Use kicad-cli

Generate fabrication, documentation, and 3D outputs from KiCad projects, and run electrical/design rule checks, by driving kicad-cli — KiCad 9.0's command-line tool. It has six command groups: sch (schematic), pcb (board), sym (symbols), fp (footprints), jobset (batch job sets), and version.

Process

1. Identify which artifact the user wants (fabrication files, BOM, a check, a 3D model, a PDF, a library upgrade) and map it to a command group with the table below.
2. Locate and verify the binary before running anything (see "Locating the binary"). Run kicad-cli version first to confirm it works.
3. Load the matching reference file and use its exact flags. Do not invent flags — when unsure, run kicad-cli <group> <command> -h.
4. Build the command, create any output directory first, then run it. Report the produced files (and, for checks, the exit code plus report path).

CRITICAL operating rules