# Konnect

> A KiCAD 10 plugin and MCP server, built as a single Rust binary, that lets AI assistants design schematics and PCBs.

Konnect is a native KiCAD 10 plugin, distributed as a single Rust binary, that exposes schematic, PCB layout, routing, design-check, and manufacturing tools to Claude and other MCP clients. The README describes 228 tools across 21 on-demand toolsets and labels the release as beta. It is published by the GitHub user mixelpixx under the AGPL-3.0 license, with commercial licenses also offered.

## What It Is

Konnect is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for electronics design. An AI assistant connects to it and edits KiCAD projects directly instead of describing changes for a person to apply by hand. It succeeds the Python/TypeScript KiCAD-MCP-Server, rebuilt as a single static binary.

## What the AI Can Do

- Place and wire schematic components, connecting them by pin name.
- Place, move, rotate, and route PCB footprints in real time through KiCAD's IPC API, integrated with KiCAD's undo/redo.
- Run ERC, DRC, connectivity validation, decoupling audits, power-rail review, and BOM health checks.
- Export Gerbers, drill files, BOM, pick-and-place, 3D models, and PDF.
- Search a local JLCPCB parts catalog and suggest alternatives.
- Start from reference circuits such as USB-C, LDO, buck converter, STM32, I2C, and LED templates.
- Autoroute through a Specctra DSN export, Freerouting, and SES import path.

A separate schematic viewer auto-refreshes as the schematic file changes.

## How It Works

Schematic edits go directly to `.kicad_sch` files through a built-in S-expression engine with atomic writes. PCB edits use the KiCAD 10 IPC API, and exports and checks call `kicad-cli`. The default transport is MCP JSON-RPC over stdio, with Streamable HTTP also available. A router loads a small starter kit of tools and pulls in toolsets on demand to save context, and call-logging tools let the model diagnose tool failures.

## Setup Path

Install from the KiCAD Plugin and Content Manager using a platform zip from Releases, or build from source with Cargo (protoc and cmake required). Then register the binary in Claude Desktop or Claude Code's MCP config. `konnect init` installs bundled skills, agents, and hooks for Claude, or skills only for Codex with `--client codex`. Most PCB tools need KiCAD running with the board open. Windows is the most-tested platform, macOS works from release binaries or source, and Linux compiles and passes CI tests.

## Features
- 228 tools across 21 on-demand toolsets
- Schematic capture and wiring by pin name
- Real-time PCB layout and routing via KiCAD IPC API
- ERC, DRC, and design-review audits
- Manufacturing export (Gerber, drill, BOM, pick-and-place, 3D, PDF)
- JLCPCB part search with local catalog
- Reference circuit templates
- Specctra DSN export with Freerouting autorouting
- Live schematic viewer
- Bundled skills and agents for Claude and Codex
- Stdio and Streamable HTTP transports
- Call logging and server stats observability

## Integrations
KiCAD 10, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex CLI, JLCPCB, Freerouting, kicad-cli

## Platforms
WINDOWS, MACOS, LINUX, WEB, API, VSC_EXTENSION, CLI

## Pricing
Open Source

## Version
v0.13.0

## Links
- Website: https://github.com/mixelpixx/Konnect
- Documentation: https://github.com/mixelpixx/Konnect/blob/main/tool-directory.md
- Repository: https://github.com/mixelpixx/Konnect
- EveryDev.ai: https://www.everydev.ai/tools/konnect