Fix drc issues - swap out pbnew for kicad cli and ipc

README.md

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ This guide will help you set up a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for KiCad.
 
 - macOS, Windows, or Linux with KiCad installed
 - Python 3.10 or higher
+- KiCad 9.0 or higher
 - Claude Desktop (or another MCP client)
 - Basic familiarity with the terminal
 
@@ -154,9 +155,10 @@ The KiCad MCP Server provides several key features, each with detailed documenta
 - **BOM Management**: Analyze and export Bills of Materials
   - *Example:* "Generate a BOM for my smart watch project" → Creates a detailed bill of materials
   
-- **Design Rule Checking**: Run DRC checks and track your progress over time
+  - **Design Rule Checking**: Run DRC checks and track your progress over time
   - *Example:* "Run DRC on my power supply board and compare to last week" → Shows progress in fixing violations
-  
+  - *KiCad 9.0+ Compatible:* Uses the new KiCad CLI or IPC API automatically
+
 - **PCB Visualization**: Generate visual representations of your PCB layouts
   - *Example:* "Show me a thumbnail of my audio amplifier PCB" → Displays a visual render of the board
   

docs/drc_guide.md

@@ -11,6 +11,24 @@ The Design Rule Check (DRC) functionality allows you to:
 3. Track your progress over time as you fix issues
 4. Compare current results with previous checks
 
+## KiCad 9.0+ Compatibility
+
+**Important Update**: With KiCad 9.0+, the DRC functionality has been reimplemented to work with the new KiCad APIs. The server now supports two methods for running DRC:
+
+1. **KiCad CLI Method** (Recommended) - Uses the `kicad-cli` command-line tool to run DRC checks without requiring a running instance of KiCad.
+
+2. **IPC API Method** - Connects to a running instance of KiCad through the new IPC API using the `kicad-python` package.
+
+The server automatically selects the best available method based on your KiCad installation.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+For optimal DRC functionality with KiCad 9.0+, you should have:
+
+- KiCad 9.0 or newer installed
+- `kicad-cli` available in your system PATH (included with KiCad 9.0+)
+- For IPC API functionality: the `kicad-python` package installed (`pip install kicad-python`)
+
 ## Using DRC Features
 
 ### Running a DRC Check
@@ -25,6 +43,7 @@ Please run a DRC check on my project at /Users/username/Documents/KiCad/my_proje
 ```
 
 The tool will:
+- Automatically select the best available method (CLI or IPC API)
 - Analyze your PCB design for rule violations
 - Generate a comprehensive report
 - Save the results to your DRC history
@@ -122,5 +141,19 @@ If the DRC check fails to run:
 
 1. Ensure your KiCad project exists at the specified path
 2. Verify that the project contains a PCB file (.kicad_pcb)
-3. Check that the KiCad installation is detected correctly
+3. Check your KiCad installation:
+   - For CLI method: Verify `kicad-cli` is in your PATH or in a standard installation location
+   - For IPC API method: Make sure KiCad is running with the API server enabled in Preferences > Plugins
 4. Try using the full absolute path to your project file
+
+### Method Selection Issues
+
+If you want to force a specific DRC method:
+
+1. **CLI Method**: Ensure `kicad-cli` is available in your PATH
+2. **IPC API Method**: 
+   - Install the `kicad-python` package
+   - Launch KiCad before running the DRC check
+   - Enable the API server in KiCad preferences
+
+If you continue to experience issues, check the server logs for more detailed error information.

kicad_mcp/resources/drc_resources.py

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP
 from kicad_mcp.utils.file_utils import get_project_files
 from kicad_mcp.utils.logger import Logger
 from kicad_mcp.utils.drc_history import get_drc_history
-from kicad_mcp.tools.drc_tools import run_drc_via_cli
+from kicad_mcp.tools.drc_impl.cli_drc import run_drc_via_cli
 
 # Create logger for this module
 logger = Logger()

kicad_mcp/tools/drc_impl/__init__.py

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+"""
+DRC implementations for different KiCad API approaches.
+"""

kicad_mcp/tools/drc_impl/cli_drc.py

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+"""
+Design Rule Check (DRC) implementation using KiCad command-line interface.
