The Future of Circuit Boards: Code, Constraints, and LLMs
Episode description
In this episode of electronics.dev, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) break down a quiet revolution in electronics: designing circuit boards with code and compiler-like workflows, not traditional schematics.
They dive into:
* Why traditional EDA tools limit innovation
* How constraints, templates, and AI are unlocking more expressive, testable circuit design
* The surprising overlap between web layout (CSS) and PCB layout
* How tools like atopile let you think in relationships, not in traces
* What “spatial reasoning” really means for engineers, and why half of us may be bad at it
* Why autonomous layout and reference design matching will change everything
Along the way, the duo shares reflections on:
* The enduring power of sketching in engineering
* Using AI as a design partner (and critique engine)
* How mechanical and electronics design differ, and what each can learn from the other
* Why circuit fabrication is standardized, but placement logic is still tribal knowledge
If you’ve ever written hardware configuration code, fought with schematic tools, or dreamt of a world where hardware is as programmable and composable as software, this episode is for you.
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