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KiCad 7 is coming! (and fast!!)

baldengineer

kicad 6.99 with version crossed-out and 7.0 added lol

Post from the KiCad Blog: Features Coming to KiCad 7

One of the reasons I recommend KiCad to anyone who wants to make more than one PCB (in their life) is because of how fast it is developing. Compared to any other options, each major release has brought significant functionality AND usability to the tool. Starting with version 5, the minor updates became extremely frequent. With version 6, there was a promise to shorten the major release cycle. And based on the minor release in the 6.0 branch, the team struck a strong balance between fixing bugs and adding quality-of-life improvements. They call it “cherry picking” when adding a feature from the 6.99 (or pre-7.0) branch.

That promise of more frequent major releases appears to be coming true.

  • KiCad 4: November 2015
  • KiCad 5: August 2018
  • KiCad 6: December 2021
  • KiCad 7: January 2023 (est)

This announcement lists some new features and their contributors in KiCad 7.0’s upcoming release. Plus, the announcement hints that the release could be as early as January 2023. Regardless, my bet would be a Q1 release. And oh boy. There are so many things in this update I cannot wait to start using.

I am looking forward to the plugin manager having a (more?) robust update capability, the command line interface (kicad-cli), auto-complete routes (in PCB), and the properties panel (in PCB). Plus, many other minor features.

I’m curious about the database integration that is mentioned in this article. It sounds like the hooks to access an inventory management system. But I’m not sure how adaptable it will be.

Check the announcement post for a complete list and some demos!

Is anyone else watching the KiCad 7 development? What are you excited to see? Or even what do you wish they would work on next?

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  • in reply to dougw

    I think KiCad will never be as speedy as EAGLE for quickly churning out schematic and PCB entry work to the extent that EAGLE operates. Plus, EAGLE avoids some modern UI and other conventions, so those familiar with its operation will be faster at using it.

    However, there is time gained with KiCad in other ways. I get the impression most KiCad operations are based on a philosophy of trying to reduce the chance for error as early as possible, rather than wait for later error checks. For instance, it has sensible ways of doing shaped pads for modern awkward SMD parts, which in turn reduces reported design errors, so less time spent checking things perhaps. Also, the routing is really neat - I don't wish to use an autorouter, but the manual routing will automatically find paths and avoid other traces and so on, in ways that old EAGLE (I don't know about recent EAGLE) couldn't.

    Also, the 3D viewer means less chance to make a mistake on the underside of the board! Previously I needed to load the Gerber files into a different tool, and although I still do, I can identify issues sooner and fix them immediately, because the 3D view can co-exist all the time you're working on PCB layout. With EAGLE I'd be generating Gerber files many times to improve things as much as I could.

    I believe if one is careful and doesn't make mistakes too often, then EAGLE is faster for those who are used to using EAGLE. But despite that, it's now more enjoyable producing boards with less stress with KiCad.