git:20260611.1e680ba to git:20260611.b13ce6a

4 added, 3 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: kicad-pcb

description: >

Stage footprints on a KiCad PCB so Update-PCB-from-Schematic adopts

them without duplicates, probe board geometry, run DRC, and render

layers for inspection. Use when asked to put footprints on the pcb,

prepare a board for layout, or verify a .kicad_pcb change.

---

# PCB footprint staging & board ops

Engine: `~/prj/20260610_kicad-agent-skills/kicad_lib/pcb.py`

(python API: PYTHONPATH=<repo> or cwd=<repo>; CLI: `kx` is on PATH)

(`netlist`, `load_footprint`, `stage`, `edge_cuts_bbox`,

`empty_board_from`). Worked example: `tests/test_pcb.py`.

## Staging flow (Update-PCB adopts, no duplicates)

1. `pcb.netlist(SCH)` → `comps[ref]["tstamps"]` — that uuid IS the link;

`nets` is the connectivity ground truth (assert designed members!).

Root-sheet local-label nets are prefixed "/" (`/VOUT`); power nets

(GND, VCC) are not.

2. `pcb.load_footprint(mod_path, "Lib:Name")` — renames for the board,

strips file headers (.kicad_mod has no top-level uuid; instances do).

3. `pcb.stage(board, fpdef, ref, value, at, tstamps_uuid, sheetfile)` —

inserts after the layer clause: uuid, at, path "/<tstamp>", sheetname,

sheetfile; sets Reference/Value; refreshes EVERY item uuid. Pads stay

netless — the sync fills them.

4. Stage in a grid CLEAR of the outline: `pcb.edge_cuts_bbox(board)`.

5. Gates: save → reparse → `kicad-cli pcb export svg` accepts → render

PNG → eyeball → commit.

## Notes

- `pcb.empty_board_from(donor)` builds a minimal valid board (header +

layer stack + setup + net 0) from any existing .kicad_pcb, read-only.

- DRC: `kicad-cli pcb drc --output drc.rpt --severity-all BOARD` —

set-diff vs baseline exactly like ERC (kicad-review skill).

- - .kicad_pcb round-trips token-equal but NOT yet byte-identical

- (pcbnew formatter rules pending) — do not hand-edit boards expecting

- zero-noise diffs yet.

+ - .kicad_pcb round-trips BYTE-IDENTICAL (validated on a 2.3 MB real

+ board): pcb pts dialect (≤5 points inline, then 4-per-line chunks) +

+ token wrap at column 72 — sexp.dumps sniffs the root tag, or pass

+ dialect="pcb" when serializing subtrees. Hand-edits diff zero-noise.

- Update-PCB direction is sch→pcb only; never edit refs on the board.