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Konnect
Konnect logo

Konnect

Active·★ 1.4k·AGPL-3.0·Updated 2026-10-19
★ Trending

Konnect is the Rust rewrite and successor to `KiCAD-MCP-Server`, built as a single ~5 MB native binary and plugin for KiCAD 10. It connects Claude and other MCP-compatible assistants directly to electronic design automation workflows across 18 on-demand toolsets (185 tools total), covering schematic capture, real-time PCB layout and routing, ERC/DRC checks, JLCPCB 2.5M-part catalog search, Freerouting integration, and Gerber/BOM manufacturing exports. Unlike earlier Python/TypeScript bridges that relied on deprecated SWIG bindings, Konnect edits `.kicad_sch` files directly via an atomic S-expression engine and drives the PCB editor in real time through KiCAD 10's official IPC API (protobuf over NNG) with full undo/redo support. To save context tokens, its router loads a compact ~2K-token starter kit and pulls specialized toolsets on demand.

This write-up is based on the project's README and public repository data. We have not hand-tested the tool. Data as of 2026-10-19.

License
AGPL-3.0
Latest release
v0.13.0 · 2026-10-02
Last commit
2026-10-19
Contributors
38
Forks
149
Open issues and PRs
234
First published
2026-07-05

Source: GitHub, npm and PyPI public APIs.

#AI-assisted design#PCB design#KiCAD plugin#Rust#Schematic capture#PCB layout#ERC/DRC#Dev Tooling
$ Install
$ protoc --version && cargo build --release -p konnect
↗ Visit site★ GitHub
01

Features

01AI-assisted schematic capture and wiring
02Real-time PCB layout and routing with undo/redo integration
03Automated design checks (ERC, DRC, connectivity, BOM health)
04Export production files (Gerbers, drill, BOM, pick-and-place, 3D models)
05JLCPCB part search and reference circuit templates
02

Why choose it

+Compiles into a single ~5 MB Rust binary with zero Python or Node.js runtime dependencies.
+Uses KiCAD 10's official IPC API (protobuf over NNG) for real-time, undo-aware PCB edits and atomic S-expression writes for schematics.
+On-demand toolset router keeps initial MCP context overhead around ~2K tokens instead of ~23K tokens.
03

Trade-offs

!Requires KiCAD 10 for real-time IPC PCB layout operations and is currently in beta.
!Licensed under AGPL-3.0, which imposes copyleft requirements on modified network/distributed deployments.
05

Maintenance check

ActiveChecked: 2026-10-19
Last commit
2026-10-05
Commits, last 90 days
100+
Releases, last 90 days
21
Latest release
v0.13.0 (2026-10-02)
Open issues
234
Recent issues with at least one comment
10/30
Commits per week, last 12 weeks
Commits per week, last 12 weeks: 14, 104, 87, 103, 37, 63, 60, 17, 64, 8, 0, 0

Oldest week on the left; the latest four weeks are orange. Source: GitHub commit activity.

Status rule: archived on GitHub = Archived; last commit within 90 days = Active; 91 to 365 days = Slowing; older = Stale. All figures come from the GitHub API on the date shown.

Most discussed open issues

  • #788 update_pcb_from_schematic copies no symbol fields (LCSC, MPN, Datasheet) onto footprints9 comments · 2026-10-03
  • #590 Architectural direction: native KiCad operations, complete design preservation, and compatibility retirement8 comments · 2026-09-15
  • #574 Define one authoritative board-state source contract for PCB reads, analysis, and CLI workflows8 comments · 2026-09-14
  • #450 Add unit-selectable mirroring for already-placed schematic symbols8 comments · 2026-09-07
  • #575 Track coordinate and geometry correctness across KiCad tools7 comments · 2026-09-15

Issue titles are quoted from GitHub. Open the link to check whether a problem still applies to the version you use.

04

Who it fits

Pick it if
  • You design electronic hardware in KiCad 10 and want an AI assistant to inspect schematics, layout, routing, and design rules via MCP.
  • You want a high-performance native Rust plugin exposing 170+ KiCad tools directly to Claude or other LLMs.
Look elsewhere if
  • You use proprietary EDA suites like Altium Designer or Cadence Allegro; Konnect is native to KiCad 10.
  • You do not perform schematic capture or printed circuit board design.
06

How it differs

unity-mcp logovs unity-mcp★ 15.3k

Konnect bridges AI with the KiCad EDA ecosystem for circuit board design. unity-mcp bridges AI with the Unity 3D engine for game and virtual environment creation.

Full comparison →
07

Compatibility

KiCAD 10
Plugin Target
Verified via docs
Rust
Runtime
Verified via docs
Windows
OS
Verified via docs
Docker
Deployment
Verified via docs
08

Quick start

1
$ protoc --version
2
$ cargo build --release -p konnect
09

Use cases

↳Automating the placement and wiring of schematic components
↳Accelerating PCB layout and routing processes
↳Performing comprehensive design rule checks and audits
↳Generating all necessary manufacturing and assembly files
↳Finding and integrating electronic components from a large catalog
10

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On this page
01Features02Why choose it03Trade-offs05Maintenance check04Who it fits06How it differs07Compatibility08Quick start09Use cases10Alternatives
mixelpixx /
Konnect
↗

Single-binary Rust MCP server and native KiCAD 10 plugin with 185 tools for AI-assisted PCB design

1.4k149AGPL-3.0
Last commit4d ago
StatusActive
CategoryDev Tooling
Contributors38
Latest releasev0.13.0
Links
Documentation↗Discussion↗Issues↗Releases↗
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