Footprinter

Why it's ranked here

Its strongest case is efficient, repeatable generation of standardized footprints. The compact notation saves context when models produce definitions, while the builder gives application code a typed alternative. Broad package coverage and geometry-focused tests make it credible. Tolerance for missing dimensions is useful during exploration, but weakens confidence until every critical measurement is explicit.

What's good

The same footprint can be expressed as concise text or assembled programmatically. Output is structured circuit JSON, so consumers receive pad geometry and metadata rather than a rendered picture alone. Global modifiers handle orientation, silkscreen removal, reference-designator removal, origin changes, and pad rounding. Tests check exact coordinates, pad counts, shapes, numbering, invalid inputs, and SVG snapshots.

Tradeoffs

Underspecified definitions receive reasonable defaults, and those defaults may change after an upgrade. The project cannot currently report whether a definition is underspecified. Compact definitions also favor standardized packages over highly custom geometry. The browser gallery previews SVG output, but the package declares no command-line entry and exposes no standalone service interface.

How to use it well

Use it inside TypeScript circuit tooling when many standard package variants must be generated from concise, inspectable descriptions. It also suits model output, provided a later strict check or linter rejects missing dimensions. Specify pitch, pad size, body dimensions, orientation, and omitted positions explicitly. Use full custom geometry authoring when the package cannot be represented by the existing vocabulary.

Observed

License

ISC

Primary language

TypeScript

Packaging

ES module package named @tscircuit/footprinter; published files are limited to dist.

Install surface

JavaScript package with generated type declarations and circuit-json as a peer dependency.

Interfaces

Typed library API and browser-based SVG preview gallery; no command-line entry is declared.

Test structure

Repository includes Bun tests with value assertions and SVG snapshot matching.