Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Thanks to PCBWay.com/?from=atomic for the fantastic PCBs and SMT assembly.
I wanted a simple dev board for every Espressif module with a PCB antenna and
native USB. That's twelve boards across the S2, S3, C3, C5, C6 and H2 families.
So I asked my favourite AI to design them, and it said no. It was right: this is
a mechanical, repetitive job, and what you actually want is a script. One small
hand-written config file per module, and a deterministic pipeline does the rest.
Schematic, placement, autorouting, ground pour, 3D renders and fab-ready Gerbers,
all built and released automatically by GitHub Actions.
All twelve boards are open source. Gerbers and KiCad projects are on the releases
page, but do your own due diligence before you order: they're machine generated
and I haven't had physical copies of all twelve back from a fab yet.
Which ones would you like to see made up? Let me know in the comments.
== LINKS ==
Full write-up: atomic14.com/2026/08/03/twelve-dev-boards-from-one
The boards (GitHub): github.com/atomic14/kicad-esp32-dev-boards
Gerbers + KiCad projects: github.com/atomic14/kicad-esp32-dev-boards/releases
ESP32 module database: atomic14.com/esp32
Compare every module: atomic14.com/esp32/table
Tools used:
KiCadRoutingTools: github.com/drandyhaas/KiCadRoutingTools
My fork (keeps vias out of same-net pads): github.com/atomic14/KiCadRoutingTools
kicad-skip: github.com/psychogenic/kicad-skip
== CHAPTERS ==
0:00 Why not build one for every module?
0:15 I asked the AI and it said no
0:46 What an ESP32 dev board actually needs
1:41 The questions a script can't answer
2:18 Where the AI does help
2:44 From skeleton schematic to placed board
3:47 Two baseboards, mirrored
4:12 Routing, and the USB differential pair
4:35 Two layers, and thanks to PCBWay
4:53 Silkscreen, git tags and automatic releases
5:21 Do your own due diligence
5:45 Which ones should I make?
---
If you'd like to help support the channel and help me buy more nonsense - I have a Patreon page: patreon.com/atomic14
We've also got a shop now! shop.atomic14.com
And if you're shopping on AliExpress or Amazon then if you click on these links I will get a little bit of affiliate money:
Aliexpress - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ac05mF
Amazon - amazon.com/?tag=atomic14-20
You can also join us on Discord here: discord.gg/h2DDnDdjD2
There's also the Atomic14 newsletter here: atomic14.substack.com
And don't forget about the MakerNews newsletter - makernews.substack.com
Thanks to PCBWay.com/?from=atomic for the fantastic PCBs and SMT assembly.
I wanted a simple dev board for every Espressif module with a PCB antenna and
native USB. That's twelve boards across the S2, S3, C3, C5, C6 and H2 families.
So I asked my favourite AI to design them, and it said no. It was right: this is
a mechanical, repetitive job, and what you actually want is a script. One small
hand-written config file per module, and a deterministic pipeline does the rest.
Schematic, placement, autorouting, ground pour, 3D renders and fab-ready Gerbers,
all built and released automatically by GitHub Actions.
All twelve boards are open source. Gerbers and KiCad projects are on the releases
page, but do your own due diligence before you order: they're machine generated
and I haven't had physical copies of all twelve back from a fab yet.
Which ones would you like to see made up? Let me know in the comments.
== LINKS ==
Full write-up: atomic14.com/2026/08/03/twelve-dev-boards-from-one
The boards (GitHub): github.com/atomic14/kicad-esp32-dev-boards
Gerbers + KiCad projects: github.com/atomic14/kicad-esp32-dev-boards/releases
ESP32 module database: atomic14.com/esp32
Compare every module: atomic14.com/esp32/table
Tools used:
KiCadRoutingTools: github.com/drandyhaas/KiCadRoutingTools
My fork (keeps vias out of same-net pads): github.com/atomic14/KiCadRoutingTools
kicad-skip: github.com/psychogenic/kicad-skip
== CHAPTERS ==
0:00 Why not build one for every module?
0:15 I asked the AI and it said no
0:46 What an ESP32 dev board actually needs
1:41 The questions a script can't answer
2:18 Where the AI does help
2:44 From skeleton schematic to placed board
3:47 Two baseboards, mirrored
4:12 Routing, and the USB differential pair
4:35 Two layers, and thanks to PCBWay
4:53 Silkscreen, git tags and automatic releases
5:21 Do your own due diligence
5:45 Which ones should I make?
---
If you'd like to help support the channel and help me buy more nonsense - I have a Patreon page: patreon.com/atomic14
We've also got a shop now! shop.atomic14.com
And if you're shopping on AliExpress or Amazon then if you click on these links I will get a little bit of affiliate money:
Aliexpress - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ac05mF
Amazon - amazon.com/?tag=atomic14-20
You can also join us on Discord here: discord.gg/h2DDnDdjD2
There's also the Atomic14 newsletter here: atomic14.substack.com
And don't forget about the MakerNews newsletter - makernews.substack.com
