A new version of KiCad, the open-source electronics CAD software, is available. KiCad 9 is a major update that brings dozens of improvements across the entire design workflow. In this article, I’ll focus on a few features that I think make a real difference in day-to-day use.

I’ll go into detail on four of my favourite new KiCad 9 additions: Jobsets, which simplify output generation; the new Zone Manager, which centralizes control over copper zones; Design blocks, aimed at enhancing schematic reusability and efficiency; and the improved 3D model export system, which makes it easier to generate accurate and useful mechanical representations of your boards.

After that, I’ll highlight three other features that, while smaller in scope, offer clear productivity gains: the Precision Positioning Tool, the schematic editor’s new Selection Filter, and the introduction of Component Classes. Together, these features represent just a sample of what’s new in KiCad 9, but they give a good s...