Konnect
MCP server for PCB design in KiCAD 10: schematic, routing, checks and manufacturing prep through an agent
Medium risk
We rate an entry medium when the tool runs code, makes network calls or reads project files. Check what exactly it does before installing.
Why this level
- Edits board and schematic project files
- Runs kicad-cli and exports manufacturing files
Install
Manual install
{
"mcpServers": {
"konnect": {
"command": "/path/to/plugins/konnect/bin/konnect"
}
}
}Point to the konnect binary in the KiCAD plugins folder. The --config argument is optional, defaults work out of the box.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Konnect is a native KiCAD 10 plugin, built as a single Rust binary, that opens board work to Claude and other agents over MCP. The agent places and wires schematic components and moves and routes footprints in real time through the official KiCAD IPC API with undo support. It also runs ERC and DRC, power and decoupling audits, searches parts in a local JLCPCB catalog, and exports production files: Gerber, drill, BOM and pick-and-place. Tools are grouped into sets and loaded on demand to keep context small. Bundled skills and agents teach the model KiCAD conventions.
Who it is for. For electronics engineers and hardware developers who design boards in KiCAD and want to hand part of the work to an agent.
Good fit when
- You need to build or adjust a schematic and route a board in KiCAD by describing the task
- You need to run ERC, DRC and a power audit
- You need to prepare manufacturing files and pick JLCPCB parts
Not a fit when
- You are not on KiCAD 10 but a different or older version
- You need precise manual routing without a model involved
Example request
Build an LDO regulator schematic, route the board and prepare Gerbers for JLCPCBLimitations
The project is in beta and targets KiCAD 10. Board edits go through the KiCAD IPC API, with a safe headless fallback for single-footprint placement. The license is AGPL-3.0, see COMMERCIAL.md for commercial use. The local part catalog and exports depend on an installed kicad-cli.
How to disable. Remove the konnect entry from the MCP config and uninstall the plugin through the KiCAD plugin manager.
MCP
- Transport
- stdio, http
- Authentication
- not required
| Environment variables | |
|---|---|
| RUST_LOG | Log level, for example info |
Security check
- Edits board and schematic project files
- Runs kicad-cli and exports manufacturing files
README in short
The README presents Konnect as a native KiCAD 10 plugin and Rust MCP server with tool sets for schematic, routing, checks, design review and manufacturing. It explains the rewrite: a shorter call path, one binary instead of a Node and Python stack, a move from SWIG to the official KiCAD IPC API, and atomic schematic file edits. A router loads tool sets on demand to save context. The default transport is stdio, with an HTTP mode. It includes config samples for Claude Code and Claude Desktop.
FAQ
Does KiCAD need to be running?
For real-time board edits over IPC, KiCAD must be running. Some schematic operations work directly on files, and single-footprint placement has a fallback without KiCAD.
How is it different from the old KiCAD-MCP-Server?
Konnect is the successor, built as one Rust binary without the Node and Python stack, moving to the official KiCAD IPC API instead of deprecated SWIG bindings.
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Reference MCP servers
Model Context Protocol servers
Official reference MCP servers: Filesystem, Fetch, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking, Time and Everything