Beyond the editor: workspaces / #3
Git hosting with KiCad tooling
Powerful and free if you live in Git, but reviewers need tooling to see a board, not text.
24/35Ranked #3 in beyond the editor: workspaces
Last reviewed
- Who it is for
- Engineers who already use Git for firmware and want the same history, branches and automation for their KiCad boards.
- Made by
- GitHub or GitLab, with open-source tools such as KiBot and KiRI
- Runs on
- Any Git host; tools run on your computer or in CI
- Cost
- Free tiers on the main Git hosts; KiBot and KiRI are free and open source.
- Poor fit for
- Reviewers, clients and teammates who do not use Git.
Strengths
- Full history, branches and merges on plain-text KiCad files.
- KiBot can generate fabrication outputs automatically on every commit.
- KiRI shows visual differences between KiCad revisions.
Limits
- Git hosts show board files as text, not as a schematic or layout.
- Setting up the tooling takes Git and scripting skill.
- No BOM discovery across boards, and nothing for non-technical reviewers.
Scores and the reasons for them
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cost and licensing | 5/5 | Free tiers and free open-source tools. |
| Learning curve | 2/5 | Needs Git skills, and tooling to set up. |
| Library and part support | 2/5 | No BOM view or part search across boards without extra tools. |
| Board complexity | 3/5 | Any KiCad board can be stored; visual review depends on the tools you add. |
| Output for fabrication | 4/5 | KiBot can automate Gerbers, BOMs and other outputs for each revision. |
| File portability | 5/5 | Your native files, in a repository you control. |
| Collaboration | 3/5 | Strong history and branches; review of the board itself needs extra tools. |