picoplace: CLI for PCB Layout Synthesis

picoplace is a command-line utility for building and synthesizing PCB layouts.

Warning

picoplace is under active development. Expect breaking changes and rapid iteration.

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Table of Contents

• Installation
• Quick Start
• Core Concepts
• Command Reference
• Examples
• Architecture
• License

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Installation

From Source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Cirkitly/picoplace.git
cd picoplace

# Install using the provided script
./install.sh

Note

Package manager installation coming soon.

Requirements

• KiCad 9.x for layout generation and visualization.

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Quick Start

1. Create a Design File

Write a file called blinky.zen:

load("@stdlib/properties.zen", "Layout")

Resistor = Module("@stdlib/generics/Resistor.zen")
Led = Module("@stdlib/generics/Led.zen")

vcc = Net("VCC")
gnd = Net("GND")
led = Net("LED")

Resistor("R1", value="1kohm", package="0402", P1=vcc, P2=led)
Led("D1", color="red", package="0402", A=led, K=gnd)

Layout("layout", "layout/")

2. Build Your Design

picoplace build blinky.zen

3. Generate Layout

picoplace layout blinky.zen

4. Open in KiCad

picoplace open blinky.zen

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Core Concepts

Same as original: Components, Nets, Interfaces, Modules, config(), and io().

(Refer to original pcb README for full code examples.)

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Command Reference

picoplace build

Build and validate .zen designs.

picoplace layout

Generate layout files from .zen files.

picoplace open

Open generated .kicad_pcb files in KiCad.

picoplace fmt

Format .zen files with buildifier.

picoplace lsp

Start the Language Server for editor integration.

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Project Structure

my-board/
├── main.zen
├── components/
│   └── resistor.zen
├── modules/
│   └── power_supply.zen
├── eda/
│   ├── symbols/
│   └── footprints/
├── layout/
│   └── main.kicad_pcb

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Architecture

picoplace is a modular Rust workspace:

• picoplace-lang – Core language support (Zener, Starlark runtime, diagnostics)
• picoplace-cli – CLI for build, layout, fmt, etc.
• picoplace-starlark-lsp – LSP server for Zener files
• picoplace-ui – Terminal UI components (spinner, progress)
• picoplace-wasm – WebAssembly bindings
• picoplace-netlist – Netlist and schematic representation
• picoplace-kicad-exporter – KiCad-compatible layout and symbol exporters
• picoplace-buildifier – KiCad file parsing, formatters
• picoplace-sexpr – S-expression support for KiCad file formats
• picoplace-core – Shared types and utilities

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Examples

For full examples, see the /examples directory in the repo.

• ✅ LED blink circuit
• ⚙️ Voltage regulator module
• 🧠 Complex system with MCU, sensor, and flash

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Third-Party

• Includes buildifier under Apache 2.0.
• Built on starlark-rust.

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