monthly donations have exceeded the $15,000 minimum required to become a platinum donor. The KiCad project would like to thank AISLER and their customers who use KiCad to design their boards for their support of the KiCad project.

KiCad 5.1.10 Release

Mon, 03 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.10 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release.

2020 Year End Funding Drive Results

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

On January 15th, 2021 the KiCad 2020 year end funding drive officially ended and it was a resounding success. A total of $14,275 was raised by individual donors which means the full $10,000 match was donated by the KiCad Services Corporation making the total donations for the funding drive $24,275. Thank you to everyone who donated. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will help the project achieve it’s goals of getting the upcoming stable version 6 released as well as kicking off development of version 7 in the new year.

KiCad 5.1.9 Release

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.9 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation.

Project Lead Developer Interview on Fedevel Academy

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project lead developer was recently interviewed by Robert Feranec of Fedevel Academy about the viability of using KiCad in corporate environments. The discussion includes addressing the concerns of corporate users, feature comparison to proprietary products, the feature set of of the upcoming version 6 release, and the future of KiCad development. If you are considering or are already using KiCad in corporate environment or you are just interested in KiCad development in general, click on the link above to hear all about KiCad development.

KiCad's 2020 End of Year Fund Drive

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As 2020 draws to a close, the KiCad Project would like to express our deep gratitude to our community for your support and engagement over the past year. Now, more than ever, the benefits of a truly open and free EDA design platform are needed to share ideas, designs and support, inside your team and around the world. Community Development Many opportunities to connect in person have had to be postponed, canceled or changed.

KiCad 5.1.8 Release

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.8 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation.

kicad.org, the permanent internet home of KiCad

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to a generous donation by Digi-Key, the KiCad project is now found at the kicad.org domain. The kicad.org domain provides a stable, clear home for the KiCad project. We are extremely grateful to Digi-Key for their support of KiCad. kicad-pcb.org is now under control of an unknown entity the project has no relationship with. All previous links are unforunately broken.

Development Highlight: PCBNew Layers, DRC and Toolbar Palettes

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Some great workflow improving changes were made to PCBNew in this Development Highlight for the future KiCad V6 😄 Layer Management Jon Evans introduced a brand new Appearance control in commit bd14f8a82. The entire Appearance control which is on the right hand side of Pcbnew has received a visual and functional overhaul In addition to the existing functionality, there is now the ability to Show all Layers, Dim non-selected layers and Hide non-selected Layers

KiCad 5.1.7 Release

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.7 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation.

Development Highlight: 3D Viewer Improvements

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The 3D Viewer has seen a few incremental improvements during the course of V6 development. Not all changes to KiCad have to large by themselves to improve KiCad.

Development Highlight: CADSTAR PCB Importer

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Roberto Fernandez Bautista had a growing desire at his workplace to migrate away from CADSTAR. After trying and finding migration paths to other EDA tools inadequate and poorly supported, he has leveraged the open source nature of KiCad to create just what he needs and contribute to the greater community :D Thanks to his hard work in MR#279,KiCad is now able to import CADSTAR PCB files! With the schematic importer coming soon.

KiCad and the Open Ventilator Project

Wed, 20 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud of our role as the electronic design application used by the Open Ventilator project. The Open Ventilator project is based on a release of the Medtronic PB560 ventilator mentioned in this Make article. The Open Ventilator project clearly demonstrates the potential of open hardware. The project was started by KiCad Services lead developer Seth Hillbrand early in the COVID-19 pandemic. It quickly gained more than 100 contributors from all over the world.

KiCad 5.1.6 Release

Fri, 15 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.6 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the 5.1.5 release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation.

Development Highlight: New Settings System

Thu, 14 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As a preview of a feature available in the nighty builds, a large change was made to how KiCad stores and loads settings that not only fixes a few headaches with the old system but lays the groundwork for more customization in KiCad such as color themes. This was thanks to the work of Jon Evans in MR#68

Development Highlight: New schematic and symbol library file formats are now the default

Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Since KiCad 4.0, work has been progressing to overhaul all the various project file formats that among many benefits, make them far more human friendly, easier to parse and allow easier addition of new features.

