🧩 pcb-claude-plugin - From Circuit Idea to Real PCB

A friendly helper for Claude Code that walks your electronics idea through the entire journey, ending with a KiCad board file you can actually send to a manufacturer.

⬇️ Get pcb-claude-plugin

Visit this link to download the application.

💡 What Is pcb-claude-plugin?

pcb-claude-plugin is an add-on for Claude Code, the AI assistant that runs in your computer's terminal window. Think of it as a specialist assistant that understands electronics. You describe the circuit you want in plain language, and the plugin helps you turn that description into a complete, manufacturable printed circuit board (PCB) design using KiCad, a free and popular circuit design program.

Normally, designing a PCB means learning several complicated programs, memorizing component part numbers, working out trace widths, and hoping your board passes a factory check. This plugin takes most of that pain away. It organizes the work into clear stages, keeps track of the decisions you make, and produces files that manufacturing services like JLCPCB can accept directly.

You do not need to know how to code. You do not need to be an electrical engineer. You only need a circuit idea, a Windows computer, and the willingness to answer a few simple questions along the way.

✨ What It Helps You Do

Turn a description into a design. Talk about your idea the way you would explain it to a friend, and the plugin helps translate that into a real schematic.
Pick sensible parts. Instead of hunting through thousands of components, you get suggestions that are widely available and easy to solder.
Lay out the board. The plugin supports routing work, including automatic routing assistance, so connections on the board get drawn for you where possible.
Check before you order. Design rule checks catch the mistakes that cause boards to fail at the factory, long before you spend money.
Prepare manufacturer files. Produce the standard production files (often called Gerbers) plus the drill and bill-of-materials files that JLCPCB and similar services expect.
Keep everything organized. Each project stays in its own tidy folder, so you can come back weeks later and still know where everything is.

🚀 Download and Install on Windows

Everything you need lives on the project's GitHub page. Visit this link to download the application.

Download pcb-claude-plugin

Follow these steps in order. Take your time; there is no rush and nothing here can break your computer.

Open the link. Your web browser will show the project page. If you already have a GitHub account you can sign in, but for simply downloading it is not required.
Find the download area. Look for the green button or the releases section on the right side of the page. That is where the files for end users are kept.
Save the file to your computer. When Windows asks whether to save or open, choose Save, and remember which folder you used. The Downloads folder is fine.
Install Claude Code first. This plugin runs inside Claude Code, so make sure the Claude Code application is already installed and working on your machine before you continue.
Add the plugin. Follow the short setup instructions shown on the project page. They explain exactly where to place the plugin so Claude Code can find it.
Install KiCad. KiCad is free and separate from this plugin. Download it from its official website using the standard Windows installer and accept the default options.
Restart your terminal. Close the terminal window completely and open a fresh one. This lets Claude Code notice the new plugin.

🖥️ System Requirements

These are modest, everyday specifications. Most computers made in the last several years will be more than enough.

Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit.
Memory: 8 GB of RAM or more. 16 GB is comfortable for larger boards.
Disk space: About 3 GB free, mostly for KiCad and its component libraries.
Display: A screen resolution of 1366 × 768 or higher. A larger monitor makes board layout much easier.
Internet: A steady connection, because the plugin and KiCad both fetch information online.
Other software: Claude Code and KiCad must both be installed before the plugin is useful.

🧭 Your First Project, Step by Step

Once everything is installed, start Claude Code as you normally would and ask it about the new PCB helper. It will confirm that the plugin is available. Then try a small practice project.

Describe your idea. For example: "I want a small board that blinks an LED every second from a coin cell battery." Plain language works best.
Answer the questions. The plugin will ask about size, power source, connectors, and how many boards you plan to make. Choose the simplest option if you are unsure.
Review the schematic. This is the drawing of how parts connect. You do not need to judge every wire; just check that the parts list matches what you pictured.
Approve the layout. The plugin will help place the parts and route the connections. Look at the picture of the board and confirm it fits the size you asked for.
Run the final checks. Ask for a design rule check. Fix anything that gets flagged; the messages are written in plain terms.
Export your production files. Save the manufacturing package to a folder you can find easily. That folder is what you upload when you order boards.

🔧 How the Pieces Fit Together

Three things work together, and it helps to know what each one does.

Claude Code is the assistant you type into. It sits in a terminal window and understands your instructions. The plugin is a set of extra skills and knowledge that teaches the assistant about circuit design, component choices, and board manufacturing. KiCad is the actual drawing program where the schematic and board files live.

Because the plugin is a helper rather than a replacement, you can always open your project in KiCad yourself and move things around by hand. Nothing is locked away. Your files remain ordinary KiCad files that any designer or manufacturer can read.

❓ Troubleshooting Common Hiccups

The plugin does not seem to be there. Close the terminal window fully, not just the tab, and open a new one. Then ask Claude Code to list its available skills.

Windows warns about a downloaded file. This is the standard SmartScreen message for files from the internet. Only continue if you downloaded from the official project link shown on this page.

KiCad cannot find a part. Open KiCad once by itself and let it finish setting up its libraries before asking the plugin to design anything.

The board is larger than you wanted. Ask for a smaller outline and fewer connectors. Physical parts take up more room than most people expect.

Something looks wrong in the design. Say so in plain words. The whole point of a conversational assistant is that you can push back and ask for changes.

🛡️ Good Habits for a Happy First Board

Start with something simple: one power source, one indicator, one connector.
Order a single board before ordering ten. Factories charge very little for a first small run, and a first attempt often teaches you something.
Always open the exported files in a viewer before uploading them anywhere.
Keep your project folders under your user folder, not in unusual system locations.
Keep a short written note of what each board was meant to do. Future you will be grateful.

🤝 Getting Help and Sharing Feedback

The project page is the best place to start. There you will find the current version, notes about what changed, and a place to report a problem or ask a question. When you report something, mention your Windows version, what you were trying to build, and the exact words that appeared on screen. That makes it far easier for someone to help you.

If you build something you like, consider sharing a picture. Circuit boards are a visual hobby, and seeing a finished result helps newcomers believe they can do it too.

Ready to Turn Your Idea Into a Board?

Visit the project page, grab the plugin, and start with one small circuit. The rest follows naturally.

Go to the Download Page