Fritzing
Open source CAD system for electronic design, aimed at hobbyists
title: "Fritzing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["free-electronic-design-automation-software", "physical-computing", "electronic-design-automation-software-for-linux", "engineering-software-that-uses-qt", "free-software-programmed-in-c++", "arduino", "software-using-the-gnu-general-public-license"] description: "Open source CAD system for electronic design, aimed at hobbyists" topic_path: "technology/computing" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritzing" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Open source CAD system for electronic design, aimed at hobbyists ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox software"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Fritzing Software |
| logo | Fritzing_icon_(new).png |
| logo size | 100px |
| screenshot | Fritzing breadboard view (sim).png |
| caption | Fritzing's breadboard view |
| developer | Interaction Design Lab Potsdam |
| latest release version | |
| latest release date | |
| programming language | C++ |
| operating system | Microsoft Windows, Windows 8 and later, Windows 11 ARM; macOS, macOS Big Sur and later; Linux |
| language count | 18 |
| language | {{ubl |
| genre | EDA |
| license | GPL 3.0 or later (software) |
| CC BY-SA 3.0 (component images) | |
| website | {{ubl |
| :: |
| name = Fritzing Software | logo = Fritzing_icon_(new).png | logo size = 100px | screenshot = Fritzing breadboard view (sim).png | caption = Fritzing's breadboard view | developer = Interaction Design Lab Potsdam | latest release version = | latest release date = | programming language = C++ | operating system = Microsoft Windows, Windows 8 and later, Windows 11 ARM; macOS, macOS Big Sur and later; Linux | language count = 18 | language = {{ubl|class=nowrap | Bulgarian | Chinese (Simplified, Traditional) | Czech | Dutch | English | French | German | Greek | Italian | Japanese | Korean | Portuguese (Brazilian, European) | Russian | Slovak | Spanish | Turkish | Ukrainian}} | genre = EDA | license = GPL 3.0 or later (software) CC BY-SA 3.0 (component images) | website = {{ubl|class=nowrap | | }} Fritzing is an open-source initiative to develop amateur or hobby CAD software for the design of electronics hardware, intended to allow designers and artists to build more permanent circuits from prototypes. It was developed at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. Fritzing is free software under the GPL 3.0 or later license, with the source code available on GitHub and the binaries at a monetary cost, which is allowed by the GPL.
Goals
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/fritzing_schematic_view.jpg" caption="Fritzing's schematic view"] ::
The software was created with inspiration from the Processing programming language and the Arduino microcontroller and allows a designer, artist, researcher, or hobbyist to document their Arduino-based prototype and create a PCB layout for manufacturing. The associated website helps users share and discuss drafts and experiences as well as to reduce manufacturing costs.
Fritzing can be seen as an electronic design automation (EDA) tool for non-engineers: the input metaphor is inspired by the environment of designers (the breadboard-based prototype), while the output is focused on accessible means of production. As of December 2, 2014 Fritzing has made a code view option, where one can modify code and upload it directly to an Arduino device.
Component images are distributed under CC BY-SA 3.0, which will also be the license for any generated breadboard views.
::data[format=table] | [[File:Button LED bb.svg|thumb|350px|Breadboard view of a simple circuit, drawn with Fritzing.]] | [[File:Button LED schem.svg|thumb|240px|Circuit diagram of the same circuit.]] | |---|---| ::
Other services
Fritzing Creator Kit
The "Fritzing Creator Kit" is available for purchase in the website's online shop. It is a set of various electronic components, including an Arduino UNO board depending on the model, and a book explaining various experiments that can be conducted using the kit. The Fritzing Creator Kit is currently available in English and German. The set is aimed primarily at young people aged 12 and older, who are encouraged to immerse themselves in the world of electronics with the help of the Fritzing Creator Kit.
Fritzing Fab
Fritzing allows for creation of PCBs. Fritzing provides access to a commercial service known as 'FritzingFab' to order PCBs created with designs made on the Fritzing software.
2016-2019 Fritzing Development Stall
From 2016-2019, development for version 0.9.4 stopped, mainly because Fritzing's revenue declined. Before 2016, when Fritzing 0.9.3b was released, donations were not mandatory, so only a few users who downloaded Fritzing donated. Some users wanted development to continue.
Finally, in 2019, Aisler arranged a development team for Fritzing, started an initiative to find a Maintainer for Fritzing, to which Kjell Morgenstern responded, and version 0.9.4 was released. Since then, donations were compulsory, with options to donate either 8€ or 25€.
