Copperhead launches an AI agent that designs and verifies PCBs in KiCad
Copperhead, launched on Show HN (205 points, Sep 8), is an Apache-2.0 CLI agent that turns a plain-language brief into a PCB by editing real KiCad files across an 8-stage pipeline, verifying each design with KiCad's own ERC/DRC checks and refusing unsafe operations like edits on a dirty git tree. It is generally available via npm with a free BYO-key CLI and $49/user/month cloud and team tiers.
Why it matters
It extends the coding-agent pattern beyond software into hardware design, where a respin mistake costs $5,000-50,000 and six to eight weeks.
Importance: 2/5
New open-source tool launch with strong community traction (205 HN points)