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Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Show HN: Spice simulation → oscilloscope → verification with Claude Code

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Simulation‑hardware loop& MCP reliability
“it also does make mistakes, such as claiming it matched the simulation when it obviously didn't.” – fizz_buzz_

2. LLM‑driven board layout with hallucination risk
“It completely hallucinated the capabilities of the board and made some pretty crazy claims…” – iterateoften

3. Enriching workflow with external tools (Jumperless, spice netlists, mermaid diagrams)
“I've found that having LLMs work with mermaid diagrams makes describing and modifying circuits less annoying.” – Scene_Cast2

🚀 Project Ideas

CircuitMind MCP Server

Summary

  • Provides a standardized MCP interface that lets LLMs query open‑source SPICE simulators (e.g., Ngspice) and automatically verify circuit behavior against recorded waveforms.
  • Adds a validation layer that flags mismatches between simulated and expected waveforms, reducing manual correction.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Electrical engineers, hobbyists, and developers who integrate LLMs into PCB/hardware design workflows.
Core Feature Real‑time SPICE simulation with LLM‑driven suggestions and automatic consistency checks against recorded waveforms.
Tech Stack Python microservice, Ngspice backend, FastAPI, SQLite for design DB, Docker container.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Subscription (Free tier: 10 simulations/month, Pro: $15/mo)

Notes

  • Directly addresses fizz_buzz's concern about self‑correcting LLMs hallucinating pin numbers; the schema‑enforced SPICE output prevents those errors.
  • Aligns with archit3ch's interest in automating circuit reconfiguration and Scene_Cast2's desire for clearer diagram workflows, likely sparking discussion on reliability and integration with tools like Jumperless.

RealCircuit Explorer

Summary- Lets LLMs control programmable analog multiplexers and measurement instruments to empirically characterize real circuits, logging results for iterative design loops.

  • Provides an automated “suggest‑measure‑adapt” cycle that replaces manual probing.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Hardware hackers, educators, and research labs focused on rapid prototyping and empirical validation.
Core Feature LLM‑driven multiplexed resistance/capacitance measurements with live feedback to refine circuit hypotheses.
Tech Stack Raspberry Pi 5, ADS8688 8‑channel analog multiplexer, Python, MQTT, React frontend, PostgreSQL.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: SaaS subscription (Starter $9/mo, Enterprise custom)

Notes- Inspired by fizz_buzz's question “try 1k resistor in parallel here?” and Archit3ch’s Jumperless concept; this product makes that query actionable and repeatable.

  • Mitigates iterateoften's experience of LLMs hallucinating board capabilities by supplying concrete measurement data for the model to learn from, encouraging community dialogue.

CircuitKit JSON Schema Validator

Summary

  • Offers a centralized repository of JSON schemas that describe valid pinouts, net connections, and component attributes for major PCB tools (KiCad, Eagle, Fusion 360).
  • Enables LLMs to read and generate circuit designs that strictly adhere to these schemas, eliminating invented pin numbers.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience PCB designers, automation engineers, and open‑source EDA contributors who integrate LLMs into design pipelines.
Core Feature Schema generation and validation API that LLMs can query to ensure generated designs match real‑world file formats.
Tech Stack Node.js with TypeScript, ImmutableFS, GraphQL, Docker, CI/CD pipeline.
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Solves Archit3ch's problem of Claude inventing non‑existent pin numbers by forcing designs through a strict JSON contract, preventing hallucinations.
  • Directly supports the HN community's need for reliable digital‑print workflows and bridges between software simulation and actual hardware, likely prompting useful discussion.

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