+"""
+import os
+import json
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional
+from mcp.server.fastmcp import Context
+
+from kicad_mcp.utils.logger import Logger
+from kicad_mcp.config import system
+
+# Create logger for this module
+logger = Logger()
+
+async def run_drc_via_cli(pcb_file: str, ctx: Context) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Run DRC using KiCad command line tools.
+    
+    Args:
+        pcb_file: Path to the PCB file (.kicad_pcb)
+        ctx: MCP context for progress reporting
+        
+    Returns:
+        Dictionary with DRC results
+    """
+    results = {
+        "success": False,
+        "method": "cli",
+        "pcb_file": pcb_file
+    }
+    
+    try:
+        # Create a temporary directory for the output
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            # Output file for DRC report
+            output_file = os.path.join(temp_dir, "drc_report.json")
+            
+            # Find kicad-cli executable
+            kicad_cli = find_kicad_cli()
+            if not kicad_cli:
+                logger.error("kicad-cli not found in PATH or common installation locations")
+                results["error"] = "kicad-cli not found. Please ensure KiCad 9.0+ is installed and kicad-cli is available."
+                return results
+            
+            # Report progress 
+            await ctx.report_progress(50, 100)
+            ctx.info("Running DRC using KiCad CLI...")
+            
+            # Build the DRC command
+            cmd = [
+                kicad_cli, 
+                "pcb", 
+                "drc",
+                "--format", "json",
+                "--output", output_file,
+                pcb_file
+            ]
+            
+            logger.info(f"Running command: {' '.join(cmd)}")
+            process = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+            
+            # Check if the command was successful
+            if process.returncode != 0:
+                logger.error(f"DRC command failed with code {process.returncode}")
+                logger.error(f"Error output: {process.stderr}")
+                results["error"] = f"DRC command failed: {process.stderr}"
+                return results
+            
+            # Check if the output file was created
+            if not os.path.exists(output_file):
+                logger.error("DRC report file not created")
+                results["error"] = "DRC report file not created"
+                return results
+            
+            # Read the DRC report
+            with open(output_file, 'r') as f:
+                try:
+                    drc_report = json.load(f)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    logger.error("Failed to parse DRC report JSON")
+                    results["error"] = "Failed to parse DRC report JSON"
+                    return results
+            
+            # Process the DRC report
+            violations = drc_report.get("violations", [])
+            violation_count = len(violations)
+            logger.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
+            await ctx.report_progress(70, 100)
+            ctx.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
+            
+            # Categorize violations by type
+            error_types = {}
+            for violation in violations:
+                error_type = violation.get("message", "Unknown")
+                if error_type not in error_types:
+                    error_types[error_type] = 0
+                error_types[error_type] += 1
+            
+            # Create success response
+            results = {
+                "success": True,
+                "method": "cli",
+                "pcb_file": pcb_file,
+                "total_violations": violation_count,
+                "violation_categories": error_types,
+                "violations": violations
+            }
+            
+            await ctx.report_progress(90, 100)
+            return results
+            
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error in CLI DRC: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
+        results["error"] = f"Error in CLI DRC: {str(e)}"
+        return results
+
+
+def find_kicad_cli() -> Optional[str]:
+    """Find the kicad-cli executable in the system PATH.
+    
+    Returns:
+        Path to kicad-cli if found, None otherwise
+    """
+    # Check if kicad-cli is in PATH
+    try:
+        if system == "Windows":
+            # On Windows, check for kicad-cli.exe
+            result = subprocess.run(["where", "kicad-cli.exe"], capture_output=True, text=True)
+            if result.returncode == 0:
+                return result.stdout.strip().split("\n")[0]
+        else:
+            # On Unix-like systems, use which
+            result = subprocess.run(["which", "kicad-cli"], capture_output=True, text=True)
+            if result.returncode == 0:
+                return result.stdout.strip()
+    
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error finding kicad-cli: {str(e)}")
+    
+    # If we get here, kicad-cli is not in PATH
+    # Try common installation locations
+    if system == "Windows":
+        # Common Windows installation path
+        potential_paths = [
+            r"C:\Program Files\KiCad\bin\kicad-cli.exe",
+            r"C:\Program Files (x86)\KiCad\bin\kicad-cli.exe"
+        ]
+    elif system == "Darwin":  # macOS
+        # Common macOS installation paths
+        potential_paths = [
+            "/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/MacOS/kicad-cli",
+            "/Applications/KiCad/kicad-cli"
+        ]
+    else:  # Linux and other Unix-like systems
+        # Common Linux installation paths
+        potential_paths = [
+            "/usr/bin/kicad-cli",
+            "/usr/local/bin/kicad-cli",
+            "/opt/kicad/bin/kicad-cli"
+        ]
+    
+    # Check each potential path
+    for path in potential_paths:
+        if os.path.exists(path) and os.access(path, os.X_OK):
+            return path
+    
+    # If still not found, return None
+    return None

kicad_mcp/tools/drc_impl/ipc_drc.py

@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+"""
+Design Rule Check (DRC) implementation using the KiCad IPC API.
