An open-source Electronic Design Automation package for integrated PCB design from schematic entry to gerber export.
Horizon EDA is an open-source Electronic Design Automation package that provides a complete workflow for printed circuit board design. It integrates schematic entry, board layout, library management, and manufacturing file export into a unified environment. The project solves the need for a modern, integrated EDA tool that's free and open-source.
Electronics engineers, hardware designers, and hobbyists who need to design printed circuit boards from schematic capture to final manufacturing files. It's particularly suitable for those seeking a modern alternative to existing EDA tools.
Developers choose Horizon EDA for its integrated workflow, modern legacy-free codebase, and unified editor that eliminates context switching between different tools. It offers professional-grade features like hierarchical schematics and rule-based DRC while being completely free and open-source.
Horizon is a free EDA package
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A single editor handles symbols, schematics, and board layouts, eliminating context switching between separate tools as highlighted in the README.
Written in legacy-free modern C++ with JSON as the on-disk format, ensuring maintainability and ease of development for contributors.
Supports the complete design flow from schematic entry to gerber export, including rule-based DRC and hierarchical schematics for professional-grade designs.
Uses OpenGL 3 acceleration for lag- and glitch-free rendering, improving responsiveness during complex PCB layout tasks.
Only builds and runs on Linux and Windows, excluding macOS and other platforms, which restricts its user base.
The README lists 'features for users so far' and notes copy/paste for only some objects, indicating incomplete or immature functionality in areas.
As a newer project, it lacks the extensive community libraries and plugins available in established tools like KiCad, which it partially depends on for routing.
Horizon EDA is an open-source alternative to the following products:
KiCad is an open-source electronics design automation (EDA) suite for creating printed circuit board (PCB) layouts and schematic diagrams, used by engineers and hobbyists.
A professional PCB design software used for electronic design automation, schematic capture, and 3D PCB layout.