KLayout vs KiCad
Side-by-side comparison for macOS
KLayout
8.0IC design layout viewer and editor
KiCad
9.0Electronics design automation suite
| Metric | KLayout | KiCad |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| AI Score | 8.0 | 9.0 |
| 30-day Installs | 200 | 1.4K |
| 90-day Installs | 518 | 2.8K |
| 365-day Installs | 1.5K | 7.1K |
| Version | 0.30.8 | 10.0.1 |
| Auto-updates | No | No |
| Deprecated | No | No |
| GitHub Stars | 1.1K | 2.6K |
| GitHub Forks | 264 | 597 |
| Open Issues | 198 | - |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Last GitHub Commit | 1mo ago | 1mo ago |
| First Seen | Aug 9, 2023 | Nov 4, 2014 |
Reviews
KLayout
KLayout is a powerful IC design layout viewer and editor that supports GDSII, OASIS, and DLX formats. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for circuit design visualization and manipulation, making it an invaluable resource for engineers and researchers in the field of integrated circuit design.
KLayout is a viewer and editor for IC design layouts, supporting GDSII, OASIS, and DLX file formats.
Pros
- + Open-source and free under GPL-3.0 license
- + Supports multiple file formats for IC design
- + Regular updates and active development
- + Strong community support
- + Free of charge
Cons
- - No auto-update feature
- - Some features may require additional setup
- - Limited to macOS and certain Linux distributions
KiCad
KiCad is a comprehensive open-source suite for electronics design automation, offering tools for circuit design and PCB layout. It's widely used by both hobbyists and professionals, making it a versatile tool for various electronic projects.
KiCad provides tools for designing and simulating electronic circuits and printed circuit boards.
Pros
- + Comprehensive set of tools for PCB design and simulation
- + Open-source and free to use
- + Active and supportive community
- + Cross-platform compatibility
Cons
- - Development primarily on GitLab, with GitHub as a mirror
- - No automatic updates feature