kicad-cli

KiCad CLI Reference

Complete command reference for kicad-cli (KiCad 8.x)

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1. Command Structure

kicad-cli <application> <command> [options] <input-file>

Applications:

• sch - Schematic operations
• pcb - PCB operations
• fp - Footprint operations
• sym - Symbol operations

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2. Schematic Commands

Export Netlist

kicad-cli sch export netlist \
  --output project.net \
  project.kicad_sch

Export BOM

# Basic BOM
kicad-cli sch export bom \
  --output bom.csv \
  project.kicad_sch

# With specific fields
kicad-cli sch export bom \
  --output bom.csv \
  --fields "Reference,Value,Footprint,LCSC,MPN" \
  --group-by "Value,Footprint" \
  --sort-asc \
  project.kicad_sch

Export PDF

kicad-cli sch export pdf \
  --output schematic.pdf \
  --black-and-white \
  project.kicad_sch

Export SVG

kicad-cli sch export svg \
  --output ./svg/ \
  --black-and-white \
  project.kicad_sch

Run ERC (Electrical Rules Check)

kicad-cli sch erc \
  --output erc-report.rpt \
  --severity-all \
  --exit-code-violations \
  project.kicad_sch

Options:

• --severity-all - Report all severities
• --severity-error - Only errors
• --exit-code-violations - Return non-zero on violations

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3. PCB Commands

Run DRC (Design Rules Check)

kicad-cli pcb drc \
  --output drc-report.rpt \
  --severity-all \
  --exit-code-violations \
  project.kicad_pcb

Export Gerbers

kicad-cli pcb export gerbers \
  --output ./gerbers/ \
  --layers "F.Cu,B.Cu,F.SilkS,B.SilkS,F.Mask,B.Mask,Edge.Cuts" \
  --subtract-soldermask \
  project.kicad_pcb

Common layers:

• F.Cu, B.Cu - Copper layers
• In1.Cu, In2.Cu - Inner copper layers
• F.SilkS, B.SilkS - Silkscreen
• F.Mask, B.Mask - Solder mask
• F.Paste, B.Paste - Solder paste
• Edge.Cuts - Board outline
• F.Fab, B.Fab - Fabrication layers

Export Drill Files

kicad-cli pcb export drill \
  --output ./gerbers/ \
  --format excellon \
  --excellon-units mm \
  --generate-map \
  --map-format pdf \
  project.kicad_pcb

Options:

• --format excellon - Standard drill format
• --excellon-units mm or in
• --excellon-zeros-format decimal
• --generate-map - Create drill map
• --map-format gerberx2|ps|pdf|svg|dxf

Export Position/Pick-and-Place

kicad-cli pcb export pos \
  --output positions.csv \
  --format csv \
  --units mm \
  --side front \
  --exclude-dnp \
  project.kicad_pcb

Options:

• --format csv|ascii
• --units mm|in
• --side front|back|both
• --exclude-dnp - Exclude Do Not Populate

Export 3D Models

# STEP format (for mechanical CAD)
kicad-cli pcb export step \
  --output project.step \
  --subst-models \
  project.kicad_pcb

# VRML format
kicad-cli pcb export vrml \
  --output project.wrl \
  project.kicad_pcb

Export PDF

kicad-cli pcb export pdf \
  --output pcb.pdf \
  --layers "F.Cu,B.Cu,Edge.Cuts" \
  --black-and-white \
  project.kicad_pcb

Export SVG

kicad-cli pcb export svg \
  --output pcb.svg \
  --layers "F.Cu,Edge.Cuts" \
  --black-and-white \
  project.kicad_pcb

Export DXF

kicad-cli pcb export dxf \
  --output pcb.dxf \
  --layers "Edge.Cuts" \
  project.kicad_pcb

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4. Footprint Commands

Export SVG

kicad-cli fp export svg \
  --output footprint.svg \
  footprint.kicad_mod

Upgrade Footprint Library

kicad-cli fp upgrade \
  --output ./upgraded/ \
  ./library.pretty/

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5. Symbol Commands

Export SVG

kicad-cli sym export svg \
  --output ./symbols/ \
  library.kicad_sym

Upgrade Symbol Library

kicad-cli sym upgrade \
  --output upgraded.kicad_sym \
  legacy.lib

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6. Common Options

Option	Description
--help	Show command help
--output, -o	Output file/directory
--define-var	Define text variable
--force, -f	Overwrite existing files

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7. Automation Examples

CI/CD Build Script

#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail

PROJECT="myproject"

# Run ERC
echo "Running ERC..."
kicad-cli sch erc \
  --output reports/erc.rpt \
  --exit-code-violations \
  ${PROJECT}.kicad_sch

# Run DRC  
echo "Running DRC..."
kicad-cli pcb drc \
  --output reports/drc.rpt \
  --exit-code-violations \
  ${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb

# Generate manufacturing files
echo "Generating manufacturing files..."
mkdir -p output/gerbers

kicad-cli pcb export gerbers \
  --output output/gerbers/ \
  --layers "F.Cu,B.Cu,F.SilkS,B.SilkS,F.Mask,B.Mask,Edge.Cuts" \
  ${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb

kicad-cli pcb export drill \
  --output output/gerbers/ \
  --format excellon \
  ${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb

# Generate BOM
kicad-cli sch export bom \
  --output output/bom.csv \
  --fields "Reference,Value,Footprint,LCSC,MPN" \
  ${PROJECT}.kicad_sch

# Generate position file
kicad-cli pcb export pos \
  --output output/positions.csv \
  --format csv \
  --units mm \
  ${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb

echo "Done!"

JLCPCB Preparation

#!/bin/bash
PROJECT="$1"
OUTPUT="./jlcpcb"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT"

# Gerbers (zip for upload)
kicad-cli pcb export gerbers \
  --output "$OUTPUT/" \
  --layers "F.Cu,B.Cu,F.SilkS,B.SilkS,F.Mask,B.Mask,Edge.Cuts" \
  "${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb"

kicad-cli pcb export drill \
  --output "$OUTPUT/" \
  --format excellon \
  --excellon-units mm \
  "${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb"

cd "$OUTPUT" && zip -r gerbers.zip *.g* *.drl && cd -

# BOM for assembly
kicad-cli sch export bom \
  --output "$OUTPUT/bom.csv" \
  --fields "Comment,Designator,Footprint,LCSC" \
  "${PROJECT}.kicad_sch"

# CPL (Component Placement List)
kicad-cli pcb export pos \
  --output "$OUTPUT/cpl.csv" \
  --format csv \
  --units mm \
  --side front \
  "${PROJECT}.kicad_pcb"

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8. Exit Codes

Code	Meaning
0	Success
1	General error
2	DRC/ERC violations found (with --exit-code-violations)

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9. Important Notes

What kicad-cli CAN Do

• Export files (Gerber, PDF, SVG, netlist, BOM, 3D)
• Run validation (DRC, ERC)
• Upgrade library formats
• Automation and CI/CD

What kicad-cli CANNOT Do

• Modify designs (add components, routes)
• Edit schematic/PCB content
• Interactive operations

For design modifications, use:

• File manipulation (S-expression format)
• KiCad Python scripting console
• KiCad IPC API (experimental)

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Version: This reference is for KiCad 8.x. Commands may differ in older versions.