Summary

• Convert tools to synchronous; remove FastMCP Context usage.
• Replace Context progress with Python logging.
• Use CLI for DRC and PCB thumbnail; avoid tool-to-tool calls.

Root Cause

• Context injection and async handlers cause uncallable tools in standard
  MCP clients.

Scope (files)

• kicad_mcp/tools/netlist_tools.py
• kicad_mcp/tools/export_tools.py
• kicad_mcp/tools/bom_tools.py
• kicad_mcp/tools/drc_tools.py
• kicad_mcp/tools/drc_impl/cli_drc.py
• kicad_mcp/tools/pattern_tools.py
• kicad_mcp/server.py
• kicad_mcp/context.py
• (If helper changes present) kicad_mcp/utils/netlist_parser.py, kicad_mcp/
  utils/pattern_recognition.py, kicad_mcp/utils/drc_history.py, kicad_mcp/utils/
  kicad_utils.py

Compatibility

• Tested on macOS (Darwin 24.5.0), MCP 1.11.0 / FastMCP 2.10.6.
• Validated with Claude Desktop and Cherry Studio.

Breaking Changes

• Tool signatures no longer accept ctx: Context; async tools → sync.

Testing

• Run server: make run or python -m kicad_mcp.server
• Netlist: extract_schematic_netlist(schematic_path)
• BOM: analyze_bom(project.kicad_pro), export_bom_csv(project.kicad_pro)
• DRC: run_drc_check(project.kicad_pro), then get_drc_history_tool
• Patterns: analyze_project_circuit_patterns(project.kicad_pro)
• Export: generate_project_thumbnail(project.kicad_pro)