robertxdx/component-importer-for-kicad

★ 13PythonAudience · designerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Automates KiCad imports
      Watches a download folder
      System tray, auto-start
    What it imports
      Schematic symbols
      Footprints
      3D models
      Datasheets
    After Import
      Auto-links symbol to footprint
      Logs every import
      Creates backups
    Platform Support
      Windows
      Ubuntu-based Linux
      Installers available
    Setup Note
      KiCad 10 close first
      Reload library once

mindmap root((repo)) What it does Automates KiCad imports Watches a download folder System tray, auto-start What it imports Schematic symbols Footprints 3D models Datasheets After Import Auto-links symbol to footprint Logs every import Creates backups Platform Support Windows Ubuntu-based Linux Installers available Setup Note KiCad 10 close first Reload library once

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Drop a component ZIP from a supplier into a watched folder and have it automatically appear in your KiCad library, ready to place on a schematic.

USE CASE 2

Stop manually copying schematic symbols, footprints, and 3D models into KiCad one file at a time.

USE CASE 3

Keep a log of every component import and restore from backups if a bad import corrupts your library.

USE CASE 4

Search for component providers directly from the app without leaving your KiCad workflow.

Tech stack

PythonPyQt6

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

KiCad 10 users must close KiCad fully before the first import, after the library loads once, later imports work without closing KiCad.

Use freely for any purpose including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

In plain English

This is a desktop app that helps electronics designers manage third-party component files inside KiCad projects. KiCad is a free program used to design printed circuit boards (PCBs). When you design a circuit board, you often need to download component files from part suppliers or library websites, and those files usually arrive as ZIP archives. Getting them properly organized and registered inside a KiCad project has traditionally been a manual, error-prone process. This app automates that. When you drop a component ZIP file into a watched folder, the app detects it and imports the contents into your KiCad project's local libraries. It handles the different types of files a component might include: the schematic symbol (the abstract diagram representation), the footprint (the physical shape on the board), 3D models for visualization, datasheets, and metadata. After importing, it links the symbol to its footprint automatically so they are connected in KiCad without additional manual steps. The app runs quietly in the system tray and can start automatically when you log in. It can also search for component providers from within its interface. Every import is logged and backed up, so you can recover from mistakes. There is a configuration screen where you set your KiCad project folder, your library name, and the download folder to watch. One setup note for KiCad 10 users: because KiCad 10 holds library tables in memory while a project is open, you need to close KiCad fully before the first import. After the library exists and KiCad has loaded it once, later imports into that same library can happen without closing KiCad again. The app runs on Windows and on Ubuntu-based Linux systems. It is written in Python and built with the PyQt6 interface toolkit. Installers are available for both platforms. The source code is released under the MIT license and is not affiliated with the KiCad project.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I downloaded a component ZIP from Digi-Key and I want to import it into my KiCad project using component-importer-for-kicad. Walk me through setup: where do I set the watched folder, what library name do I choose, and what happens when I drop the ZIP?

Prompt 2

I'm using KiCad 10 and my first import didn't show up in the library. What is the KiCad 10 limitation and exactly what do I need to do before running my first import?

Prompt 3

How does component-importer-for-kicad automatically link a schematic symbol to its footprint after importing, and do I need to do anything extra inside KiCad afterward?

Prompt 4

I made a bad import and my KiCad library looks broken. How do I use the backup feature in component-importer-for-kicad to roll back to the previous state?

Prompt 5

How do I configure component-importer-for-kicad to launch automatically at login on Ubuntu and run silently in the background?

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