Development Highlight: Altium Pcb Importer

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As a preview of a feature coming in the next major release, the ability to import Altium PcbDoc files is now available in the latest nightly builds. This was thanks to the work of Thomas Pointhuber in MR#60 The board import option can be found under the File > Import > Non-Kicad Board File option and changing the file type filter After which in the import file dialog you must change the file filter

Learn to Code KiCad - FOSDEM 2020

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The first ever Learn to Code KiCad event happened in Brussels, BE on Friday, Jan 31. We had 15 new KiCad developers from Europe and the United States in attendance. 12 unique issues were addressed by the participants, ranging from OpenGL display on ARM hardware to cursor offset bugs to Eeschema rubberbanding. Wayne, Ian, Jon and Seth served as sounding boards for user questions and provided some guidance on where to find needed information.

Project Leader Joins KiCad Services Corporation

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the project leader, Wayne Stambaugh, has joined the KiCad Services Corporation. A video interview with KiCad Services Corporation founder Seth Hillbrand is available for viewing. This new position will allow the project leader to continue work on KiCad as much as possible when not working on behalf of the corporation. On behalf of The KiCad development team and its users, we would like to say thank you to the KiCad Services Corporation for its commitment to the project.

KiCad 5.1.5 Release

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release. The 5.1.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the 5.1.4 release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation. A list of all of the fixed bugs since the 5.1.4 release can be found on the KiCad 5.1.5 milestone page. This release contains several critical bug fixes so please consider upgrading as soon as possible.

KiCad Joins the Linux Foundation

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce that the project has joined the Linux Foundation. This has the potential to provide additional avenues for donations to the KiCad project. It will also allow the project to use donations for services other than software development. Our current donation arrangement with CERN will continue as it always has so you can continue to donate via CERN if you prefer. This will give donors a choice of donation platforms.

KiCad Lead Developer Interview

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad Project Leader was recently interviewed by the founder of SnapEDA. Take a look at the interview if you are interested in the origins of the KiCad project, the current development, and some of the project goals for the future.

KiCad Lead Developer Announcement

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t normally post blog announcements in the first person but I’m going to make an exception since this is rather important. This will also be my first blog post that isn’t good news. I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. I regret to inform everyone that I found out earlier this month that my employment with WIT will be terminated effective October 31st. I am not at liberty to discuss the details as to why my employment was terminated but can say that I had nothing to do with the decision.

KiCad 5.1.4 Release

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release of KiCad. The 5.1.4 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 releases. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation. A list of all of the fixed bugs since the 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 releases can be found on the KiCad 5.1.3 milestone page and the KiCad 5.

First Annual KiCad Conference (KiCon) Wrap Up

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

For those of you who did not have the good fortune of being able to attend KiCon, you missed a great conference. If this years conference was any indication, you will not want to miss the next one. The conference completely sold out with 220 registrations. Attendees from all over the world gathered to share their experiences with KiCad. There were high quality talks, the badges were cool, everything ran smoothly, mHUB was the ideal venue, and the after hours events were a whole lot of (maybe too much) fun.

Full Time Project Leader Announcement

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

For those of you who did not have the good fortune to attend KiCon (more on that in a later post), there was a major project announcement made by the project leader during the keynote talk. The KiCad project is excited to announce that the lead developer, Wayne Stambaugh, has been hired by WIT to work full time on KiCad. On behalf of The KiCad development team and its users, we would like to say thank you to WIT for its commitment to the project.

KiCad 5.1.2 Release

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release of KiCad. The 5.1.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the 5.1.0 release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation. A list of all of the fixed bugs since the 5.1.0 release can be found on the KiCad 5.1.2 milestone page. This release contains several critical bug fixes so please consider upgrading as soon as possible.

