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Refine repository structure for KiCad 9 optimization

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- Add dedicated /kicad/ directory with organized subdirectories for libraries, schematics, gerbers, plots, and backups
- Create comprehensive KiCad 9 library structure (symbols, footprints, 3D models)
- Add manufacturing-ready directories for production files (gerbers, drill, pick-and-place)
- Update all README files with KiCad-specific documentation and workflows
- Add KiCad-optimized .gitignore file for proper version control
- Create KICAD-PROJECT-TEMPLATE.md comprehensive usage guide
- Add hardware assembly documentation and BOM management
- Include detailed manufacturing file generation instructions
- Add docs structure with design-notes and user-manual directories
- Provide complete workflow from design to manufacturing with quality checklists
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Alexander Grabowski
2025-08-03 16:27:46 +07:00
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README.md
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# B4L Open Hardware Project Template
# B4L KiCad 9 Project Template
Welcome to the **Build4Life (B4L)** Open Hardware Project Template!
This repository defines a standard structure for building open-source hardware projects with high transparency, maintainability, and manufacturability.
Use this as a base for your own project or as a collaborative standard for contributions.
Welcome to the **Build4Life (B4L)** KiCad 9 Project Template!
This repository provides a standardized structure for KiCad 9 hardware projects with proper organization for schematics, PCBs, libraries, documentation, and manufacturing files.
---
## 📁 Folder Structure
## 🚀 Quick Start Guide
### 1. Clone or Download This Template
```bash
# Option A: Clone the repository
git clone https://git.buildfor.life/grabowski/b4l-project-template.git your-project-name
cd your-project-name
# Option B: Download as ZIP and extract
```
hardware/ # Schematics, PCB, component models, libraries
mechanical/ # Enclosures and mechanical CAD
firmware/ # Embedded firmware
software/ # PC-side software and tools
docs/ # Documentation and datasheets
tests/ # Test plans, logs, reports
ci/ # Continuous Integration configuration
tools/ # Debug and development utilities
certs/ # Certification/compliance files
manufacturing/ # Production and assembly resources
meta/ # Project changelog and metadata
### 2. Create Your KiCad 9 Project
1. Open KiCad 9
2. Click **File → New Project**
3. Navigate to the cloned template folder
4. Create your project in the root directory (same level as this README)
5. Name your project (this will create `.kicad_pro`, `.kicad_sch`, and `.kicad_pcb` files)
### 3. Organize Your Files
- Place your main schematic (`.kicad_sch`) and PCB (`.kicad_pcb`) files in the root
- Use the provided folder structure for additional files
- Update the project-specific README files in each folder
### 4. Set Up Version Control
```bash
# Initialize git (if not already done)
git init
# Add your files
git add .
git commit -m "Initial KiCad project setup"
# Add your remote repository
git remote add origin https://your-git-server.com/username/your-project.git
git push -u origin main
```
---
## 📂 Folder Descriptions
## 📁 KiCad 9 Optimized Folder Structure
### `/hardware/`
- `schematics/`: Electrical schematics in any EDA tool
- `pcb/`: PCB layout files
- `bom/`: Bill of Materials (CSV, XLSX)
- `manufacturing/`: Gerbers, pick-and-place, drill data
- `simulations/`: SPICE or other circuit simulations
- `component-models/`: 3D models for electronic components
- `libraries/`: Custom symbols, footprints, models
```
your-project.kicad_pro # KiCad 9 project file (root level)
your-project.kicad_sch # Main schematic file (root level)
your-project.kicad_pcb # Main PCB file (root level)
### `/mechanical/`
- `enclosure/`: 3D-printable housing or case designs
- `cad/`: Editable CAD models
- `stl/`: Printable STL files
- `drawings/`: 2D mechanical drawings for CNC or documentation
kicad/ # KiCad-specific files
├── libraries/ # Custom KiCad libraries
│ ├── symbols/ # Custom schematic symbols (.kicad_sym)
│ ├── footprints/ # Custom footprints (.pretty folders)
│ └── 3dmodels/ # Custom 3D models (.step, .wrl)
├── schematics/ # Additional/hierarchical schematics
├── gerbers/ # Generated Gerber files
├── plots/ # PDF plots and prints
└── backups/ # KiCad automatic backups
### `/firmware/`
- `src/`, `include/`, `lib/`: Source code and libraries for microcontrollers
- Compatible with PlatformIO, Arduino, STM32Cube, Zephyr, etc.