Simulator
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/LED_Sim_bb.png" caption="Breadboard view of an LED (Simulated with Fritzing's Simulator on v0.9.10)"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Fritzing_breadboard_555_IC_astable.gif" caption="555 IC Astable Circuit (Simulated with the Transitory Simulator on v1.0.5)"] ::
Since version 0.9.10, Fritzing incorporates a basic simulator, which became non-beta in version 1.0.0. The main aim of the simulator is to teach electronics to beginners, and Fritzing version 0.9.10 only supports analysis of DC circuits. The simulator works on the breadboard and schematic views. In addition, it checks that the parts are working within their specifications (otherwise, a smoke symbol appears). The simulator provides multimeters to read voltages and currents and it attempts to recreate a realistic laboratory session.
The simulator was officially supported in Fritzing 1.0.0, and improvements have been made since.
Transient mode for simulation (or Transitory Simulation) was also released, but it is still a beta feature and is only enabled for Fritzing in debug mode.
Friends of Fritzing e.V.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Friend_of_fritzing.jpg" caption="Friends of Fritzing e.V. Batch"] ::
Friends of Fritzing e.V. was a non-profit association established in 2012 to support the development and sustainability of the Fritzing project. Fritzing itself began in 2007 as a publicly funded research initiative at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, Germany, and later transitioned to community-driven development.
The foundation played a crucial role in maintaining the Fritzing software and its ecosystem. However, due to administrative overhead, Friends of Fritzing e.V. ceased operations in 2018.
Following the closure, the Fritzing team sought alternative methods to sustain the project. Kjell Morgenstern proposed having initiatives like the support for payments by FlatHub, or even a SnapStore with micropayments. In the end, the team transitioned to Open Collective
Release history
::data[format=table]
| Version | Release date | Notable features, changes | 0.6.x | 0.7.x | 0.8.x | 0.9.x | 1.0.x | 1.1.x | Legend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6.0b | 9 July 2011 | Support for SMD parts, 70 SparkFun Parts, stripboards and perfboards; cleaned up parts Inspector, text/graphics on copper layers, bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.6.1b | 10 July 2011 | Fixed Windows plugin files | |||||||
| 0.6.2b | 11 July 2011 | Fixed incorrect ratnest lines and copper fill blobs; new half-breadboard part | |||||||
| 0.6.3b | 18 August 2011 | Bendable legs for many parts in breadboard view, bezier curves for wires and bendable legs in breadboard view, more intelligent connection handling when swapping dissimilar parts, easier to select small traces in pcb view, more extensive cursor feedback, wider range of LED colors, new parts, moved some options from the View menu to Preferences, bug fixes around Gerber export | |||||||
| 0.7.0 | 2 July 2012 | More accurate export for PCB manufacturing, better Gerber file generation, improved copper fill, refinements in board shape generation | |||||||
| 0.7.1 | Early 2012 | Minor improvements and bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.7.2 | Early 2012 | Minor improvements and bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.7.3 | 10 April 2012 | Minor improvements and bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.7.4 | April–May 2012 | Minor improvements and bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.7.5 | 2 July 2012 | Added ability to add multiple PCBs in one sketch, new arduino shield layout, new generic double row headers | |||||||
| 0.7.5b | 3 July 2012 | Added ability to add multiple PCBs in one sketch, new arduino shield layout, new generic double row headers | |||||||
| 0.8.5b | 17 December 2013 | Styling changes, ICSP and no ICSP Arduino parts, bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.8.6 | 23 January 2014 | Changed grid size from 0.7mm to 0.1in, bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.8.7b | 24 January 2014 | Fixed battery parts with inverted schematics | |||||||
| 0.9.1b | 2 December 2014 | New code view, new parts, bug fixes, updated translations | |||||||
| 0.9.2b | 3 April 2015 | New parts, added Romanian translation | |||||||
