altium-cli-extended
Native Rust command line for Altium Designer files plus a bridge that drives Altium for compile, ERC, and DRC with JSON output.
What it does and how it connects
altium-cli-extended, called ace, is a native Rust command line for Altium Designer files, plus a bridge that drives Altium Designer for compile, ERC, and DRC with JSON output. The native backend parses PrjPcb, SchDoc, PcbDoc, SchLib, and PcbLib files directly as a standalone binary with no Altium install.
The Designer backend drives the user's own licensed Altium Designer on local Windows, remote Windows over SSH, or Wine on Linux whenever a job needs Altium's engine: project compile, ERC, DRC, Gerber, ODB++, PDF, and STEP output jobs, processes, or DelphiScript. Every command outputs a single JSON envelope, and every failure returns a stable error code and recovery hint.
Command groups cover project and design inspection, schematic and PCB editing, library work, checks and diffs, release preparation, and the live Designer bridge. The README states the project is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Altium LLC or Renesas Electronics Corporation.
Alternatives
Compare side by side- eda-agent
An MCP server driving a live Altium session over a DelphiScript bridge, while altium-cli-extended is a native Rust CLI with a separate Designer bridge.
- kicad-cli-extended
The same author's extended CLI for KiCad, while this one parses Altium Designer files natively.
- kicad-claude-mcp
An MCP server editing KiCad files, while altium-cli-extended works on Altium files with a native Rust parser.
- atopile
A code-first language and compiler for electronics, while altium-cli-extended is a CLI for Altium files and Designer automation.
Recurring errors it addresses
Error Index entries this tool is built to reduce or work around.
- An agent bridge for Altium maps an unrecognized layer name to TOP COPPER instead of failing. A typo in a layer name can delete copper on the wrong layer while the tool reports the cleanup as done.Error Index
- Symbols an agent creates in an Altium SchLib never mark the library as modified, so closing Altium throws them away without asking.Error Index
- tools that succeeded report failure (a moved part reports failure on decimal-comma locales; a net class that gained nets reports nets_added: 0), so an agent may retry a completed action or tell the user it failed.Error Index
Sources
Not verified
- Pricing (none stated on the repo)
- Real user voices (the repo has no open issues)
- A named individual builder beyond the repository owner handle Hybirdss
Last verified November 6, 2026. Listings are informational. The evidence score measures public, verifiable evidence and is not an endorsement or a compatibility claim.