+"""
+import os
+from typing import Dict, Any
+from mcp.server.fastmcp import Context
+
+from kicad_mcp.utils.logger import Logger
+from kicad_mcp.utils.kicad_api_detection import check_ipc_api_environment
+
+# Create logger for this module
+logger = Logger()
+
+async def run_drc_with_ipc_api(pcb_file: str, ctx: Context) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Run DRC using the KiCad IPC API (kicad-python).
+    This requires a running instance of KiCad with the IPC API enabled.
+    
+    Args:
+        pcb_file: Path to the PCB file (.kicad_pcb)
+        ctx: MCP context for progress reporting
+        
+    Returns:
+        Dictionary with DRC results
+    """
+    try:
+        # Import the kicad-python modules
+        import kipy
+        from kipy.board_types import DrcExclusion, DrcSeverity
+        logger.info("Successfully imported kipy modules")
+        
+        # Check if we're running in a KiCad IPC plugin environment
+        is_plugin, socket_path = check_ipc_api_environment()
+        
+        # Connect to KiCad
+        await ctx.report_progress(20, 100)
+        ctx.info("Connecting to KiCad...")
+        
+        if is_plugin:
+            # When running as a plugin, let kipy use environment variables
+            kicad = kipy.KiCad()
+        else:
+            # When running standalone, try to connect to KiCad
+            if socket_path:
+                kicad = kipy.KiCad(socket_path=socket_path)
+            else:
+                # Try with default socket path
+                kicad = kipy.KiCad()
+        
+        # Get the currently open board
+        await ctx.report_progress(30, 100)
+        ctx.info("Getting board...")
+        
+        # Check which board to use
+        current_boards = await kicad.get_open_documents("board")
+        
+        # If we have an open board, check if it's the one we want
+        use_current_board = False
+        board_doc = None
+        
+        if current_boards:
+            for doc in current_boards:
+                if doc.file_path and os.path.normpath(doc.file_path) == os.path.normpath(pcb_file):
+                    board_doc = doc
+                    use_current_board = True
+                    break
+        
+        # If the board isn't open, see if we can open it
+        if not use_current_board:
+            ctx.info(f"Opening board file: {pcb_file}")
+            try:
+                # Try to open the board
+                doc = await kicad.open_document(pcb_file)
+                board_doc = doc
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Error opening board: {str(e)}")
+                return {
+                    "success": False, 
+                    "method": "ipc",
+                    "error": f"Failed to open board file: {str(e)}"
+                }
+        
+        # Get the board
+        board = await kicad.board.get_board(board_doc.uuid)
+        
+        # Run DRC
+        await ctx.report_progress(50, 100)
+        ctx.info("Running DRC check...")
+        
+        # Define which severities to include
+        severity_filter = DrcSeverity.ERROR | DrcSeverity.WARNING
+        
+        # Run DRC on the board
+        drc_report = await kicad.board.run_drc(
+            board.uuid, 
+            severity_filter=severity_filter,
+            exclusions=DrcExclusion.NONE  # Include all violations
+        )
+        
+        # Process results
+        await ctx.report_progress(70, 100)
+        ctx.info("Processing DRC results...")
