Breadboard
Figma for Breadboard Hackers
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What is Breadboard?
Breadboard is a web-based circuit designer and visual prototyping tool for electronics enthusiasts, students, and engineers. It allows users to design neat breadboard layouts by importing components, creating custom components, and wiring them together visually. The tool focuses on creating clean, organized breadboard designs rather than full electrical simulation.
Key features include a project-based workflow where you can create new projects, import existing ones, and manage a personal component library. Users can create custom components by specifying their name, height (pitch), and pin configurations for top and bottom rows. The tool also supports creating jumper sets for organized wiring. Example projects include an ESP32 with OLED screen and DHT11 sensor, and a Meshcore Node with ESP32 DevKit, OLED display, and LoRa module.
The tool is designed for electronics hobbyists, students learning circuit design, and engineers prototyping embedded systems like ESP32 projects. It helps users plan their physical breadboard layouts before building actual circuits, making it easier to organize components and plan wiring. The interface includes rotation tools, component deletion, and the ability to see which library items are included in each project.
Breadboard is open-source and free to use, built with TypeScript. It was created by Safa Orhan specifically for people who love breadboarding and want a cleaner way to design their circuit layouts.
Breadboard pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free and open-source under MIT license. No paid tiers or subscription plans. All features are available for free with no restrictions.
Breadboard pros
- Free and open-source with MIT license
- Web-based, no installation required
- Clean visual interface for neat breadboard designs
- Create custom components with custom pin layouts
- Build and manage a personal component library
- Project-based workflow for organizing designs
- Import and export project functionality
- Pre-built example projects (ESP32, LoRa)
- Create jumper sets for organized wiring
- Rotate components for better layout
- Delete components and projects easily
- TypeScript-based modern codebase
- Visual design preview before building
- Helps plan physical breadboard layouts
- Simple intuitive interface for beginners
Breadboard cons
- No real-time electrical simulation
- Does not show circuit behavior or voltage
- Limited to visual layout design only
- No component value calculations
- No error checking for electrical issues
- Smaller component library than competitors
- No cloud saving or sharing features visible
- New project with limited community
Frequently asked questions about Breadboard
What is Breadboard used for?
Breadboard is used for designing and planning electronic circuit layouts on virtual breadboards. It helps users visualize how components will be arranged and wired before building physical circuits, making it easier to organize components and plan wiring for projects like ESP32 with sensors and displays.
Is Breadboard free to use?
Yes, Breadboard is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. There are no paid plans, subscriptions, or feature restrictions. All functionality is available to everyone at no cost.
Can I create custom components?
Yes, you can create custom components by specifying a name, height (pitch), and pins for the top and bottom rows (space or newline separated). You can then add these to your library for reuse across projects.
What example projects are available?
The tool includes example projects like 'ESP32 with a screen and sensor' (ESP32 DevKit wired to OLED display and DHT11 temperature/humidity sensor) and 'Meshcore Node' (ESP32 DevKit with OLED display and NTR06RXXX LoRa module).
How do I manage components?
You can add components to your library, view library items included in projects, delete components from your library (which also removes placed instances), and create custom components with specific pin configurations.
Can I import existing projects?
Yes, the tool has an Import function that allows you to import existing projects. There is also a New project button to start fresh designs.
What programming language is it built with?
Breadboard is built primarily with TypeScript, making it a modern web-based application that runs in the browser without installation.
Can I rotate components?
Yes, there is a Rotate function available to rotate components for better layout organization and cleaner breadboard designs.
What are jumper sets?
Jumper sets are reusable wire configurations that you can create, save, and reuse across projects. You can create a jumper set, save it, and delete it when no longer needed.
Does it simulate circuit behavior?
No, Breadboard focuses on visual layout design rather than electrical simulation. It helps you plan the physical arrangement and wiring of components but does not simulate voltage, current, or circuit behavior like SPICE simulators do.