image2KiCAD
Converts reference images into KiCad schematics using AI vision models.
What it does and how it connects
image2KiCAD is an experimental Python script with a GUI that uses GPT-4 to parse images into .kicad_sch schematic files, so a schematic copied from a datasheet does not have to be redrawn by hand. The README also notes that the Gemini API can be used instead by providing a Gemini API key in the configuration file.
The scope is narrow and the README says so: the script is a work in progress, and at the time of writing its capabilities are limited to circuits containing batteries, resistors, capacitors and LEDs. The user selects a PNG of the schematic and an empty .kicad_sch file, then clicks Append to schematic. The README warns that invoking the GPT API costs money and advises setting a limit on API calls.
The README header states the project has been archived and moved to Faradworks while its computer vision models are trained, and the last push on the repository is August 2024. The tool is presented here as that archived experimental state, not as a maintained product.
What engineers report
When running the code as explained in the readme, I get a file not found error on this file: /usr/share/kicad/symbols/Device.kicad_sym. I presume this is the KiCAD symbol definitions? What do I need to install or set up to make this work?
2024-05-09Read the original
Alternatives
Compare side by side- pcb-inspector
A three-layer design review and linter for KiCad that checks finished boards, rather than converting reference images into schematics.
- kicad-mcp-pro
A profile-gated MCP server for KiCad schematic, PCB, validation, DFM and manufacturing export workflows, rather than an image-to-schematic converter.
- KiCadAI
A Go CLI toolkit that generates KiCad projects deterministically from behavioral requirements with a pass or refuse proof gate, rather than parsing images.
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
- No GitHub releases exist, so latest release fields are null.
- Pricing: none stated on the repo; the README warns that invoking the GPT API costs money.
- A named individual builder beyond the repository owner handle Monacrylic
- The README badge says GNU GPL while the GitHub API classifies the license as LGPL-2.1; the API classification is used here.
Last verified November 6, 2026. Listings are informational. The evidence score measures public, verifiable evidence and is not an endorsement or a compatibility claim.