+        
+        # Get all violations
+        violations = drc_report.violations
+        violation_count = len(violations)
+        
+        logger.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
+        ctx.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
+        
+        # Process the violations
+        drc_errors = []
+        error_types = {}
+        
+        for violation in violations:
+            # Get violation details
+            severity = str(violation.severity)
+            message = violation.message
+            
+            # Extract location
+            location = {
+                "x": violation.location.x if hasattr(violation, 'location') and violation.location else 0,
+                "y": violation.location.y if hasattr(violation, 'location') and violation.location else 0
+            }
+            
+            error_info = {
+                "severity": severity,
+                "message": message,
+                "location": location
+            }
+            
+            drc_errors.append(error_info)
+            
+            # Count by type
+            if message not in error_types:
+                error_types[message] = 0
+            error_types[message] += 1
+        
+        # Create result
+        results = {
+            "success": True,
+            "method": "ipc",
+            "pcb_file": pcb_file,
+            "total_violations": violation_count,
+            "violation_categories": error_types,
+            "violations": drc_errors
+        }
+        
+        return results
+        
+    except ImportError as e:
+        logger.error(f"Failed to import kipy modules: {str(e)}")
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "method": "ipc",
+            "error": f"Failed to import kipy modules: {str(e)}"
+        }
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error in IPC API DRC: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "method": "ipc",
+            "error": f"Error in IPC API DRC: {str(e)}"
+        }

kicad_mcp/tools/drc_tools.py

@@ -2,26 +2,26 @@
 Design Rule Check (DRC) tools for KiCad PCB files.
 """
 import os
-import json
-import subprocess
-import tempfile
-from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import Dict, Any
 from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP, Context
 
 from kicad_mcp.utils.file_utils import get_project_files
 from kicad_mcp.utils.logger import Logger
 from kicad_mcp.utils.drc_history import save_drc_result, get_drc_history, compare_with_previous
-from kicad_mcp.config import KICAD_APP_PATH, system
+from kicad_mcp.utils.kicad_api_detection import get_best_api_approach
+
+# Import implementations
+from kicad_mcp.tools.drc_impl.cli_drc import run_drc_via_cli
+from kicad_mcp.tools.drc_impl.ipc_drc import run_drc_with_ipc_api
 
 # Create logger for this module
 logger = Logger()
 
-def register_drc_tools(mcp: FastMCP, kicad_modules_available: bool = False) -> None:
+def register_drc_tools(mcp: FastMCP) -> None:
     """Register DRC tools with the MCP server.
     
     Args:
         mcp: The FastMCP server instance
-        kicad_modules_available: Whether KiCad Python modules are available
     """
     
     @mcp.tool()
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ def register_drc_tools(mcp: FastMCP, kicad_modules_available: bool = False) -> N
         
         Args:
             project_path: Path to the KiCad project file (.kicad_pro)
+            ctx: MCP context for progress reporting
             
         Returns:
             Dictionary with DRC results and statistics
@@ -96,38 +97,35 @@ def register_drc_tools(mcp: FastMCP, kicad_modules_available: bool = False) -> N
         await ctx.report_progress(10, 100)
         ctx.info(f"Starting DRC check on {os.path.basename(pcb_file)}")
         
-        # Try to use pcbnew if available
-        if kicad_modules_available:
-            try:
-                drc_results = await run_drc_with_pcbnew(pcb_file, ctx)
-                if drc_results["success"]:
-                    # Save results to history
-                    save_drc_result(project_path, drc_results)
-                    
-                    # Add comparison with previous run
-                    comparison = compare_with_previous(project_path, drc_results)
-                    if comparison:
-                        drc_results["comparison"] = comparison
-                        
-                        if comparison["change"] < 0:
-                            ctx.info(f"Great progress! You've fixed {abs(comparison['change'])} DRC violations since the last check.")
-                        elif comparison["change"] > 0:
-                            ctx.info(f"Found {comparison['change']} new DRC violations since the last check.")
-                        else:
-                            ctx.info(f"No change in the number of DRC violations since the last check.")
