TraceIntegrations

Trace connects to everything

Python & Node SDKs, MCP server for AI agents, BYOK model routing, GitHub Actions for CI/CD, live Altium bridge, and an agent plugin for coding assistants.

MCP

Model Context Protocol Server

12-tool MCP server that gives any AI agent direct access to your EDA project. Works with Cursor, Windsurf, and any MCP-compatible client.

get_project_inforead_schematicsearch_in_filesget_erc_violationsget_drc_violationsreview_designask_questionsearch_parts_nexargenerate_symbolgenerate_footprintcheck_dfmlist_project_files
Prompt templates
review_designselect_componentscheck_before_faboptimize_layout
$buildwithtrace mcp serve
$npx plugins add buildwithtrace/trace-plugin
BYOK

Bring Your Own Key

Route AI through your own API keys. Keys are stored in your OS keychain — never sent to Trace servers. No Trace quota consumed.

Provider AYour key
Provider BYour key
Provider CYour key
$buildwithtrace byok set anthropic
$buildwithtrace byok use anthropic

Also works in the desktop app: Settings → AI Provider

CI/CD

GitHub Actions

Official GitHub Action for CI/CD pipelines. Validate designs on PR, run AI reviews, generate manufacturing files on release.

buildwithtrace/github-action@v1
Ready recipesValidate on PRAI review on PRGenerate Gerbers on releaseMatrix across multiple boards
  • Structured exit codes for conditional logic
  • TRACE_API_TOKEN for headless auth
  • JSON output mode for machine parsing
SDKs

Python & Node SDKs

Drive Trace from your own scripts, services, or CI. Both SDKs are standalone agents — they run the client-side tool-execution loop themselves, so agent and plan modes work without the CLI installed.

$pip install buildwithtrace-sdk
$npm install @buildwithtrace/sdk
  • Generate symbols & footprints, semantic component search
  • Ask / agent / plan over your KiCad designs (file tools run locally)
  • Same account, quota, and BYOK as the CLI and desktop app
Bridge

Live Altium Bridge

Connect to a running Altium Designer instance. Run AI design reviews, ask questions, and perform DFM analysis on live projects.

serveStart bridge
reviewAI design review
askQuestion about design
dfmDFM analysis
$buildwithtrace convert project ./MyProject.PrjPcb
  • Netlist-accurate .SchDoc and .PcbDoc import
Formats

Format Conversion

Import and export between all major EDA formats. Lossless round-trip between Trace DSL and KiCad native formats.

Import from
  • Altium Designer
  • Cadence Allegro (v18+)
  • Mentor PADS
  • gEDA/Lepton EDA
  • DXF
  • STEP
Export to
  • KiCad
  • Gerber RS-274X
  • Excellon drill
  • IPC-2581
  • ODB++
  • PDF
  • SVG
  • STEP
  • BOM

Validated against 220+ schematic and 191 PCB test files

Free component libraries

Copy to clipboard. Paste into KiCad. No account required for browsing.

Components

components.buildwithtrace.com

— complete parts— with footprints

Symbols paired with their footprints, side-by-side

Symbols

symbols.buildwithtrace.com

— schematic symbols— libraries

AI generation, vector search, community contributions

Footprints

footprints.buildwithtrace.com

— PCB footprints— libraries

IPC-7351 compliant, verified pad geometry, 3D models

Start integrating

Install the CLI in under a minute, or browse the full documentation for every integration endpoint and tool.

Install CLIRead the Docs