Building PCBEditor: Hybrid AI and Deterministic Engine

When dealing with deterministic systems, developers must carefully rethink where to apply artificial intelligence within the architecture. This exact challenge arose during the recent development of PCBEditor.com, sharing a personal product development story about choosing between AI and non-AI methods.

PCB design involves multiple distinct stages, starting with schematics where creators must decide which electronic components to use. An inventory management tool was previously built allowing users to upload purchase invoices and utilize those exact parts for PCB layout.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Moving on to electrically valid netlists, footprint generation, and ball-map creation, a hybrid approach was chosen. Instead of relying entirely on artificial intelligence, internal libraries are built alongside AI models to ensure reliable and predictable outcomes.

Next comes the placement engine, which requires calculating component layouts based on multiple rules such as thermal warnings and electrical signal fluctuation constraints. The Fortza AI model is then utilized to determine the best placement option for the current design.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Subsequent stages include Design Rule Checking (DRC) spanning hundreds of code files and thousands of lines to ensure board integrity, followed by 3D visualization using AI-retrieved official STEP files. Furthermore, layer selection and quality gate verification are handled by an agentic system featuring over 200 expert AI agents collaborating to produce industry-standard results.

Source: Dev.to