{"id":5531,"date":"2026-08-30T23:10:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T14:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donguri3.net\/server-tech\/gemini-kicad-pcb-design-automation-2\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T23:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T14:10:43","slug":"gemini-kicad-pcb-design-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donguri3.net\/en\/diy-repair\/3d-printer-cnc\/gemini-kicad-pcb-design-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"Automating PCB Design with Generative AI (Gemini\/Antigravity) and KiCad"},"content":{"rendered":"

On a certain YouTube channel, a review of semi-automated circuit design using EasyEDA and generative AI was recently showcased. Witnessing the ongoing shift toward AI integration in cloud-based EDA environments inspired me to explore whether a similar level of automation could be achieved in "KiCad," the open-source EDA tool I routinely rely on in my local environment.<\/p>\n

To enable AI to directly operate tools within a local setup, I utilized the "MCP (Model Context Protocol)" proposed by Anthropic. By having an LLM such as Gemini invoke KiCad’s internal APIs via an MCP server, the goal is to build a streamlined automation pipeline ranging from natural language prompt instructions to schematic creation, PCB layout, and fabrication data export.<\/p>\n

Failure with the VSCode Configuration and Migration to Antigravity IDE<\/h2>\n

Initially, I began testing by combining VSCode\u2014a development environment I am very familiar with\u2014with the Roo Code extension to integrate the Gemini API, KiCAD-MCP-SERVER, and KiCad (VSCode + Roo Code + Gemini API + KiCAD-MCP-SERVER + KiCad).<\/p>\n

However, with this setup, the process halted right at the stage of sending a request to the Gemini API and froze while awaiting a response. This was likely caused by payload bloat due to numerous MCP tool definitions and high client-side processing loads, though I was unable to isolate the exact logs.<\/p>\n

Therefore, I decided to completely migrate my Gemini development environment from VSCode to Google’s AI IDE, "Antigravity IDE," and overhaul the entire system architecture.<\/p>\n

\"KiCad<\/a><\/p>\n

KiCAD-MCP-Server Installation and Setup Procedure<\/h2>\n

As a prerequisite for integration into Antigravity IDE, you need to install and build the "KiCAD-MCP-Server"\u2014the MCP server designed to control KiCad\u2014in your local environment.<\/p>\n

The repository provides a PowerShell script (setup-windows.ps1) that automates environment setup for Windows. Utilizing this script allows you to complete the setup in one go without having to follow manual build procedures.<\/p>\n

However, if multiple versions of KiCad are installed on your system, you must modify the $versions<\/code> variable around line 85 of setup-windows.ps1<\/code> to place the version you wish to use at the very beginning of the array.<\/p>\n

By default, version 9.0 is listed first as shown below, so you will need to change it to the head of the array if you want to use the latest version 10.0.<\/p>\n

$versions = @(&quot;10.0&quot;, &quot;9.0&quot;, &quot;9.1&quot;, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;del&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&quot;10.0&quot;,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;\/del&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &quot;8.0&quot;)<\/pre>\n
Launch PowerShell with administrator privileges, navigate to the directory where you cloned the repository, and run the following commands.<\/p>\n
Cloning and Setting Up the Repository<\/h3>\n
\ncd C:\ngit clone https:\/\/github.com\/mixelpixx\/KiCAD-MCP-Server.git\ncd KiCAD-MCP-Server\nSet-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process\n.\\setup-windows.ps1\n<\/pre>\n
Running this script automatically generates the necessary execution file dist\\index.js<\/code> along with the configuration template file windows-mcp-config.json<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Configuring Antigravity IDE and Applying windows-mcp-config.json<\/h2>\n
The procedure for integrating the MCP server into Antigravity IDE is very straightforward.<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. In the bottom-left corner of Antigravity IDE, select "Settings" > "Customizations" > "Open MCP Config" under Installed MCP Servers.<\/li>\n
  2. This opens the directory containing mcp_config.json<\/code> in File Explorer. Open mcp_config.json<\/code> using a text editor like Notepad.<\/li>\n
  3. Copy the contents of windows-mcp-config.json<\/code> (which was automatically output upon completion of setup-windows.ps1<\/code>), paste them directly into mcp_config.json<\/code>, and save the file.<\/li>\n
  4. Click "Refresh" under Installed MCP Servers in Customizations. Once "kicad" is added and displays a green indicator light, the setup is complete.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"Adding<\/a><\/p>\n
    The configuration content (example output of windows-mcp-config.json<\/code>) is as follows:<\/p>\n
    \n{\n  &quot;mcpServers&quot;: {\n    &quot;kicad&quot;: {\n      &quot;command&quot;: &quot;node&quot;,\n      &quot;args&quot;: [\n        &quot;C:\\KiCAD-MCP-Server\\dist\\index.js&quot;\n      ],\n      &quot;env&quot;: {\n        &quot;PYTHONPATH&quot;: &quot;C:\\\\Program Files\\\\KiCad\\\\10.0\\\\lib\\\\python3\\\\dist-packages&quot;,\n        &quot;KICAD_AUTO_LAUNCH&quot;: &quot;true&quot;,\n        &quot;LOG_LEVEL&quot;: &quot;info&quot;\n      }\n    }\n  }\n}\n<\/pre>\n
    There is no need to manually construct complex execution paths or environment variables; simply pasting the generated JSON sets up the integration environment with KiCad 10.0. Regarding MCP connection specifications and environment variable handling in Antigravity IDE, I referred to the following official documentation:<\/p>\n
    Antigravity IDE Documentation – MCP<\/a>
    \n    Google Cloud Documentation – Use MCP servers<\/a><\/p>\n
    Execution via Natural Language Prompt and Results<\/h2>\n
    Once the environment setup was complete, I executed the following prompt instruction from the Antigravity IDE prompt field:<\/p>\n
    \nPlease create a circuit for a battery (3V) and an LED (5mm).\nAssume implementation using single-sided copper-clad board.\n<\/pre>\n
    \"Prompt<\/a><\/p>\n
    The Gemini agent autonomously invoked the MCP server tools, automatically generating the following deliverables all at once without requiring manual GUI intervention:<\/p>\n