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Show HN: An LLM-Powered Tool to Catch PCB Schematic Mistakes

Recorded: Nov. 29, 2025, 1:09 a.m.

Original Summarized

Netlist.ioHomeProductPricingResourcesContact UsNetlist.ioCatch PCB schematic mistakes before fabricationAI-driven electrical design checks, powered by your datasheets and netlist from KiCad or Altium. Try it now, no credit card required.Open ChatSee How It Works:Sanity ChecksLoading sidebar...Loading sample chat...Ok cool. Thanks!EffortLowGreatly extends monthly usageMediumHighConsumes rate limits quickly11.5%34.5k / 300k Per ChatAI can make mistakes, check important info. Layout suggestions are based on logic-only; layout files aren't visible to Netlist.io.Loading sidebar...Loading sample chat...Got it. Sounds good.EffortLowGreatly extends monthly usageMediumHighConsumes rate limits quickly27.5%82.5k / 300k Per ChatAI can make mistakes, check important info. Layout suggestions are based on logic-only; layout files aren't visible to Netlist.io.Loading sidebar...Loading sample chat...thx. all i rly needed was the value of r21 but whateverEffortLowGreatly extends monthly usageMediumHighConsumes rate limits quickly84.3%253k / 300k Per ChatAI can make mistakes, check important info. Layout suggestions are based on logic-only; layout files aren't visible to Netlist.io.Loading sidebar...Loading sample chat...Ok cool. Thanks!EffortLowGreatly extends monthly usageMediumHighConsumes rate limits quickly11.5%34.5k / 300k Per ChatAI can make mistakes, check important info. Layout suggestions are based on logic-only; layout files aren't visible to Netlist.io.© 2025 Netlist.io. All rights reserved.Privacy & Terms

Netlist.io offers an AI-driven solution for electrical design verification, primarily targeting PCB schematic review and optimization. The core functionality revolves around leveraging user-supplied data – specifically, datasheets and netlist information originating from popular Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software such as KiCad and Altium – to perform automated checks and generate layout suggestions. This approach fundamentally shifts the process of schematic validation from a largely manual, time-consuming activity to a more streamlined and efficient one, utilizing artificial intelligence to identify potential errors and inconsistencies. The system's ability to operate on the foundation of existing design data, rather than requiring extensive manual input, represents a significant advancement in the speed and accuracy of early-stage design verification.

The system’s operational mechanics are structured around iterative chat sessions between the user and the AI. These conversations are categorized based on user “effort,” ranging from “low” to “greatly extends monthly usage,” indicating the level of interaction and complexity of the requests. The “effort” levels are directly correlated with resource consumption, particularly concerning rate limits. Each chat session consumes a portion of a 300,000-unit allowance, with the percentage consumption varying based on the user’s input and the complexity of the request. The system highlights that the AI’s suggestions are based solely on logical constraints derived from the input data and do not include direct access to the underlying layout files, emphasizing a crucial distinction in the workflow – the AI acts as a validation engine, not a design tool.

The observed rate limit consumption patterns—ranging from 11.5% to 84.3%—suggest that the system’s processing demands fluctuate considerably depending on the specific queries submitted. The relatively high consumption rates at the “greatly extends monthly usage” level indicate that more complex or detailed explorations of the schematic lead to proportionally greater computational load. The presence of a defined rate limit structure (300,000 units) serves as a mechanism to control usage and potentially manage costs, particularly for users with high-volume design requirements. The fact that the AI acknowledges the potential for errors and necessitates user verification of critical information underscores a responsible design philosophy, recognizing the limitations of the technology and promoting a human-in-the-loop approach to ensure accuracy. The system's description of layout suggestions being “logic-only” is paramount, as it clarifies that the AI does not replace the need for a skilled electrical engineer to review and approve the final layout design. The interactive chat format, along with the system's acknowledgement of potential errors, positions Netlist.io as a tool designed to augment, not supplant, professional electrical design expertise.