# Kicad Component

> Find, fetch, and register KiCad components: search local/official symbol and footprint libraries, download missing parts from the internet (easyeda2kicad by LCSC id, SnapEDA/UltraLibrarian zips), and register them in project lib tables. Use when a schematic needs a part that is not already in the project.

- Skill: `avatarsd/kicad-component` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add avatarsd/kicad-component`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/avatarsd/kicad-component/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: AvatarSD (https://skillmd.com/u/avatarsd)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/avatarsd/kicad-component

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# Component sourcing & indexing

## Local search order

1. Project libs (sym-lib-table next to .kicad_pro, `${KIPRJMOD}` URIs).
2. Official flatpak libs:
   `~/.local/share/flatpak/runtime/org.kicad.KiCad.Library.Symbols/x86_64/stable/active/files/symbols/*.kicad_sym`
   (footprints idem, `.../Library.Footprints/.../footprints/*.pretty`).
   Grep symbol names: `grep -l '(symbol "NAME' *.kicad_sym` then extract
   the balanced block with `kicad_lib.sexp`.
3. **Index (implemented):** `kx find dual comparator` → ranked lib_id hits
   with description/keywords/pins. First run `kx index [PROJECT_LIB_DIR]`
   (22k official symbols ≈ 20 s once; mtime-incremental ≈ 0.1 s after).
   DB: ~/.cache/kx_scratch/symbols.sqlite; `extends` children inherit
   base description/keywords so families are searchable.

## Internet fetch

- **LCSC/JLC part known** (implemented, preferred):
  `kx fetch C25804 /path/to/project` → symbol +
  footprint + 3D (wrl+step) in PROJECT/libs/ AND both lib tables
  registered (${KIPRJMOD} URIs), idempotent. Binary lives in the repo
  .venv (PEP 668 box); fetch needs real network (sandbox blocks DNS —
  run unsandboxed). v1.0.1 quirk handled: --project-relative resolves
  against CWD, so kx runs it from the project dir.
- **SnapEDA/UltraLibrarian zip** (implemented; user downloads, no open
  API): `kx import-zip part.zip /path/to/project`
  → libs/<name>.kicad_sym + .pretty + tables; legacy .lib auto-upgraded
  via kicad-cli sym upgrade.
- Always sanity-check fetched footprints visually: render via
  `kicad-cli pcb export svg` on a scratch board, compare against the
  datasheet land pattern. Internet footprints are guilty until proven.

## Registration

Append to project `sym-lib-table`: `(lib (name "x")(type "KiCad")
(uri "${KIPRJMOD}/x.kicad_sym")(options "")(descr ""))` — same shape for
`fp-lib-table` with a `.pretty` dir URI. Missing tables: create them.