Installation

KiLM (KiCad Library Manager) is a Python CLI tool that requires Python 3.9+ and KiCad 6.x+ to be installed and run at least once.

System Requirements

Python 3.9 or newer
KiCad 6.x or newer (must be launched at least once to create configuration directories)
Operating System: Windows, macOS, or Linux

Installation Methods

You can install KiLM using several methods:

Method 1: Using uv Recommended

uv is an extremely fast Python package installer:

# Install uv (Linux/macOS) if you don't have it
curl -sSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Install KiLM using uv
uv tool install kilm

Alternative

Using uv you can run KiLM without installing it:

# Install uv (Linux/macOS) if you don't have it
curl -sSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Run KiLM using uv
uvx kilm

Method 2: Using pipx

pipx installs CLI tools in isolated environments, preventing dependency conflicts:

# Install pipx if you don't have it
python -m pip install --user pipx
python -m pipx ensurepath

# Install KiLM using pipx
pipx install kilm

Method 3: Using pip (Traditional)

Standard Python package installation:

pip install kilm

Method 4: From Source (Development)

For contributors or those wanting the latest development version:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/barisgit/kilm.git
cd kilm

# Install in editable mode with development dependencies
pip install -e ".[dev]"

See the Development Setup guide for more details.

Verification

After installation, verify KiLM is installed correctly:

# Check version
kilm --version

# View available commands
kilm --help

# Check KiCad detection
kilm status