KiCad 5.1.0 Release

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the release of version 5.1.0. This is the first ever minor version release of KiCad and was developed primarily to resolve compatibility issues with Linux GTK3 and long awaited support for python3. In addition to the primary focus, there have been many important changes that make this release a substantial improvement over the 5.0 series and a worthwhile upgrade for users on all platforms.

First Annual KiCad Conference Announcement

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is excited to announce the first ever KiCad Conference (KiCon) in Chicago from April 26th through the 27th. The conference will be held at the mHub. This conference is geared towards KiCad users. There will be lots of talks from users of all skill levels as well as some of the members of the KiCad Lead Development Team. The conference keynote talk will be given by the KiCad project leader.

KiCad 5.0.2 Release

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release of KiCad. The 5.0.2 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the 5.0.1 release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation. A list of all of the fixed bugs since the 5.0.1 release can be found on the KiCad 5.0.2 milestone page. This release contains several critical bug fixes so please consider upgrading as soon as possible.

KiCad 5.0.1 Release

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest series 5 stable release of KiCad. The 5.0.1 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the 5.0.0 release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation. A list of all of the fixed bugs since the 5.0.0 release can be found on the KiCad 5.0.1 milestone page. This release contains several critical bug fixes so please consider upgrading as soon as possible.

Testing: Eeschema Advanced Canvas Released

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project recently merged the Eeschema modern canvas code into the development branch. This represents a significant change in the way the schematics and symbols are rendered by using the same modern canvas code used in Pcbnew. The schematic and symbol editing tools will not use the advanced tool framework used in Pcbnew so there will be no new editing features such as advanced selection, snapping, etc. The advanced tool framework features will be introduced into Eeschema during version 6 development.

Post 5.0 notes

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000

It is already a week since 5.0 has been released, meaning it is a good moment to sum up the release. Many Windows users have reported problems, most frequently related to wxWidgets assert dialogs showing up in pcbnew. The problem has been resolved, therefore if you still experience any issues please reinstall KiCad using the current Windows installer. There is still one problem that has appeared very late in the 5.

KiCad 5 – a new generation

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Almost a year after the release of KiCad 4.0.7, the KiCad development team is proud to present a new and improved KiCad 5.0 release! The stable release version 5.0.0 is made from the stable 5.0 branch. KiCad binaries should be available now or in the very near future for download for Windows, macOS and Linux. See the download page for guidance. Instructions for packagers can be found on the download page describing how to build from source .

Template Folder Changes

Sat, 19 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000

As of version 5.0.0-rc2 (commit be0978f3 to be precise), there was a change made to the way the template path is determined. The ambiguous environment variable KICAD_PTEMPLATES has been deprecated and replaced by KICAD_TEMPLATE_DIR which by default should point to the template folder installed with KiCad. This path may not always be correct depending upon how KiCad was installed. At least it can be configured by the user if the default path is incorrect.

Mask Clearance Generation Changes

Tue, 01 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000

As of version 5.0.0-rc2 (commit 93c7f65d to be precise), there is a change in way the solder mask and solder paste clearances are determined. For pads defined with copper layers, the solder mask and solder paste clearance calculations remain the same. For pads defined with no copper layers (referred to as aperture pads), the inherited clearance and ratio settings are no longer applied and the pad is plotted as defined.

KiCad Official Libraries

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce that the official KiCad libraries are now featured on the KiCad website. The library team has invested a large amount of time improving the standard of the KiCad libraries. As part of this effort, a new set of KiCad Library Conventions (KLC) are now available on the KiCad website at /libraries/klc. These conventions help to ensure that contributions to the libraries are held to a high standard.

Testing: Symbol Library Table Released

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project recently merged the symbol library table code for accessing symbol libraries into the master branch. This represents a significant change in the way symbol libraries are defined and accessed. It is similar in design and function of the footprint library table and will resolve the long standing issue with symbol library ordering in Eeschema along with some new features such as platform independence and lazy library loading.

