Ctrl+K
Go to App
Sign InSign Up
    Getting Started

    • Introduction to Flux

    • What is Flux?

    • Quick Start

    • The Flux Method

    • Creating an Account

    • Flux for Organizations

    • Setting Up Your Browser

      • Mouse & Trackpad

      • Multi-Screen Operation

      • Keyboard Shortcuts

    • Your First PCB in Flux

      • DFM & Export

      • PCB Layout & Routing

      • Project Setup

      • Schematic

      • Export & Manufacturing

    • KiCAD to Flux

      • Layout

      • Parts & Libraries

      • Schematics

    • Eagle to Flux

    • EasyEDA to Flux

    • Upverter to Flux

    • Altium to Flux

    • Getting Help

    Tutorials

    • Tutorials

    • Getting Started With Flux

      • Customizing Flux

    • Flux Use Cases

      • AI Architecture Design

      • AI Component Research

      • AI Design Reviews

      • AI Testing & Debugging

      • AI Auto-Layout

      • Generative AI

    • Start Learning Flux, No Matter Your Skill Level

      • Advanced Designer

      • First Time Designer

      • Intermediate Designer

    • Power Regulator

      • 1 – Part Selection

      • 2 – PCB Layout

      • 2 – Schematics

    • Routing

      • High-speed Routing

      • High Density Designs (HDI)

      • Working with Polygons

    • Adding Components to the Library

      • Publishing Components to the Library

      • Creating Components from Scratch

      • Importing Components

      • Working with Footprints

      • Working with Symbols

    • What is a Module?

      • Module Design Best Practices

      • Creating Modules

      • Using Modules

    • Generic Components

      • Creating a generic part

    • Copper Fills Tutorial

      • Creating Copper Cutouts

    • Board Outline Shape and Size

    • The Toolbar

    • Using Layout Rules

    • Intro to collaboration

    • Embedding a Flux Project

    • Reviewing component updates

    • Version Control Deep Dive

    • Custom Shapes

    • AI-Assisted Design with Flux

    • PCB Design Reviews (DRC)

    • Component Placement

    • Component Procurement

    • Multi-Layer PCB Design

    • Working with Ground Signals

    • Reusing Projects

      • Useful links

    Reference

    • Flux Context Menu

    • Calculator Tool

    • Change Project Name

    • Code Tool

    • Convert to component

    • Flux ACUs

    • Overview

    • Data Portability

    • Delete & Archive Projects

    • Design Rule Check (DRC)

    • Expressions

    • File Tool

    • FMEA Report Generation

    • Gerber Exports

    • Help Tool

    • Special Part Types

    • JEP30 PartModel Import/Export

    • Knowledge Base

    • Library Tool

    • Managing Units

    • Measuring Distances

    • Model Selection

    • Nets and Traces

      • Curved Traces

      • Impedance Control

      • Trace Width

    • Object Types

      • AssetNode

      • ControlNode

      • ElementNode

      • ElementTerminalNode

      • OutputNode

      • PropertyNode

      • RouteNode

      • RouteTerminalNode

    • Pads & Holes

    • Passive Component Consolidation

    • Layout Rules Reference

      • Layout Rules List

      • Object-Specific Layout Rules

      • Selector-Based Layout Rules

      • Layout Rules Inheritance & Precedence

      • Layout Rules Modifiers

    • Polygons

    • Comments

    • Cursors

    • Forking & Cloning

    • Copper Fills

    • Importing Schematics

    • Importing Components

    • Schematic Inspector

      • Assets Panel

      • Pricing & Availability Panel

      • Properties Panel

      • Simulation Panel

    • The Library

    • Project Launcher

      • New Blank Project

    • Layout Object Tree

      • PCB Object Types

    • Schematic Object List

    • The PCB Editor

      • Locking

      • Layer View Control

      • Positioning & Routing

      • Selecting Objects

      • Stackup Editor

    • Permission Tiers

    • Preloaded Examples

    • The Profile Page

      • Featured Projects

    • The Schematic Editor

      • Positioning & Wiring

    • Global Search

    • Sharing & Permissions

    • History & Version Control

    • Silkscreen

    • Simulator Tool

    • Star a Project (Favorite)

    • Vias

      • Smart Vias

    Copilot

    • Copilot Overview

    • Model Selection

    • Flux ACUs

    • Knowledge Base

    • Flux Context Menu

    • Calculator Tool

    • Code Tool

    • File Tool

    • Help Tool

    • Library Tool

    • Simulator Tool

    • FMEA Report Generation

    • Passive Component Consolidation

    FAQ

    • Schematic Editor

    • General FAQs

    • Flux and AI FAQs

    • PCB Editor FAQs

    • Parts and Modules

    • Pricing

    • Private and public projects

    • Data security and IP protection

    • When things go wrong: Errors and how to handle them

      • Lost connection

    Legal

    • Terms of Service

    • Privacy Statement

    • Main Services Agreement

    • Subprocessors

Getting Started

›

KiCAD to Flux

Getting Started

KiCAD to Flux - Getting started

Are you a KiCad EDA user looking to take your first steps in Flux? In this tutorial, we’ll cover how the basic workflows translate between the tools and the terminology you need to understand to succeed in Flux.

Overview

If you’re in a hurry, here are the need-to-know basics for migrating from KiCad EDA to Flux:

  • User Interface

    • Flux is an all-in-one tool. Meaning libraries, schematics and layout are created with the same interface.
    • There are no files in Flux, every project is easily accessible through its URL
    • Files are automatically version controlled. Learn more.

  • Parts and Libraries

    • In KiCAD, global and local libraries accessed differently in different projects. In Flux, there is a unified library, and whether you have access to a part or not is defined by the permissions that were set by the owner of the part.
    • In KiCAD, symbols and footprints exist as different files that need to be linked. In Flux, parts are a single entity that contains symbol and footprint. Learn more.
    • Do you have your own KiCAD library? You can easily import it into Flux. Learn more.

  • Schematic Editor

    • Everything you’ll find on the properties panel in KiCAD, in Flux you can find in the inspector tab (right side of the screen) under properties. From datasheet links, properties, to live pricing.
    • KiCAD supports various type of labels to connect nets. In Flux, labels are replaced by a part called “portal”. You can find portals with different symbols in the library.

  • PCB Editor

    • Netlist and ECO do not exist in Flux. Schematic and PCB data are automatically synchronized.
    • Everything you’ll find on the layout properties panel in Kicad, in Flux you can find in the inspector tab (right side of the screen) under rules.
    • Flux automatically creates ground fills (planes) connected to ground. Learn more.

Accessing Libraries, Schematics, and Layout

In KiCad

KiCad uses multiple tools for each aspect of your design:

  • Symbol Editor for creating/editing symbols
  • Footprint Editor for footprints
  • Schematic Editor and PCB Editor for circuit design and layout

In Flux

Flux integrates all these aspects into one single all-in-one tool:

  • Profile Page: The first screen after logging in to Flux is your profile page. This is where you’ll find every project you have contributed to, starred, or cloned

    • Your Flux profile is sharable so other people can see your public projects. Essentially acting as a portfolio.

  • Project Page: is where you access design elements like parts, schematics, and layouts.

  • Flux keeps everything linked in the cloud, there’s no need to manage separate files.

:::info Info Flux handles file management for you, making it easy to share projects via URLs without worrying about version mismatches or missing files. Learn more. :::

Next in the KiCad to Flux tutorial -> auto$

Previous

Export & Manufacturing

Next

Layout