New AI plugin lets Claude design PCB boards inside KiCad 10

A new open-source plugin called Konnect is giving Claude direct control over KiCad 10, the free electronics design software used by engineers and hobbyists around the world. The plugin lets the AI place components, wire schematics, lay out circuit boards and generate manufacturing files without the user having to click through menus.

Konnect works through a system called the Model Context Protocol, or MCP, which acts as a bridge between the AI and KiCad. When connected, the AI can call 228 different tools spread across 21 categories. It can run design rule checks, search a catalog of 2.5 million parts from JLCPCB, create reference circuits for common designs like USB-C ports and power regulators, and export the full set of files needed to actually build the board ¹.

The plugin was built as a successor to an earlier project called KiCAD-MCP-Server. That first version worked but had serious problems. A single command from the AI had to pass through four different programming languages and multiple layers of software before it reached KiCad. Each layer could break or lose data. Konnect was rewritten in the Rust programming language as a single small file about 20 to 25 megabytes, eliminating most of that complexity.

One of the biggest improvements is how Konnect talks to KiCad. Instead of relying on old binding tools that KiCad is phasing out, Konnect uses KiCad 10’s own official communication interface. Changes appear in real time and the normal undo and redo buttons still work. Schematic edits use a dedicated system that writes files safely and keeps track of component IDs so nothing gets scrambled.

The AI does not get overwhelmed by all 228 tools at once. Instead, it starts with a small starter set and requests more tool groups as it needs them. The plugin also includes a logging system so the AI can track its own mistakes and figure out what went wrong.

Konnect also ships with built-in tutorials and ready-made circuit templates for common projects. Users can start from verified designs for things like LED circuits, microcontroller boards and power supply modules, rather than building everything from scratch.

The project is currently in beta, and the developers say the core features work but want real-world testing before calling it finished. It runs with Claude and other AI assistants that support MCP, including versions inside Claude Desktop, VS Code and Claude Code. Installation is available through the KiCad Plugin and Content Manager or as a direct download for Windows, macOS and Linux.

The earlier KiCAD-MCP-Server project remains available for people who prefer it, but Konnect is positioned as the more stable and future-proof option.

For electronics makers, the tool represents a significant step toward having an AI assistant that can do real work inside a professional design program, rather than just writing text descriptions of circuits.