In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing KiCad on your Chromebook. KiCad is a powerful open-source software suite for electronic design automation (EDA). It's widely used for creating schematics for electronic circuits and designing printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Why Install KiCad on Your Chromebook?

Installing KiCad on your Chromebook can be incredibly useful for students, hobbyists, and professionals in the field of electronics. It allows you to work on electronic projects directly from your Chromebook, making it a versatile tool for on-the-go design work.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that your Chromebook supports Linux apps (Crostini). If you're unsure, you can check our list of Chromebooks with Linux Apps support.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Follow these steps carefully to install KiCad on your Chromebook:

1. Enable Linux Apps on Your Chromebook

If you haven't already enabled Linux apps on your Chromebook, follow these steps:

• Go to your Chromebook's Settings
• Click on the "Advanced" section
• Select "Developers"
• Turn on the "Linux development environment" option

2. Open the Terminal

Once Linux is set up, open the Terminal app from your app launcher.

3. Update Your System

First, let's update the system packages. Copy and paste this command into your terminal:

sudo apt update

4. Install Flatpak

KiCad will be installed using Flatpak, a universal package management system. Install Flatpak with this command:

sudo apt install flatpak

5. Add Flathub Repository

Now, we'll add the Flathub repository, which hosts a wide variety of Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

6. Install KiCad

With Flatpak set up, we can now install KiCad:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.kicad.KiCad

7. Set Permissions

Finally, we need to set the correct permissions for a tool that KiCad needs to launch:

sudo chown root:root /usr/bin/bwrap && sudo chmod u+s /usr/bin/bwrap

Launch KiCad

After installation, you should be able to find KiCad in your app launcher. Click on it to start the application.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the installation process, double-check that you've entered the commands correctly. If problems persist, you may need to restart your Chromebook or ensure your system is up to date.

Additional Resources

To learn more about KiCad and its features, you can visit the official KiCad website. For more information about the Flatpak version of KiCad, check out its Flathub page.

For a visual guide to this process, please refer to the video tutorial below:

If you have any questions about this process, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments section of the video. We're here to help!

Further Reading

If you're interested in exploring more about Chromebooks and their capabilities, take a look at our Chromebook comparison and Buyers Guide. It provides valuable insights to help you make informed decisions about Chromebook purchases.

Thank you for following this guide. We hope you find KiCad on your Chromebook useful for your electronic design projects!