# freerouting/freerouting

Advanced PCB auto-router

Repository: https://github.com/freerouting/freerouting
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/freerouting
Homepage: https://www.freerouting.app
Language: Java
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: autorouter, autoroute, routing-engine, routing, router, specctra, dsn, pcb, pcb-design, autorouting, auto-router, auto-route, kicad, help-wanted
Last push: 2026-08-26T20:05:28+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 98/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 96, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4449, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 26, "gap_med": 7.0, "n_releases_24m": 9}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1909, forks 314 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:52.671142+00:00)

## What it is
Freerouting is an open-source, advanced PCB auto-router that works with any EDA tool supporting the Specctra or Electra DSN interface, such as KiCad, Eagle, and EasyEDA. It imports .dsn design files, automatically routes traces with a multi-threaded rip-up-and-retry engine, and exports .ses session files back to the host EDA tool.

## Use cases
- automatically route PCB traces in KiCad
- autoroute a Specctra DSN file
- replace tedious manual PCB trace placement with automated routing
- route PCBs designed in Autodesk Eagle or EasyEDA
- minimize via counts and trace lengths on a circuit board layout
- batch-route PCB designs via a routing API

## When to choose
- you need automated PCB routing compatible with Specctra DSN/SES workflows
- you use KiCad, Eagle, EasyEDA, or another DSN-compatible EDA tool
- you want a free, open-source alternative to commercial autorouters
- you need multi-threaded routing optimization with configurable rules

## When to avoid
- your EDA tool does not support Specctra DSN import/export
- you need full schematic capture or PCB layout editing, not just routing
- you require a commercial-grade autorouter with vendor support and guarantees

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: gui, routing, graphics
- domain: hardware, developer-tools, cross-platform
- platform: windows, jvm
- tags: pcb, autorouter, eda, kicad, specctra-dsn, electronics-design, ripup-and-reroute, linux, macos, desktop

## Member repositories
- freerouting/freerouting (main) score 98

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:52.671142+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:11:06.587180+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/freerouting/freerouting (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:52.671142+00:00, sha f3896afa58fd)
  - homepage: https://www.freerouting.app (fetched 2026-08-29T10:50:05.489887+00:00, sha 49c5f425e91f)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.