KiConnect PCB Workbench [Time Commitment, Ecosystem] #72
Description
Proposal description
Continue work on KiConnect PCB Workbench, providing bidirectional interoperability between
FreeCAD and KiCADs v9+ API. The delivery would be a dedication of at least 25/h a month,
for a 3 month period. All work is LGPLv3 licensed. Additionally I will attempt to do as much
of the work as possible live streamed in an effort to open up, document and teach workbench development.
Current codebase: https://codeberg.org/kiconnect/KiConnect
Deliverables
The goals are largely divided into 3 groups;
- Cleanup and release
- Advanced geometry handling
- Extras
Loosely broken into....
Month 1
- Finalize base classes for major components (outline, tracks, graphics, etc)
- Improve Developer/Getting started documentation
- Improve Error handling/user messaging
- Fix some usability issues (double clicking combo view, API reconnection, etc)
- Expand translation coverage
- Get first release into add-ons (probably emphasize beta, despite v1.0, semver;etc)
Month 2
- Expand to include additional layers, divided into groups like graphical and functional (tracks vs traces)
- Support multiple Documents, via separate API <> Document bindings
- Implement non-Polygon board outlines
- Implement island/hole detection
Month 3
- Implement part <> board association, would be based on BoundingBox island/hole connection
- Explore API events, something not officially supported by the KiCAD API.
- Roadmap KiConnect v2.0
- Extras/Features
Extras
A handful of feature tickets already exist and feedback I got at KiCON expressed interest
in features like; bed of nails generators, panelization/KiKit integration.
Timeline
Start of 2026, if not sooner, I am already trying to put in hours each week.
Minimum of 25 hours a month, for 3 months, timeline detailed in Deliverables.
Risks and mitigation
Only foreseeable risks are technical; namely hitting roadblocks in the KiCAD API. This is the reason for time commitment as it will allow me to file a ticket or better PRs, and move onto something not blocked.
Compensation
$5200 or roughly $70/h.
About you
morgan
captain_morgan
Long time FreeCAD and KiCAD user/advocate, been working on KiConnect for approaching a year.
I have minor code contributes to the CAM workbench, some tickets filed and/or contributed comments to.
Yes? 20+ year developer I've worked on lotsa software.
yes! and as KiConnect is my 3rd attempt at this problem I think it's going well this time.