kicad-learning-path

Learning Roadmap

A progression of small, simple circuits that teach how electronic components work, from the first resistor to a complete microcontroller board. Every board is designed in KiCad, manufactured on a low-cost 2-layer process, and fully documented.

Ground rules for every project

Rule Why
One new idea per board So you can see exactly what each component does
About 12 parts or fewer Small enough to understand every connection
Through-hole parts and 0805 SMD only Hand-solderable, no special equipment
2-layer board, standard KiCad libraries Cheap to build and easy to reproduce
Calculate first, then build, then measure Theory is checked against reality

Every project documents

The projects

Level 1: Beginner (meet the components)

# Project Track New components and ideas Documentation extras
1 LED + Push-Button Basics Resistor, LED, switch. Ohm’s law, current limiting Calculation tables
2 555 LED Blinker Timing Capacitor, timer IC. RC time constant, oscillation, decoupling Timing diagram
3 Voltage Divider, Potentiometer and Light Sensor Analog Resistor networks, potentiometer, LDR, test points. Divider formula, loading effect Transfer curve
4 NPN Transistor Switch Analog and power BJT, base resistor, flyback diode. Transistor as a switch, saturation Switching waveform
5 Diode Power Entry and 5 V Linear Regulator Power Diode, electrolytic and ceramic capacitors, linear regulator. Reverse-polarity protection, heat dissipation Voltage and power budget

Level 2: Intermediate (analog and digital building blocks)

# Project Track New components and ideas Documentation extras
6 RC Low-Pass Filter Analog Passive filter. Cutoff frequency, step response Step response and frequency response
7 Op-Amp Buffer and Amplifier Analog Op-amp, feedback. Gain, single-supply operation, output swing Input/output transfer curve
8 Comparator Night-Light Analog to digital Comparator, LDR, hysteresis. Turning a sensor into a switch Hysteresis diagram
9 Logic Gates Trainer Digital 74HC gates, DIP switches, LEDs. Truth tables, logic levels, pull-down resistors Truth tables and timing diagram
10 Switch Debouncer and D Flip-Flop Digital SR latch, D flip-flop. Contact bounce, memory, clocked logic Bounce and latch timing diagram

Level 3: Advanced (small systems that combine the blocks)

# Project Track New components and ideas Documentation extras
11 LED Chaser (555 + Decade Counter) Digital 74HC4017 counter, clock distribution. Sequential logic Ten-output timing diagram
12 MOSFET Load Switch and PWM Dimmer Power and analog N-MOSFET, gate drive, 555 as PWM source. Duty cycle control PWM waveform diagram
13 Buck Converter Power Inductor, switching regulator IC. Efficiency, switching-loop layout Switching waveforms
14 Digital Counter with 7-Segment Display Digital 555 clock, CD4026 counter and decoder, 7-segment display Counting timing diagram
15 Microcontroller Starter Board (ATtiny) Digital, analog and power MCU, programming header, reset, ADC input. Combines all previous ideas Pin and signal timing

Coverage by track

Track Projects
Analog 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15
Digital 2, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15
Power 4, 5, 12, 13, 15

Components you will have used by the end

Resistor, potentiometer, LDR, capacitor (ceramic and electrolytic), LED, diode, NPN transistor, N-MOSFET, inductor, voltage regulator, 555 timer, op-amp, comparator, logic gates, flip-flop, counter, decoder, switching regulator, 7-segment display, microcontroller.

Status

# Project Status
1 LED + Push-Button Done
2 555 LED Blinker Done
3 Voltage Divider, Potentiometer and Light Sensor Done
4 NPN Transistor Switch Done
5 Diode Power Entry and 5 V Linear Regulator In progress
6 to 15 See the tables above Planned

The plan may be adjusted as the projects progress.

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