Testing: Eagle import plugins

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the support for importing Eagle projects. This is the outcome of work to complete the Eagle schematic file plugin and integrate it with the Eagle board file plugin. From the new "Import Project" menu entry in the KiCad launcher users may now select an Eagle schematic or board file and the new project name and location, after which the corresponding Eagle files will be imported respectively into EEschema and PcbNew.

KiCad 4.0.7 Stable Release

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest stable release of KiCad. The 4.0.7 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the last release. It also includes improved footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries, translations, and documentation. The stable release version 4.0.7 is made from the stable 4.0 branch with bug fixes cherry picked from the development branch of KiCad. KiCad binaries are available or will be available in the near future for download for Windows, OSX and Linux, see the download page for guidance.

KiCad 4.0.6 Stable Release

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce the latest stable release of KiCad. The 4.0.6 stable version contains critical bug fixes and other minor improvements since the last release. One other notable change was the replacement of the Avhttp library with the libcurl library when building the GitHub plugin. This should allow Linux distributions that are not compatible with the OpenSSL library license to distribute KiCad with the GitHub plugin enabled.

KiCad 4.0.5 Stable Release

Sun, 18 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The KiCad project is proud to announce a new stable release of KiCad. The 4.0.5 stable version contains critical bug fixes and version string improvements since the last release. The stable release version 4.0.5 is made from the stable 4.0 branch with bug fixes cherry picked from the development branch of KiCad. KiCad binaries are available or will be available in the near future for download for Windows, OSX and Linux, see the download page for guidance.

Gerber X2 Support

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

"blog/categories" = [ "Development Highlight" ] The KiCad project is pleased to announce that it is the first electronic development application to fully support the Gerber X2 extensions. See the article on the PCB Design website. Thanks to the efforts of project founder Jean-Pierre Charras, KiCad can provide full Gerber X2 extension support before any proprietary or open source electronic development applications. The Gerber X2 support is currently available in the nightly builds of KiCad and will ship when the stable 5 version of KiCad is released.

KiCad 4.0.4 Stable Release

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Hot on the heels of stable release 4.0.3, there is a new stable release of KiCad. The 4.0.4 stable version contains a few critical fixes that slipped through the cracks in the last release. The stable release version 4.0.4 is made from the stable 4.0 branch with bug fixes cherry picked from the development branch of KiCad. KiCad binaries are available or will be available in the near future for download for Windows, OSX and Linux, see the download page for guidance.

KiCad Switches to Git for Version Control

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The moment all of you Git fans have been waiting for has finally arrived! As of August 21st, 2016 the official version control system for the development repository for KiCad is now Git instead of Bazaar. The decision was made to stick with Launchpad as the hosting site rather than move to Github in order to keep our existing bug tracker history. The development team decided that the Lauchpad Git integration had reached a sufficient level of maturity to make the switch.

KiCad 4.0.3 Stable Release

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A new stable release of KiCad has been released. The 4.0.3 stable version contains many bug fixes, OSX touch pad improvements, and improved translations. This release contains a new snapshot of the documentation and libraries. It also has the latest changes from the kicad-i18n repo, which now contains complete GUI translations for the following languages: de, fr, it, ja, ru, pl, zh_CN and es. The stable release version 4.0.3 is made from the lp:kicad/4.

New 3DViewer

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

After almost 15 months in development and testing, the new 3DViewer developed by Mario Luzeiro has been merged with the product branch in revision 6985 http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kicad-product-committers/kicad/product/revision/6985 and has since been available in the nightly builds of KiCad. This viewer was written entirely from scratch and takes advantage of the 3D plugin system to provide visualization of all 3D model formats supported by available 3D plugins. Features include: Two new render targets: OpenGL (GPU accelerated), and ray tracing with post-processing effects.

