KiCad Design Blocks

Reusable KiCad 10 design blocks (schematic + PCB layout fragments) for use as a Git submodule. A design block bundles a schematic fragment with an optional PCB layout fragment so circuits can be reused across projects without copy-pasting.

Structure

blocks.kicad_blocks/
└── <BlockName>.kicad_block/
    ├── <BlockName>.kicad_sch   # Schematic fragment
    ├── <BlockName>.kicad_pcb   # PCB layout fragment (optional)
    └── <BlockName>.json        # Block metadata and status fields

Using as a Git Submodule

Initial setup

git submodule add https://github.com/<user>/kicad-design-blocks.git kicad-design-blocks
git commit -m "Add kicad-design-blocks submodule"

Then in KiCad: Preferences → Manage Design Block Libraries → add:

Nickname	Path
blocks	${KIPRJMOD}/kicad-design-blocks/blocks.kicad_blocks

This creates a design-block-lib-table in your project folder — commit it to your project repo.

Cloning a project that uses this submodule

git clone --recurse-submodules <project-url>
# or if already cloned:
git submodule update --init

Pulling new blocks into an existing project

git submodule update --remote kicad-design-blocks
git add kicad-design-blocks
git commit -m "Update kicad-design-blocks"

Adding a New Block

See CONTRIBUTING.md for the full workflow and required metadata fields.

KiCad Documentation

• Schematic Design Blocks
• PCB Design Blocks