8 *Must-Try* features in KiCad 8

KiCad 8 just dropped, and here are Bald Engineer's eight must-try features! The February 2024 release brings a whole host of new stuff to the Schematic editor. However, the PCB editor, CLI, and Simulation tools also received attention. (There are something like 900 closed issues for the 8.0.0 Milestone!) Which of these is your favorite?

#kicad #schematic #pcb

KiCad Links:
KiCad 8 Announcement:

Vote for my ERC Warning Feature Request:

Chapters
00:00 8 KiCad 8 Features in less than 8 Minutes
00:30 1) Property Manager in Schematic (and et al.)
00:45 2) Grid Overrides
01:42 3) Faster Alternate Pin Assignments
02:28 4) Pin Helpers (Wires and Labels)
03:39 5) Editable Power Symbols
04:15 6) Search and Net Navigator
05:00 7) Improved PCB Shape Tools
05:45 8) Teardrop and Length-Tuning

[AddOhms]

If I re-counted correctly, I think I ended up covering 11 new features (and several "old" ones.) How many did you count?

[SensSword]

One of two things will happen for me. One, I'll make a bunch of bad PCBs that end up as drink coasters and key chains. Two, I succeed in my plans and go broke populating all the boards with parts.

[robiniddon]

In case anyone is wondering why teardrops improve manufacturability it is to do the annular ring on vias. When you go for thin annular rings to minimise via size you have to factor in the possibility that the drill isn't perfectly aligned to the pad. In extreme cases where you are pushing the board vendor limits you can get breakouts where the annular ring becomes a C instead of O shape. That won't necessarily matter unless it creates open circuit from trace to via pad. Teardrops add extra copper at the trace entry point to prevent this open circuit happening on drill breakout.

[MonahTuk]

Editable power symbols, most great improvement for me! Integrated properties window too.

[xotmatrix]

This update is amazing. The property manager and the new pin features are very welcome and I'm so glad to see that grid nonsense fixed.

[bartoandras]

I really like the chamfer update, it saves a lot of time when the board is resized!

[satyamfifa]

I am very glad for the tear drop feature, I was spending too much time on every track-pad connection to make sure they there will be no problem during the production

[hallkbrdz]

Lots of new useful features, enough for another gift towards their goal for this update.

[TheOleHermit]

Very cool! Been struggling with most of these issues, while trying to design my 2nd PCB/1st 4 layer PCB. 72 year old U of YT student. 🙄
Thanks to the KiCad developers for their efforts to make makers' lives easier. 👍

[MichaelGiacomelli]

I'm excited to try out the length tuning improvements. Matching lengths in 7 was always painful, especially for differential pairs.

[idogendel]

Awesome stuff, except the "select objects to the left/right" - because that already existed in 7 ;-) But it's still good you mentioned it. in case someone missed this really useful feature. The new polygon features will also save lots of time, and the teardrops (finally!) are just beautiful 🙂Thanks!

[paulrnash]

The property panel is great but I’m super jazzed about multi-part Drag in PCB. Will save a ton of time when optimizing placements!

[krysieks]

If only massively costly cadence Allegro has so many improvements over one year

[fredrikviklund]

Hi there, hello! :-) Just wanted to say I appreciate the edited subtitles!

[leonbecker]

Great video! Switched to 8.0 yesterday. All the new features are great, thanks KiCAD Team! I’m having some render errors when dragging multiple footprints in the PCB editor though (also a new feature in 8.0) - it displays them multiple times until I restart, then it only shows the footprint once as it should be.

[michaelallen]

My favorite new feature is Arm Windows support. I can run it on my surface pro x.

[PsychogenicTechnologies]

wow, ok: not a huge fan of mystery meat features like that select-drag right vs left (how are you even supposed to discover this??), but I really appreciate knowing it! Thanks :)

[jvp]

My favorite feature is, it's FREE! ✌✌

[davidjohnston]

In window property editing might be enough to get me to try KiCad 8.

[bennguyen]

Tools like Altium, can also be used to design harnesses. Does KiCad8 lend itself to design System Wiring diagrams?