ppfootprint - print a real KiCad footprint’s own pad and courtyard geometry
ppfootprint
[--debug] [--quiet] LIBRARY:FOOTPRINT
ppfootprint {--help|--version}
ppfootprint loads a real KiCad footprint (.kicad_mod) file and prints its own real pad geometry (position, size, shape, through-hole or SMD) and, if present, its courtyard layer’s own real keep-out size — the exact same data auto_layout.py’s own real_size_rows() uses for footprint-aware component sizing, rather than a value- string guess.
LIBRARY:FOOTPRINT is KiCad’s own reference form, the same string a real component’s own footprint field holds once assigned -- see EXAMPLES below for a real one. Resolved as LIBRARY.pretty/FOOTPRINT.kicad_mod under $KICAD_FOOTPRINT_DIR if that environment variable is set, otherwise under /usr/share/kicad/footprints, the same convention this project’s own ppnetlist(1) and pprender(1) already use for $KICAD_SYM_DIR/$KICAD_FOOTPRINT_DIR.
-h, --help
Show a usage summary and exit.
--version
Show this project’s own current version (read from VERSION) and exit.
--debug
Also print the resolved .kicad_mod file’s own real path, and the courtyard’s own real bounding coordinates (not just its width/height).
--quiet
Print only the summary and courtyard lines; suppress the footprint’s own description text and the full per-pad listing.
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0 |
The footprint was found and printed successfully. | ||
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1 |
LIBRARY:FOOTPRINT wasn’t in the expected library:name form, or no matching .kicad_mod file was found under the resolved search path. | ||
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2 |
Invalid command-line usage (e.g. no LIBRARY:FOOTPRINT given). |
Print a common through-hole resistor footprint’s own real geometry:
ppfootprint Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_Horizontal
Just the courtyard size and the file it came from, no per-pad detail:
ppfootprint --quiet --debug Diode_THT:D_DO-35_SOD27_P7.62mm_Horizontal
ppnetlist(1), pprender(1), DevelopmentStandard.org ’s own "KICAD_FOOTPRINT_DIR" environment setup section, in packpay’s own documentation set (see Index.org).
Péter Felecan <pfelecan@gmail.com>, with development assistance from Claude (Anthropic).
Copyright © 2026 Péter Felecan. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.