Ki Stack Footprints

ki-stack-footprints

Purpose

This Phase 2 domain skill orchestrates footprint-focused work by composing:

• ki-stack-render
• ki-stack-file-surgery
• ki-stack-verify
• ki-stack-live when the footprint is being inspected from a placed board context

Use it when the user's intent is specifically about footprints or footprint libraries.

What it covers

• footprint rendering
• footprint library inspection
• footprint-side offline edits
• visual proof of footprint changes
• placed-footprint inspection through board context when relevant

Routing rules

Use ki-stack-render when

• the user wants a visual of a footprint
• the goal is export, inspection, or before/after proof

Use ki-stack-file-surgery when

• the task is a deterministic footprint-library edit
• the change is offline and file-structural

Use ki-stack-live when

• the footprint is being investigated as a placed object on a live board
• selection or board context matters

Use ki-stack-verify after

• any footprint change that should be proven visually

Phase 1: Orient

1. Confirm the task is footprint-scoped.
2. Identify the .pretty library directory and the exact footprint name, or identify the placed footprint on a board.
3. If the footprint name is unclear, stop and ask or inspect the library contents first.

Phase 2: Inspect

For library-side tasks, the first useful step is usually a visual export.

Canonical command:

skills/ki-stack/bin/kicad-render footprint-svg my.pretty out_dir --footprint SOIC-8_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm

For placed-footprint tasks on a live board, start with the PCB examples in ki-stack-live and ki-stack-pcb.

Phase 3: Execute

For footprint tasks in v1, prefer deterministic offline library workflows unless the request is explicitly about a placed footprint in a board context.

Common execution path:

1. identify footprint library and footprint name
2. render the baseline footprint
3. apply the footprint-side change offline or via board context
4. render again
5. report before/after artifacts

Phase 4: Verify

The main proof for footprint tasks is visual.

Prefer:

1. render before
2. change footprint
3. render after
4. report both artifact paths

If the footprint change affects a placed board design, also route through PCB verification where relevant.

Common footprint workflows

Workflow: inspect a footprint visually

1. render the footprint as SVG
2. convert to PNG if a raster artifact is needed
3. report the artifact path

Workflow: verify a footprint edit

1. render before
2. apply edit
3. render after
4. if needed, inspect the placed footprint in PCB context too

Helper assets

Skills to compose:

• skills/ki-stack/ki-stack-render/SKILL.md
• skills/ki-stack/ki-stack-file-surgery/SKILL.md
• skills/ki-stack/ki-stack-verify/SKILL.md
• skills/ki-stack/ki-stack-live/SKILL.md

References:

• skills/ki-stack/references/render-recipes.md

Helpers:

• skills/ki-stack/bin/kicad-render
• skills/ki-stack/bin/kicad-svg-to-png

Guardrails

• Distinguish clearly between a library footprint and a placed footprint instance on a board.
• Do not assume the footprint name if it is not specified.
• If the task is really board-scoped, route to ki-stack-pcb.

Completion states

• DONE: footprint task completed and visually verified
• DONE_WITH_CONCERNS: completed but verification is partial or board placement effects were not fully checked
• BLOCKED: file, footprint name, or tooling issue prevented completion
• NEEDS_CONTEXT: footprint library path, placed-board context, or footprint identifier is missing