kicad-netlist

name	kicad-netlist
description	Parse KiCad `.net` netlist exports (S-expressions) to list components, list nets, show a net's nodes, or trace which net each pin of a part connects to. Use when investigating board connectivity, power/ground topology, or which components share a net, given a KiCad `.net` file.

KiCad netlist parser

parse_net.py parses a KiCad netlist export (*.net, S-expression) with sexpdata and answers connectivity questions. Regex does not work on these files — the nested parens defeat it — so always use this, not grep.

Dependencies are inline (PEP 723), so run it with uv — nothing to install:

DIR=.claude/skills/kicad-netlist
uv run $DIR/parse_net.py FILE.net components      # ref, value, footprint
uv run $DIR/parse_net.py FILE.net nets --min 2    # nets with >= 2 nodes (skip no-connects)
uv run $DIR/parse_net.py FILE.net net "+3V3"      # every pin on one net
uv run $DIR/parse_net.py FILE.net pins U1         # each pin of U1 -> the net it's on

What each subcommand answers

• pins REF — power/pinout topology of one part: which rail each power pin sits on, where each signal goes. The fastest way to see, e.g., whether an MCU's USB-VBUS pin and an external supply land on the same net.
• net NAME — everything electrically tied together on that net (all ref.pin nodes). Use for a rail (GND, +5V) or any signal.
• nets --min 2 — skim the real nets; --min 2 drops single-node no-connects so the list is readable.
• components — the BOM-ish list (ref, value, footprint).

Notes

• The input is a KiCad netlist export (Schematic Editor → File → Export → Netlist → KiCad, or kicad-cli sch export netlist FILE.kicad_sch), not the .kicad_sch itself.
• Net names come from schematic labels; unlabelled nets get auto names like Net-(U1-Pad12).