ppnetlist - load and print a KiCad netlist export
ppnetlist
[--debug] [--quiet] NETLIST-FILE
ppnetlist {--help|--version}
ppnetlist loads a netlist already exported by kicad-cli(1) (kicad-cli sch export netlist --format kicadsexpr) and prints its components and nets in a plain, human-readable form: one line per component (reference designator and value), followed by one line per net (net name and every member pin, written as REF.PIN).
This program only reads an already-exported netlist file; it does not invoke kicad-cli(1) itself and does not read a .kicad_sch file directly. To export a netlist from a real schematic first, run:
kicad-cli sch export netlist --format kicadsexpr -o FILE.net SCHEMATIC.kicad_sch
Within packpay’s own Python API, ppnetlist also provides load_from_schematic(), a convenience wrapper that runs the kicad-cli(1) export step automatically; this manual page documents only the standalone command-line program, not the library API (see README and the module’s own docstrings for that).
-h, --help
Show a usage summary and exit.
--version
Show this project’s own current version (read from VERSION, this project’s own single, Dewey-decimal-numbered source for it) and exit.
--debug
In addition to each net’s own member list, annotate every member pin with its real pin name and KiCad electrical pin type where known (e.g. U1.24[VDD/power_in]), drawn from the netlist export’s own pinfunction and pintype fields. A pin with no known name or type (most passives -- KiCad’s own netlist export does not always carry a pinfunction for a simple two-leg part) is shown as ?/?.
--quiet
Suppress the leading "N components, N nets" summary line; print only the component and net listings themselves.
|
0 |
The netlist was loaded and printed successfully. | ||
|
1 |
The given file could not be opened, or could not be parsed as a KiCad netlist export (e.g. its top-level form is not (export...)). | ||
|
2 |
Invalid command-line usage (e.g. no NETLIST-FILE given). |
Export a netlist from a real schematic, then print it:
kicad-cli sch
export netlist --format kicadsexpr \
-o power.net power.kicad_sch
ppnetlist power.net
Print only the listings, with real pin names/types shown, piped to less(1):
ppnetlist --quiet --debug power.net | less
VERSION
This project’s own current version string, read by --version (see DevelopmentStandard.org, "Versioning").
ppkicad_layout(1), kicad-cli(1), README (packpay’s own "Using packpay from another project" section), Concept.org and DevelopmentStandard.org 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.