DM0001

Diode PCB boards

This repository contains schematics and boards built using the pcb command line utility by Diode, using the Zener language and open source compiler

Prerequisites

For the most up to date information, visit our documentation at docs.pcb.new

The open source PCB compiler is available at github.com/diodeinc/pcb

1. KiCad 9.0
   • Required for PCB layout
   • Download from KiCad website

Project Structure

.
├── README.md
├── components              # Auto-generated component definitions (do not edit)
├── modules                 # User-authored reusable modules (.zen files)
├── boards                  # Board designs that use modules (.zen files)
└── pcb.toml               # Project configuration

Usage Guidelines

Building Projects

• Build your project using:

  pcb build

Important Rules

1. Dependencies

   • Always use pcb add for dependencies
   • Never modify pcb.toml directly
   • Only add dependencies to directories with a pcb.toml file

2. Best Practices

   • Components in components/ are auto-generated - never edit them manually
   • Create reusable modules in modules/ directory
   • Board designs go in boards/ directory
   • Use generic components for basic elements (capacitors, resistors, inductors)
   • Consult component datasheets when available

3. Project Files

   • Build artifacts are stored in .pcb/ directory
   • Project configuration is in pcb.toml
   • Component files use .zen extension

Zener Language Reference

Zener is a Starlark-based language for defining electronic components, modules, and boards as code. Starlark is a simplified dialect of Python designed for configuration files.

Key Concepts

1. Components (in components/ directory)

   • Auto-generated using pcb search <PART_NUMBER>
   • Never edit these manually
   • Stored as .zen files

2. Modules (in modules/ directory)

   • User-authored reusable logic
   • Combine components and define connections
   • Named as <module_name>.zen

3. Boards (in boards/ directory)

   • Instantiate modules for real-world use
   • Define the final PCB design
   • Named as <board_name>.zen

Basic Syntax

Since Zener is based on Starlark, it follows Python-like syntax:

• Variables and functions follow Python conventions
• Comments use #
• Indentation matters
• No type annotations required

For detailed syntax and examples, refer to the Diode PCB documentation

Component Management

Components are managed through the pcb command line tool:

• Use pcb pro search <PART_NUMBER> to find components
• Components are automatically downloaded and stored in components/
• Each component includes symbol, footprint, 3D model, and datasheet information

Contributing

When contributing to this repository, please:

1. Follow the project structure
2. Use the provided tools for component and module creation
3. Ensure all components are properly documented
4. Test your changes with pcb build