| 0.9.3b | 2 June 2016 | Continuously updated parts library, critical PCB‑trace bug fix, high‑DPI support, improved part tools, load/save .fz, icons, new parts | |||||||
| 0.9.4 | 1 December 2019 | Critical autorouter fix, color‑coded wires, TLS, fixed parts‑search bug, updated translations | |||||||
| 0.9.5d | Development version; skipped | ||||||||
| 0.9.6 | 22 February 2021 | Windows/Mac signed builds, bug fixes | |||||||
| 0.9.7 | 21 July 2021 | Linux AppImage, .fzp support, 249 issues closed | |||||||
| 0.9.8 | 9 August 2021 | Fixed broken Generic IC | |||||||
| 0.9.9 | 24 September 2021 | Fab upload memory, keyboard shortcuts, search & part fixes | |||||||
| 0.9.10 | 22 May 2022 | Japanese translation, simulator, hi‑res export, new parts | |||||||
| 1.0.0 | 19 June 2023 | Official simulator, OCR‑Fritzing font, IPC‑D‑356 export, UI improvements | |||||||
| 1.0.1 | 6 September 2023 | Minor improvements and bug fixes | |||||||
| 1.0.2 | 2 January 2024 | Schematic subparts, swap improvements, bug fixes | |||||||
| 1.0.3 | 26 June 2024 | Minor improvements and bug fixes | |||||||
| 1.0.4 | 10 October 2024 | QFN support, PCB UX improvements, alpha‑channel board images | |||||||
| 1.0.5 | 14 April 2025 | Arduino CLI v2+, NotoSans font, hardware acceleration, ARM64 installer, bug fixes | |||||||
| 1.0.6 | 21 October 2025 | New Adafruit Bin, Generic IC improvements, Fixed copper/ground fill, Fixed incorrect version display, hide obsolete parts in the search | |||||||
| 1.0.7 | Q4 2025 | Unknown | |||||||
| 1.1.0 | Migrate framework from Qt 6.5 to Qt 6.7 | ||||||||
| {{legend table | #fdb3ab | Pre-Beta version | #f5eabe | Beta version | #d4f4b4 | Supported version | #c1e6f5 | Latest version | #f2e2fc |
| :: |
Notes
References
References
- [http://fritzing.org/faq/#documentContent What license is Fritzing released under? ] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-12-21 FAQ)
- McRoberts, Michael. (2010). "Beginning Arduino". APress.
- Brühlmann, Thomas. (2010). "Arduino: Praxiseinstieg". Hüthig Jehle Rehm.
- "Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses".
- Gläser, Thomas. (13 September 2009). "Hardware-Hacking: So baut man einen Tentakel-Roboter für 100 Euro". [[Der Spiegel]].
- http://blog.fritzing.org/2014/12/02/its-fritzmas-new-fritzing-code-view-release-and-a-little-present. {{Webarchive. link. (2021-05-06)
- [https://fritzing.org/fritzing-creatorkit/ Fritzing Creator Kit] on the project website. Retrieved on December 14, 2014.
- [https://www.golem.de/news/fritzing-creator-kit-im-test-bastelkasten-fuer-nachwuchs-arduino-hacker-1312-103496.html Review of the Fritzing Creator Kit] on golem.de. Retrieved on December 14, 2014.
- "...but also, no income. In 2016, development on Fritzing ceased." https://forum.fritzing.org/t/can-t-find-source-code/19723/7
- "...thanks to the folks at Aisler (the Fritzing fab.) Their CTO arranged for a development team to get started..." https://forum.fritzing.org/t/0-9-4-released/7840/3
- By Kjell Morgenstern: "In 2019, Aisler started an initiative to find a Maintainer for Fritzing, to which I responded." https://forum.fritzing.org/t/can-t-find-source-code/19723/7
- By Kjell Morgenstern: "For Fritzing, the advantage is the direct contact with users. Lots of users. Fritzing is used by teachers and students, makers, curious people, professionals who majored in other disciplines than electronics. This is why an 8 Euro service fee works." https://forum.fritzing.org/t/can-t-find-source-code/19723/7
- Faíña, Andrés. (27 June 2022). "Simulating Circuits with Fritzing".
- https://forum.fritzing.org/t/can-t-find-source-code/19723/7 Kjell Morgenstern: "Initiatives like the support for payments by FlatHub, or even a SnapStore with micropayments..."
- (16 September 2024). "Fritzing - Open Collective".
- "Release version 0.6.0b. ''Archived''".
- "Release version 0.6.1b. ''Archived''".
- "Release version 0.6.2b. ''Archived''".
- "Release version 0.6.3b. ''Archived''".
- "Fritzing 1.0.5 released".
- "Release version 1.0.6".
- "Fritzing 1.0.6 Released".
- By Kjell Mogenstern: https://forum.fritzing.org/t/fritzing-on-apple-silicon-macos-sequoia/29724
- It was merely stated that way. Exact version that this will take effect currently unknown. https://forum.fritzing.org/t/fritzing-on-apple-silicon-macos-sequoia/29724
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