Altium Monkey
Python toolkit for reading, writing, analyzing, and rendering Altium files (SchDoc, PcbDoc, libraries) directly from automation, built for command-line tools, CI checks, and design-review helpers.
What it does and how it connects
altium-monkey is a Python toolkit for reading, writing, analyzing, and rendering Altium files directly from automation. It is built for engineers who want to build command-line tools, CI and CD checks, visualization pipelines, library generators, BOM workflows, and design-review helpers without driving the Altium GUI for every operation.
It supports SchDoc, SchLib, PcbDoc, PcbLib, PrjPcb, OutJob, IntLib extraction, and experimental PCBDwf Draftsman files. Common workflows include creating and mutating schematics and symbols, creating footprints, extracting library data from projects, rendering logical and compiled physical schematic SVGs and PCB SVGs, inspecting layers, drills, board outlines, nets, and net classes, authoring vias with IPC-4761 protection metadata, and extracting embedded fonts and 3D models.
OutJob automation is a best-effort Windows integration, not a headless release service, per the README. The verified scope is folder-based GeneratedFiles manufacturing output such as Gerber, NC Drill, ODB++, IPC-2581, and some netlists, and it depends on the installed Altium version; PDF and publish document containers are not currently supported reliably.
What engineers report
The Latin-1 Supplement (U+00A0 to U+00FF) in altium-stroke.ttf and altium-stroke-bold.ttf shows the wrong glyphs.
2026-10-29Read the original
Alternatives
Compare side by side- altium-mcp (coffeenmusic)
An MCP server and Altium scripting bridge that lets an AI client query and manipulate Altium Designer projects, rather than a Python file toolkit.
- eda-agent
An MCP server that drives a live Altium Designer session through a DelphiScript bridge, rather than reading and writing Altium files from automation.
- pcb-copilot (ee-in-a-box)
An MCP server that gives Claude question-and-answer access to a PCB schematic snapshot exported from Altium, with no Altium license required.
- SnapMagic Copilot
A commercial AI design copilot that auto-completes circuit board designs with recommendations and natural language interaction.
Recurring errors it addresses
Error Index entries this tool is built to reduce or work around.
- any write to a production .PcbLib (~485 footprints) still rewrites the same 11 footprints it was not asked to touch (font IDs reset, track flags changed, 3D model records sharing an ID merged so the second one's rotation is lost, a Windows-1250 model name returned as mojibake).Error Index
- An Altium agent tool reading saved PcbDoc files treated arc edges of copper pours as straight lines, so a point near a rounded pour edge counted as outside the pour, feeding via connectivity, DRC net lookups and the pour index.Error Index
- An Altium agent tool sized back drills the way Altium's help says (hole plus 2 times the oversize, giving 0.8 mm), while Altium's own Draftsman drill table and the board's hole list both say 0.5 mm (hole plus the oversize once).Error Index
Sources
Not verified
- Pricing: none stated on the repo.
- A named individual builder beyond the repository owner organization wavenumber-eng
Last verified November 6, 2026. Listings are informational. The evidence score measures public, verifiable evidence and is not an endorsement or a compatibility claim.