KiCad 9 open-source EDA software has just been released with a range of new features such as support for embedded files (fonts, 3D files, PDF), tables in schematics, custom ERC/DRC errors, warnings, and exclusion comments, mouse scroll wheel actions, multiple track drag, and much more.
The latest KiCad 9.0.0 release includes 4,870 unique commits from hundreds of developers and translators, and the KiCad library has further gained 1500 new symbols, 750 new footprints, and 132 new 3D models.
There are way too many changes to list them all here, so I’ll mention some highlights here:
- Jobsets (predefined output jobs) – Feature that provides predefined sets of ‘jobs’— plotting, exporting, and running DRC—on schematics and PCBs. Independent jobset files are reusable as users may want to create output pipelines that they can apply across their projects for consistency. Jobsets can be run from the command line or the KiCad GUI.
- Embedded files – KiCad 9 can now embed various external elements (fonts, 3D files, PDF etc…) in schematics, PCB layouts, footprints, and symbols that were previously linked to external files. This feature allows the creation of fully self-contained KiCad files.
Embedded font - Bezier curve tool in all editors
- Multi-channel design support allows users to repeat PCB layout elements from one channel to create identical copies.
- Component class feature to group various symbols and footprints into classes with specific design rules applied
- Table editing in schematic, symbol, and footprint editors.
Table in the schematic editor - Custom ERC/DRC (Electrical Rule Check/Design Rule Check) errors, warnings, and exclusion comments with the following variables
1234${ERC_WARNING <custom title>}${ERC_ERROR <custom title>}${DRC_WARNING <custom title>}${DRC_ERROR <custom title>}
Custom electrical rule checker error message - Mouse scroll wheel actions in the PCB, schematic, footprint, and symbol editors using Shift-Alt-Scroll for the primary function and Ctrl-Alt-Scroll for the secondary function. The current bindings are to use this to increment text, with the rightmost “part” being primary and the next rightmost part being secondary. For example, Shift-Alt-Scroll on “B2” goes to “B1” or “B3”, Ctrl-Alt-Scroll goes to “A2” or “C2”.
- Schematic and Symbol Editors gains selection filtering, sheet pin/hierarchical label synchronization tool, net class rule areas, design blocks, net class color highlighting, etc…
Net class color highlighting - PCB and Footprint Editors get IPC API that will eventually replace the current Python wrapper interface for stability, a zone manager, improved via tenting control, layer pair presets, a shape modification tool, Pad stacks to support PTH (Plated Through-Hole) stacks with different copper shapes on different layers, an interactive positioning tool, and multiple track drag among many other changes.
- Calculator tool regulator panel gains tolerance calculations
You’ll find a longer list of changes in the official announcement. It’s available for download/installation on Windows, MacOS, and Linux distributions.
I tried it on Ubuntu 24.04 using the provided instructions:
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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kicad/kicad-9.0-releases sudo apt update sudo apt install kicad |
I could load the schematics for the Olimex RP2350-PICO2-XXL board designed with an earlier version without any obvious issues.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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