-                
-                return drc_results
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.error(f"Error running DRC with pcbnew: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
-                ctx.info(f"Error running DRC with pcbnew: {str(e)}")
-                # Fall back to CLI method if pcbnew fails
+        # Get app context and determine which approach to use
+        app_context = ctx.request_context.lifespan_context
+        api_approach = getattr(app_context, 'api_approach', get_best_api_approach())
         
-        # Fall back to command line DRC check
-        logger.info("Attempting DRC check via command line")
-        await ctx.report_progress(30, 100)
-        drc_results = run_drc_via_cli(pcb_file)
+        # Run DRC using the appropriate approach
+        drc_results = None
         
-        if drc_results["success"]:
+        if api_approach == "cli":
+            # Use CLI approach (kicad-cli)
+            logger.info("Using kicad-cli for DRC")
+            ctx.info("Using KiCad CLI for DRC check...")
+            drc_results = await run_drc_via_cli(pcb_file, ctx)
+        
+        elif api_approach == "ipc":
+            # Use IPC API approach (kicad-python)
+            logger.info("Using IPC API for DRC")
+            ctx.info("Using KiCad IPC API for DRC check...")
+            drc_results = await run_drc_with_ipc_api(pcb_file, ctx)
+        
+        else:
+            # No API available
+            logger.error("No KiCad API available for DRC")
+            return {
+                "success": False,
+                "error": "No KiCad API available for DRC. Please install KiCad 9.0 or later."
+            }
+        
+        # Process and save results if successful
+        if drc_results and drc_results.get("success", False):
             # Save results to history
             save_drc_result(project_path, drc_results)
             
@@ -146,225 +144,7 @@ def register_drc_tools(mcp: FastMCP, kicad_modules_available: bool = False) -> N
         # Complete progress
         await ctx.report_progress(100, 100)
         
-        return drc_results
-
-
-async def run_drc_with_pcbnew(pcb_file: str, ctx: Context) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    """Run DRC using the pcbnew Python module.
-    
-    Args:
-        pcb_file: Path to the PCB file (.kicad_pcb)
-        ctx: MCP context for progress reporting
-        
-    Returns:
-        Dictionary with DRC results
-    """
-    try:
-        import pcbnew
-        logger.info("Successfully imported pcbnew module")
-        
-        # Load the board
-        board = pcbnew.LoadBoard(pcb_file)
-        if not board:
-            logger.error("Failed to load PCB file")
-            return {"success": False, "error": "Failed to load PCB file"}
-        
-        await ctx.report_progress(40, 100)
-        ctx.info("PCB file loaded, running DRC checks...")
-        
-        # Create a DRC runner
-        drc = pcbnew.DRC(board)
-        drc.SetViolationHandler(pcbnew.DRC_ITEM_LIST())
-        
-        # Run the DRC
-        drc.Run()
-        await ctx.report_progress(70, 100)
-        
-        # Get the violations
-        violations = drc.GetViolations()
-        violation_count = violations.GetCount()
-        
-        logger.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
-        ctx.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
-        
-        # Process the violations
-        drc_errors = []
-        for i in range(violation_count):
-            violation = violations.GetItem(i)
-            error_info = {
-                "severity": violation.GetSeverity(),
-                "message": violation.GetErrorMessage(),
-                "location": {
-                    "x": violation.GetPointA().x / 1000000.0,  # Convert to mm
-                    "y": violation.GetPointA().y / 1000000.0
-                }
-            }
-            drc_errors.append(error_info)
-        
-        await ctx.report_progress(90, 100)
-        
-        # Categorize violations by type
-        error_types = {}
-        for error in drc_errors:
-            error_type = error["message"]
-            if error_type not in error_types:
-                error_types[error_type] = 0
-            error_types[error_type] += 1
-        
-        # Create summary
-        results = {
-            "success": True,
-            "method": "pcbnew",
-            "pcb_file": pcb_file,
-            "total_violations": violation_count,
-            "violation_categories": error_types,
-            "violations": drc_errors
+        return drc_results or {
+            "success": False,
+            "error": "DRC check failed with an unknown error"
         }
-        
-        return results
-        
-    except ImportError as e:
-        logger.error(f"Failed to import pcbnew: {str(e)}")
-        raise
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.error(f"Error in pcbnew DRC: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
-        raise
-
-
-def run_drc_via_cli(pcb_file: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    """Run DRC using KiCad command line tools.
-    This is a fallback method when pcbnew Python module is not available.