KiCad Hackathon At CERN

Wed, 06 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A cadre of KiCad developers including Wayne Stambaugh, Tom Wlostowski, Maciej (Orson) Suminski, and Simon Richter along with some potential new developers Michele Castellana and Alejandro García Montoro gathered at CERN for a KiCad hackathon the week of July 4th to July 10th organized by CERN’s Javier Serrano. There was even enough time to take a trip to visit the KiCad project founder Jean-Pierre Charras. It would be a gross understatement to say that a good time was had by all.

In Development: 3D Plugins

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Seasoned KiCad users are familiar with the venerable 3DViewer tool which has traditionally been used to help verify design by visual inspection and to create images of what a project may look like when it is finished. Historically the 3DViewer could only process a very limited implementation of the VRML2 (aka VRML97) specification as produced by the Wings3D modeler. In the past two years various developers contributed support for VRML1 and a very limited implementation of X3D, which improved the support for VRML generated by FreeCAD.

KiCad 4.0.2 more bugfixes

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A new release of KiCad has been made, containing only minor bug fixes. This release does not contain a new snapshot of the docs or libs. It does have the latest changes from the kicad-i18n repo, which contains the GUI translations for KiCad. As last time, version 4.0.2 is made from the lp:kicad/4.0 branch with some cherry picked changes from the development branch. KiCad binaries will be available for download for Windows, OSX and Linux in the near future, see the download page for guidance.

KiCad 4.0.1 minor bugfixes

Sat, 12 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

A new release of KiCad has been made, containing some minor bug fixes. These are related to the default path issue seen on Windows where the KISYMOD and KISYS3DMOD was not set properly. They are now set as environment variables by the installer such that they match your installation directory. In addition to that, a few fixes for the GAL canvas has been applied and a bug fix for the KiCad manager where it could potentially crash.

KiCad 4.0.0 is Out!

Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

We’ve just released the long-awaited KiCad stable release, version 4.0.0! The announcement can be read on the developer’s mailing list archive. Version 4.0.0 is made from the product branch BZR 6336. This is 148 commits after the last release candidate, RC2. These are all changes to improve stability and usability of KiCad. KiCad binaries will be available for download for Windows, OSX and Linux in the near future, see the download page for guidance.

KiCad 4.0.0 RC2

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Now, approximately two months after the first release candidate we can now announce the second release candidate, 4.0.0 RC2, this is BZR 6303 from the product branch. Since the previous release candidate 115 commits have been made to fix bugs reported by users and developers alike. The 4.0 source code branch is available in the BZR repository on launchpad here: KiCad 4.0 Branch The RC2 branch has been packaged as a source archive available here: KiCad 4.

2015 Release Candidate Branch and RC1

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that KiCad has finally made a 2015 release branch. The 2015 stable release of KiCad will start from version 4.0.0. Currently we are in the release candidate phase and as such BZR 6188 is now known as 4.0.0 RC1. The 4.0 branch can be found here: KiCad 4.0 Branch The RC1 branch has been packaged as a archive available here: KiCad 4.0.0 RC1 Archive

July and August 2015 Development Summary

Mon, 07 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

In the spirit of providing insight on KiCad’s development, this report covers some of the development work within July and August. There are many patches that have been applied and this post will only summarize some of them, this is in no way meant to discourage small patches). Stable release Work continues towards a "stable" release for 2015. It is taking longer than desired to reach a "stable" point however many developers do this in their limited spare time.

Announcing the new website

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

We are happy to announce a new website for KiCad, this instead of the old website system which was using Confluence, that has proved very unstable. The goal of this new website is to be the go to place for official KiCad information and should support some way of having regular KiCad users contribute to the site, let that be fixing typing mistakes or just improving the content in what ever way seems fit.

First Feature Freeze

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

It is time. Wayne, the current project leader, has now called the development status a feature freeze. See the announcement. This is to satisfy the road map and finally make a real release of KiCad since the latest release, the so called "Old Stable" also knows as the "4022 release". The number is referring to the bazaar revision number for that release. The task is now to make KiCad stable, which means bug fixing.