A curated catalog of open-source tools for electronics, hardware design, embedded development, simulation, and related technologies. This repository collects information on tools that are free to use, cross-platform, and valuable for engineers, makers, educators, and students.
Each tool includes:
- Name and description
- Supported platforms
- Key features
- Current version
- Download and documentation links
- Full detail pages in Markdown (
/docs/tools/*.md)
This repository also includes a visual, searchable catalog:
Explore the tools online at:
https://lmcapacho.github.io/open-hardware-software
Use the search bar to filter tools, and click "View details" to read full descriptions.
Want to add a tool or improve descriptions?
- Fork this repository.
- Add a new entry in
index.json. - Open a Pull Request.
Or open an Issue to suggest a tool.
ASIC Design & Layout (3 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLayout | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| OpenLane | Linux, Docker, macOS, Windows | Apache-2.0 | Website |
| OpenROAD | Linux, Docker, macOS | BSD-3-Clause | Website |
Development Environments (6 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino IDE | Windows, Linux, macOS | AGPL-3.0 | Website |
| Geany | Linux, macOS, Windows | GPL-2.0 | Website |
| Mu Editor | Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| PlatformIO | Windows, Linux, macOS | Apache-2.0 | Website |
| Thonny | Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi | MIT | Website |
| Visual Studio Code | Windows, Linux, macOS | MIT | Website |
Digital Design & FPGA (5 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPGALab | Windows, Linux, macOS | AGPL-3.0 | Website |
| Icestudio | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPLv2 | Website |
| nextpnr | Windows, Linux, macOS | ISC | Website |
| SymbiYosys | Linux, Windows, macOS | ISC | Website |
| Yosys | Linux, Windows, macOS | ISC | Website |
Hardware Design & CAD (5 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeCAD | Windows, Linux, macOS | LGPLv2+ | Website |
| Fritzing | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| KiCad | Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker | GPLv3 | Website |
| LibrePCB | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPLv3 | Website |
| Xschem | Linux, macOS, Windows | GPL-2.0 | Website |
Programming & Debugging (3 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVRDUDE | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-2.0 | Website |
| esptool | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-2.0 | Website |
| OpenOCD | Linux, Windows, macOS | GPL-2.0 | Website |
Scientific Computing & Modeling (3 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNU Octave | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| OpenModelica | Windows, Linux, macOS | OSMC-PL-1.8 OR AGPL-3.0 | Website |
| Scilab | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-2.0 | Website |
Signal Analysis (3 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNU Radio | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| PulseView | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| sigrok-cli | Linux, macOS, Windows | GPL-3.0 | Website |
Simulation & Emulation (8 tools)
| Tool | Platforms | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falstad Circuit Simulator | Web, Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-2.0 | Website |
| GHDL | Linux, Windows, macOS | GPL-2.0 | Website |
| GTKWave | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPLv2 | Website |
| Logisim-evolution | Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL-3.0 | Website |
| Ngspice | Linux, Windows, macOS | BSD-3-Clause | Website |
| Qucs-S | Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD | GPL-2.0 | Website |
| Renode | Linux, Windows, macOS | MIT | Website |
| Verilator | Linux, macOS, Windows | LGPL-3.0 | Website |
- Code (scripts and website): MIT License
- Content (JSON, Markdown): Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
See LICENSE for more details.