-    
-    Args:
-        pcb_file: Path to the PCB file (.kicad_pcb)
-        
-    Returns:
-        Dictionary with DRC results
-    """
-    results = {
-        "success": False,
-        "method": "cli",
-        "pcb_file": pcb_file
-    }
-    
-    try:
-        # Create a temporary directory for the output
-        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
-            # The command to run DRC depends on the operating system
-            if system == "Darwin":  # macOS
-                # Path to KiCad command line tools on macOS
-                pcbnew_cli = os.path.join(KICAD_APP_PATH, "Contents/MacOS/pcbnew_cli")
-                
-                # Check if the CLI tool exists
-                if not os.path.exists(pcbnew_cli):
-                    logger.error(f"pcbnew_cli not found at {pcbnew_cli}")
-                    results["error"] = f"pcbnew_cli not found at {pcbnew_cli}"
-                    return results
-                
-                # Output file for DRC report
-                output_file = os.path.join(temp_dir, "drc_report.json")
-                
-                # Run the DRC command
-                cmd = [
-                    pcbnew_cli, 
-                    "--run-drc",
-                    "--output-json", output_file,
-                    pcb_file
-                ]
-                
-            elif system == "Windows":
-                # Path to KiCad command line tools on Windows
-                pcbnew_cli = os.path.join(KICAD_APP_PATH, "bin", "pcbnew_cli.exe")
-                
-                # Check if the CLI tool exists
-                if not os.path.exists(pcbnew_cli):
-                    logger.error(f"pcbnew_cli not found at {pcbnew_cli}")
-                    results["error"] = f"pcbnew_cli not found at {pcbnew_cli}"
-                    return results
-                
-                # Output file for DRC report
-                output_file = os.path.join(temp_dir, "drc_report.json")
-                
-                # Run the DRC command
-                cmd = [
-                    pcbnew_cli, 
-                    "--run-drc",
-                    "--output-json", output_file,
-                    pcb_file
-                ]
-                
-            elif system == "Linux":
-                # Path to KiCad command line tools on Linux
-                pcbnew_cli = "pcbnew_cli"  # Assume it's in the PATH
-                
-                # Output file for DRC report
-                output_file = os.path.join(temp_dir, "drc_report.json")
-                
-                # Run the DRC command
-                cmd = [
-                    pcbnew_cli, 
-                    "--run-drc",
-                    "--output-json", output_file,
-                    pcb_file
-                ]
-            
-            else:
-                results["error"] = f"Unsupported operating system: {system}"
-                return results
-            
-            logger.info(f"Running command: {' '.join(cmd)}")
-            process = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
-            
-            # Check if the command was successful
-            if process.returncode != 0:
-                logger.error(f"DRC command failed with code {process.returncode}")
-                logger.error(f"Error output: {process.stderr}")
-                results["error"] = f"DRC command failed: {process.stderr}"
-                return results
-            
-            # Check if the output file was created
-            if not os.path.exists(output_file):
-                logger.error("DRC report file not created")
-                results["error"] = "DRC report file not created"
-                return results
-            
-            # Read the DRC report
-            with open(output_file, 'r') as f:
-                try:
-                    drc_report = json.load(f)
-                except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                    logger.error("Failed to parse DRC report JSON")
-                    results["error"] = "Failed to parse DRC report JSON"
-                    return results
-            
-            # Process the DRC report
-            violation_count = len(drc_report.get("violations", []))
-            logger.info(f"DRC completed with {violation_count} violations")
-            
-            # Extract violations
-            violations = drc_report.get("violations", [])
-            
-            # Categorize violations by type
-            error_types = {}
-            for violation in violations:
-                error_type = violation.get("message", "Unknown")
-                if error_type not in error_types:
-                    error_types[error_type] = 0
-                error_types[error_type] += 1
-            
-            # Create success response
-            results = {
-                "success": True,
-                "method": "cli",
-                "pcb_file": pcb_file,
-                "total_violations": violation_count,
-                "violation_categories": error_types,
-                "violations": violations
-            }
-            
-            return results
-            
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.error(f"Error in CLI DRC: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
-        results["error"] = f"Error in CLI DRC: {str(e)}"
-        return results

kicad_mcp/utils/kicad_api_detection.py

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+"""
+Utility functions for detecting and selecting available KiCad API approaches.
