Design printed circuit boards with KiCad
Boardwalk
© Lead Image © Shamain, 123RF.com
KiCad helps you design printed circuit boards with up to 32 layers, checks for optimal placement, and supplies schematics and assembly diagrams in the popular Gerber format for submission to PCB manufacturers.
KiCad was originally launched as simple schematics software; today, it supplies blueprints for components used at the CERN nuclear research center in Geneva, Switzerland. Accordingly, CERN's scientists are actively involved in the development of KiCad, which is available for Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS, and Windows [1].
Schematics created with this program are suitable for importing into other programs, depending on the format. KiCad comes with numerous features and, unlike the free versions of commercial counterparts such as Eagle Light Edition or Target 3001!, there are no restrictions on its use and scope. See the "Basics" boxout if you are a newcomer to the field.
The program is available for many distributions. You can download the latest version from the project page, where you also will find the source code if you want to compile the software yourself.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Retools Thelio Desktop
The new Thelio Mira has landed with improved performance, repairability, and front-facing ports alongside a high-quality tempered glass facade.
-
Some Linux Distros Skirt Age Verification Laws
After California introduced an age verification law recently, open source operating system developers have had to get creative with how they deal with it.
-
UN Creates Open Source Portal
In a quest to strengthen open source collaboration, the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology has created a new portal.
-
Latest Linux Kernel RC Contains Changes Galore
Linux kernel 7.0-rc3 includes more changes than have been made in a single release in recent history.
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.
-
Introducing matrixOS, an Immutable Gentoo-Based Linux Distro
It was only a matter of time before a developer decided one of the most challenging Linux distributions needed to be immutable.
-
Chaos Comes to KDE in KaOS
KaOS devs are making a major change to the distribution, and it all comes down to one system.