Copperline
Headless C++20 PCB autorouter built for AI agents, with a CLI-only JSON interface, stable exit codes, and KiCad import/export.
What it does and how it connects
Copperline is a headless C++20 PCB autorouter built for AI agents, scripts, CI systems, and EDA pipelines. There is no GUI, viewer, or desktop shell: every operation has a stable machine-readable JSON representation, documented nonzero exit codes, and deterministic output for a given board, rules, and seed.
The router imports Specctra DSN, Gerber RS-274X, and IPC-2581C, and exports SES and KiCad, with KiCad copper-pour import and a sidecar nets file for electrical intent such as current. Commands cover routing, independent verification of committed copper, failure explanation with stable net and blocker IDs, difficulty analysis, and fine-pitch escape planning, plus a benchmark command.
The README describes the current state as the Prompt 5 release (v0.1.0) with format completion, a transactional cleanup optimizer, and a golden suite of 10 routable plus impossible boards. It builds with CMake 3.20 or later and no third-party dependencies, and the test suite is stated as 303 cases across 27 binaries.
Alternatives
Compare side by side- kicad-mcp (blwfish)
An MCP server that runs a full KiCad workflow from a plain language description to manufacturing files, with LCSC and JLCPCB part search.
- TraceMaker
Routes and places an existing KiCad .kicad_pcb file, rather than starting from a text description.
- DeepPCB
A cloud routing service for an already placed board, rather than a local tool that runs the whole design loop.
- kicad-claude-mcp
An MCP server with 105 tools that edits KiCad schematic and PCB files directly and runs Freerouting autorouting and ERC/DRC.
- copperhead
A command line agent that designs, documents, and validates PCBs from a prompt, working directly on existing KiCad repositories.
Recurring errors it addresses
Error Index entries this tool is built to reduce or work around.
- Interactive routing creates unwanted micro-segments and awkward paths that take time to clean up.Error Index
- Grid snap and move commands can disconnect items or reposition them in unwanted ways.Error Index
- GUI lag, occasional freezes, and sluggish editor switching interrupt concentration.Error Index
- Wayland/NVIDIA users report graphical glitches, flicker, or instability.Error Index
Sources
Not verified
- License: the GitHub API returns no license and no license file or license section was found in the README, so no license is stated.
- No GitHub releases exist, so latest release fields are null.
- No independent user voice found: recent repo issues are all by the maintainer.
- Pricing: none stated on the repo.
- A named individual builder beyond the repository owner handle iamdarshg
Last verified November 6, 2026. Listings are informational. The evidence score measures public, verifiable evidence and is not an endorsement or a compatibility claim.