A Cavalcade of KiCad Resources

**This list will be kept up to date on the wiki: **http://meatandnetworking.com/w/Kicad_Resources

KiCad is an Electronic Design tool, similar to EagleCAD. KiCad is free, open source software, and runs on OSX, Linux and Windows. KiCad is unrestricted. All features may be used for hobbyist or commercial works.

Here are some features of KiCad that might appeal to the hobbyist:

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      Nested schematic sheets
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    <li>
      No restrictions on commercial use
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    <li>
      Completely open source<br /> (We should use open source software to build open source hardware!)
    </li>
  </ul>
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Getting Started

• Kicad Project Homepage

  KiCad can be downloaded here. KiCad support on OSX is alright, but not as good as the other platforms.

• kicad-testing-daily

  For Ubuntu users: Adam Wolf maintains a launchpad PPA for the KiCad daily build. This build is generally stable, and months ahead of the “official” release.

• How to build KiCad from source

  Wayne and Layne have a great article on how to build KiCad from source (on Ubuntu).

Basic Tutorials

• Curious Inventor KiCad Guides

  These guides are very comprehensive, and will get you up and running in no time at all. Unfortunately, they’re a little out of date. For example, they still refer to KiCad as having no “undo” functionality, which it now does.

• Teho Labs Kicad Tutorial

  Brian from Teho Labs wrote this great tutorial

• WikiBooks

  This isn’t the best tutorial in the world, but it’s got a great, thorough FAQ.

• Dr. Johnathan Hill’s Kicad Tutorials

  Dr. Hill takes readers through an example project, which is a great way to get a good understanding of the workflow of KiCad.

• KicadHowto.org

  This is the new tutorial on the block. It’s not very well organized, but the information contained therein is very good.

• TransTronics Wiki

  Again, poorly organized, but there’s a lot of good info about general KiCad use here. Some parts are also a bit out of date.

KiCad Libraries

EagleCad users are familiar with having large parts libraries available instantly. With companies like Adafruit, Sparkfun and DangerousPrototypes publishing high-quality Eagle libraries, it can be tough to transition. These resources should help you overcome that hump.

• KiCadLib.org

  A highly respectable collection of library components.

• Open Source Hardware Engineering Community Library

  Here you’ll find all the default component libraries that come with Eagle converted for use in KiCad. Not all of them are 100%, but it’s a great boost.

• QuickLibGen

  When you have to make your own part, this can really speed up the process. Provide some basic info, and download your schematic symbol.

• Footprint Builder

  A Java program for quickly creating certain types of land patterns for KiCad components.

• Creating and Modifying Symbols for KiCad

  This PDF does a good job of covering some of the more fiddly parts of creating and modifying symbols using the build-in editor.