hardware/ # Hardware documentation and files
├── bom/ # Bill of Materials
├── datasheets/ # Component datasheets
├── simulations/ # SPICE simulations
└── assembly/ # Assembly drawings and instructions
### `/software/`
- `gui/`: GUI apps for control or configuration
- `scripts/`: Helper tools or automation
manufacturing/ # Production files
├── gerbers/ # Final Gerber files for production
├── drill/ # Drill files
├── pick-and-place/ # Pick and place files
└── assembly/ # Assembly instructions
### `/docs/`
- `overview.md`, `quickstart.md`: Introductory and usage docs
- `images/`: Diagrams, photos, illustrations
- `datasheets/`: Reference datasheets for key components
mechanical/ # Mechanical design files
├── enclosure/ # Case/enclosure designs
├── cad/ # 3D CAD files
├── drawings/ # 2D mechanical drawings
└── stl/ # 3D printable files
### `/tests/`
- `hardware/`: Hardware test procedures
- `firmware/`: Firmware unit or integration tests
- `reports/`: Test logs and validation outputs
firmware/ # Embedded firmware (if applicable)
├── src/ # Source code
├── include/ # Header files
└── lib/ # Libraries
### `/ci/`
- GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or other automation scripts
software/ # PC software and tools
├── gui/ # GUI applications
└── scripts/ # Automation scripts
### `/tools/`
- Developer tools, debug scripts, flashing utilities
docs/ # Project documentation
├── images/ # Documentation images
├── user-manual/ # User documentation
└── design-notes/ # Design documentation
### `/certs/`
- Regulatory or environmental compliance documents (e.g., CE, FCC, RoHS)
tests/ # Testing files
├── hardware/ # Hardware test procedures
├── reports/ # Test reports
└── validation/ # Validation documents
### `/manufacturing/`
- `assembly/`: Instructions and jigs for assembly
- `fab/`: Production-ready files for fabrication
tools/ # Development tools
ci/ # Continuous Integration
certs/ # Certifications and compliance
meta/ # Project metadata
```
### `/meta/`
- `changelog.md`: Development history
- `authors.md`: Contributors list
- `b4l_manifest.json`: Optional machine-readable metadata
---
## 🔧 KiCad 9 Specific Features
### Project Settings
- Configure your KiCad 9 project settings in the `.kicad_pro` file
- Set up design rules and constraints
- Configure library paths to use the `kicad/libraries/` structure
### Library Management
- Store custom symbols in `kicad/libraries/symbols/`
- Store custom footprints in `kicad/libraries/footprints/`
- Store 3D models in `kicad/libraries/3dmodels/`
- Use relative paths in your project settings
### Version Control Best Practices
- The `.gitignore` file is configured for KiCad projects
- Automatic backups are stored in `kicad/backups/` (excluded from git)
- Generated files (Gerbers, plots) can be committed or ignored based on your workflow
---
## 📋 Workflow Recommendations
### 1. Design Phase
1. Create your schematic in the root `.kicad_sch` file
2. Use hierarchical sheets in `kicad/schematics/` for complex designs
3. Store component datasheets in `hardware/datasheets/`
4. Document design decisions in `docs/design-notes/`
### 2. Layout Phase
1. Design your PCB in the root `.kicad_pcb` file
2. Generate plots and save to `kicad/plots/`
3. Create assembly drawings in `hardware/assembly/`
### 3. Manufacturing Phase
1. Generate final Gerbers to `manufacturing/gerbers/`
2. Create pick-and-place files in `manufacturing/pick-and-place/`
3. Generate BOM in `hardware/bom/`
4. Create assembly instructions in `manufacturing/assembly/`
### 4. Documentation Phase
1. Update all README files in subdirectories
2. Create user manual in `docs/user-manual/`
3. Add project images to `docs/images/`
---
## 🔄 Git Workflow
### Initial Setup
```bash
# After creating your KiCad project
git add .
git commit -m "Add KiCad project files"
git push
```
### Regular Development
```bash
# After making changes
git add .
git commit -m "Describe your changes"
git push
```
### Release Preparation
```bash
# Generate manufacturing files
# Update documentation
# Tag release
git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "Release version 1.0.0"
git push --tags
```
---
## 📝 License
This template is open source. Use a license that fits your project.
Recommended for hardware: [CERN-OHL-S-2.0](https://gitlab.com/ohwr/project/cernohl/)
This template is open source. Choose an appropriate license for your project:
- For hardware: [CERN-OHL-S-2.0](https://ohwr.org/cern_ohl_s_v2.txt)
- For software: [MIT](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) or [GPL-3.0](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html)
---
## 🤝 Contributing
To start a new project:
1. Click “Use this template” (on GitHub) or clone this repo
2. Rename and fill out your project files
3. Share and collaborate with ease
1. Fork this repository
2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'`)
4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
5. Open a Pull Request
---