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@Jallo4 Jallo4 released this 31 Jan 00:25
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1.0.0
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Trace 1.0.0 Release

Release Date: January 29, 2026

We're excited to announce the release of Trace 1.0.0, the first stable release of our AI-powered PCB design suite. Trace extends KiCad's powerful electronics design automation capabilities with cutting-edge AI features that streamline circuit design and PCB layout workflows.

What is Trace?

Trace is a modified version of the KiCad EDA software, enhanced with AI-powered circuit design capabilities. Built on the solid foundation of KiCad, Trace maintains full compatibility with KiCad file formats while adding intelligent automation features that accelerate hardware development.

Important: Trace is based on KiCad, an open-source electronics design automation suite. This is an independent fork created and maintained by the Trace team. Trace is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by the KiCad project or The Linux Foundation.

Key Features

AI Circuit Assistant

Design circuits using natural language. Simply describe what you want, and Trace's AI assistant helps you create and modify schematics:

  • Type what you want: "Add a 555 timer circuit"
  • Ask questions: "How do I add decoupling capacitors?"
  • Get instant design suggestions and modifications

Intelligent Component Search

AI-powered part finding and suggestions help you discover the right components faster:

  • Natural language component queries
  • Smart suggestions based on your design requirements
  • Find components optimized for your specific use case (e.g., "low-power MCU for battery operation")

Automated Routing

Smart trace routing with AI optimization:

  • Intelligent PCB routing algorithms
  • Automated trace optimization
  • Reduced manual routing time

Cloud Integration

Sync designs and collaborate with your team:

  • Cloud-based design synchronization
  • Team collaboration features
  • Seamless workflow across devices

Enhanced Workflow

Streamlined UI for modern hardware engineering:

  • Improved user experience
  • Modern interface design
  • Optimized workflows for efficiency

Installation

Binary Packages

Check the Trace website for packages and installation instructions for all supported platforms:

Download Trace

Building from Source

For detailed build instructions, see the Trace Documentation.

File Format Compatibility

Trace maintains full compatibility with KiCad file formats:

  • Schematics: .kicad_sch files are fully supported
  • PCB Layouts: .kicad_pcb files are fully supported
  • Libraries: Compatible with KiCad symbol and footprint libraries
  • Trace Formats: Native .trace_sch and .trace_pcb formats for enhanced AI features

You can seamlessly work with existing KiCad projects and share files with KiCad users.

Documentation & Support

License

Trace is released under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPLv3), the same license as KiCad.

As required by GPLv3, you are free to:

  • Use Trace for any purpose
  • Study and modify the source code
  • Share copies with others
  • Distribute modified versions (under GPLv3)

Copyright & Attribution

Copyright (C) 2025-2026 Trace Developers Team
Copyright © 1992-2024 KiCad Developers

Trace incorporates substantial code from the KiCad project.
KiCad is copyright its contributors and licensed under GPLv3.

What's Next?

This is just the beginning! We're continuously working on improving Trace with:

  • Enhanced AI capabilities
  • Additional automation features
  • Performance optimizations
  • Expanded component libraries
  • Better integration tools

Stay updated by joining our Discord community or following our GitHub repository.

Acknowledgments

Trace is built on the excellent work of the KiCad project and its contributors. We are grateful to the KiCad developers and the broader open-source EDA community for creating a solid foundation that makes Trace possible.

Contributing

We welcome contributions! If you're interested in contributing to Trace:

Thank you for using Trace!

We hope Trace helps you design amazing hardware faster and more efficiently. If you have questions, feedback, or run into any issues, please don't hesitate to reach out through Discord or GitHub Issues.

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