Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor, announces the release of a new secondary KiCad library, known as the Digi-Key Partner Library, on GitHub. This is intended to be a supplement to the existing Digi-Key KiCad library released last year.

Whereas the previous library was developed and curated by Digi-Key’s Applications Engineering team, the Partner Library was created to allow manufacturers to submit their own symbols and footprints to be compiled into the Digi-Key format.

“KiCad continues to grow in popularity as the open source alternative of robust EDA tools,” said Randall Restle, VP, Applications Engineering. “The user community’s endorsement of Digi-Key’s atomic part library, which binds parts’ symbols to their correct printed circuit board footprints, datasheets, part numbers, and more, motivated us to develop the software tools to enable and motivate suppliers to develop their own KiCad design assets. Thereby, becoming a gold standard for such assets.”

The initial rollout contains 45 parts submitted by TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH and is set to expand as more suppliers engage in the program.

For more information about KiCad as well as the company’s full portfolio of EDA and design tools, visit the Digi-Key website.