+"""
+import os
+import subprocess
+import shutil
+from typing import Tuple, Optional, Literal
+
+from kicad_mcp.utils.logger import Logger
+from kicad_mcp.config import system
+
+# Create logger for this module
+logger = Logger()
+
+def check_for_cli_api() -> bool:
+    """Check if KiCad CLI API is available.
+    
+    Returns:
+        True if KiCad CLI is available, False otherwise
+    """
+    try:
+        # Check if kicad-cli is in PATH
+        if system == "Windows":
+            # On Windows, check for kicad-cli.exe
+            kicad_cli = shutil.which("kicad-cli.exe")
+        else:
+            # On Unix-like systems
+            kicad_cli = shutil.which("kicad-cli")
+        
+        if kicad_cli:
+            # Verify it's a working kicad-cli
+            if system == "Windows":
+                cmd = [kicad_cli, "--version"]
+            else:
+                cmd = [kicad_cli, "--version"]
+                
+            result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+            if result.returncode == 0:
+                logger.info(f"Found working kicad-cli: {kicad_cli}")
+                return True
+        
+        # Check common installation locations if not found in PATH
+        if system == "Windows":
+            # Common Windows installation paths
+            potential_paths = [
+                r"C:\Program Files\KiCad\bin\kicad-cli.exe",
+                r"C:\Program Files (x86)\KiCad\bin\kicad-cli.exe"
+            ]
+        elif system == "Darwin":  # macOS
+            # Common macOS installation paths
+            potential_paths = [
+                "/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/MacOS/kicad-cli",
+                "/Applications/KiCad/kicad-cli"
+            ]
+        else:  # Linux
+            # Common Linux installation paths
+            potential_paths = [
+                "/usr/bin/kicad-cli",
+                "/usr/local/bin/kicad-cli",
+                "/opt/kicad/bin/kicad-cli"
+            ]
+        
+        # Check each potential path
+        for path in potential_paths:
+            if os.path.exists(path) and os.access(path, os.X_OK):
+                logger.info(f"Found kicad-cli at common location: {path}")
+                return True
+        
+        logger.info("KiCad CLI API is not available")
+        return False
+        
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error checking for KiCad CLI API: {str(e)}")
+        return False
+
+
+def check_for_ipc_api() -> bool:
+    """Check if KiCad IPC API (kicad-python) is available.
+    
+    Returns:
+        True if KiCad IPC API is available, False otherwise
+    """
+    try:
+        # Try to import the kipy module
+        import kipy
+        logger.info("KiCad IPC API (kicad-python) is available")
+        return True
+    except ImportError:
+        logger.info("KiCad IPC API (kicad-python) is not available")
+        return False
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error checking for KiCad IPC API: {str(e)}")
+        return False
+
+
+def check_ipc_api_environment() -> Tuple[bool, Optional[str]]:
+    """Check if we're running in a KiCad IPC plugin environment.
+    
+    Returns:
+        Tuple of (is_plugin, socket_path)
+    """
+    # Check for environment variables that would indicate we're a plugin
+    is_plugin = os.environ.get("KICAD_PLUGIN_ENV") is not None
+    
+    # Check for socket path in environment
+    socket_path = os.environ.get("KICAD_SOCKET_PATH")
+    
+    if is_plugin:
+        logger.info("Running as a KiCad plugin")
+    elif socket_path:
+        logger.info(f"KiCad IPC socket path found: {socket_path}")
+    
+    return (is_plugin, socket_path)
+
+
+def get_best_api_approach() -> Literal["cli", "ipc", "none"]:
+    """Determine the best available KiCad API approach.
+    
+    Returns:
+        String indicating which API approach to use:
+        - "cli": Use KiCad command-line interface
+        - "ipc": Use KiCad IPC API (kicad-python)
+        - "none": No API available
+    """
+    # Check for IPC API first (preferred if available)
+    if check_for_ipc_api():
+        return "ipc"
+    
+    # Check for CLI API next
+    if check_for_cli_api():
+        return "cli"
+    
+    # No API available
+    logger.warning("No KiCad API available")
+    return "none"

requirements.txt

@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ mcp[cli]
 httpx
 pytest
 pandas
+kicad-python