FOSDEM 2016 Presentation.

Prepared by Wayne Stambaugh

 Project Status
● Stable version 4 released in November 2015.
Yeah!!!!
● Version 5 development road map in progress.
● Version 5 development started.
● Increased user interest.
● Increased developer interest.
● Increase in outside donations.
 Stable Release 4
● Graphics abstraction layer based on OpenGL or Cairo
rendering for Pcbnew.
● New tool framework implemented in Pcbnew.
● Push and shove router.
● Increased working layers from 32 to 64.
● Abstracted out most of the board object code into
shared objects.
● KiCad runs in a single process to facilitate information
exchange between the board and schematic editors.
Both editors can still be run as separate applications.
● Eagle board and footprint library import.
 Stable Release 4, continued...
● GEDA footprint library import.
● DXF file import and IDF file export.
● Footprint, symbol, and 3D model libraries split out as a
separate project hosted on GitHub.
● GitHub plug in to access footprint libraries repositories from
GitHub servers.
● New footprint library table setup wizard.
● New editor to create custom title blocks and borders for
board and schematic editors.
● User documentation split out as a separate project,
converted to Asciidoc, hosted on GitHub, and provide
automated builds.
 Stable Release 4, continued...
● Preliminary implementation of differential pair and tuned
length routing.
● Wizard to download 3D models from GitHub.
● Unified geometry library for polygon support.
● Merge footprint assignment tool (CvPcb) into the
schematic editor (Eeschema) and eliminate the need for
intermediate files.
● Improved symbol library search support in the schematic
editor.
● Convert website to AsciiDoc hosted on GitHub.
● Move source translation files to separate project hosted
on GitHub.
 Stable Release 4, continued...
● Convert developer documentation from plain text and
ODT format to markdown.
● Schematic component library recovery tool.
● Automated package builders to provide binaries for all
supported platforms. Packages provided Windows,
OSX, and most Linux distributions. Both stable release
and nightly builds are available.
● Support for Gerber X2 file extensions.
● Dropped support for wxWidgets 2.8.
● Major footprint library improvements and reorganization.
● Lots of bug fixing and polishing.
 Version 5 Road Map
● Major surgery on the schematic editor internals, improved
schematic object containers and internal design changes.
● I/O plugin manager for schematic editor to provide
platform for importing schematics and symbol libraries
from third party applications.
● Port schematic editor canvas to graphics abstraction layer
rendering.
● Port schematic editor over to the new tool framework.
● Implement new schematic and symbol library file formats.
● Add GitHub support for accessing component libraries.
● Shared object for common schematic code.
 Version 5 Road Map, Continued...
● Schematic net highlighting when drawing and editing board traces.
● Improve user interface, tabbed interface, editable and moveable
tool bars, etc.
● Add properties (attributes) to symbols and net lists for third party
tools such as simulators.
● Symbol and footprint editor library management improvements.
● Add wxDC canvas to graphics abstraction layer for platforms with
poor OpenGL and Cairo support.
● Complete porting of all editing tools in Pcbnew to new tool
framework and removal of legacy canvas.
● 3D model library handling improvements including support for
plugins to accommodate more 3D model file types.
 Version 5 Road Map, Continued...
● Support for complex pad types.
● Pin and gate swapping with automatic forward and
backward annotation between schematic and board editors.
● Improve selection tool when dealing with multiple objects.
● Full clipboard support for schematic and board editors.
● Improve board editor design rule check (DRC) coverage.
● Segment end point snapping and general improvements to
object editing in board editor.
● Add support for keep out zones on boards and footprints.
● Add support for vias in zones and footprint pads (free vias).
 Version 5 Road Map, Continued...
● Add wild card and regular expression search to
footprint and symbol selection dialogs.
● Port gerber viewer (GerbView) canvas to graphics
abstraction layer.
● Regular expression library search capability. Already
implemented in component library searching.
● Remove dependency build code from build
configuration. Complete.
● Evaluate possibility of moving project hosting from
Launchpad to GitHub.
 The Distant Future
● Add microwave tool support to board editor.
● Support for importing ODB++ format.
● Add Python scripting support for schematic objects.
● Move to plugin based architecture for all major tool
implementations such as auto-router, push shove
router, etc.
● Unit testing for low level objects.
● Integrate analog and/or digital simulator.
● Possible collaboration with other electronics projects
and developers.
 The End
Thanks to all of the developers who contribute
their valuable time and talent to the KiCad
project.

Thank you for your interest and continued

support of the KiCad project.

Special thanks to Javier Serrano and CERN for

making this presentation and development
room possible.