Yeah, I have to agree. It's a neat idea and I can see it having some applications, but I don't really see myself using this for anything serious.
I think OpenSCAD neatly demonstrates the issue with 3D modeling: when you come from a tool like Blender it might look amazing that you can now trivially change dimensions mid-design, but what you're really looking for is the parametric modeling you get from something like Solidworks.
Schematics-as-code doesn't solve a problem I am having. What I want, is for an easy way to import "snippets" in KiCad: I want a library where I can select an MCU, and it'll automatically add all its auxiliary parts too and let me choose from a few pre-made standard routing options. Maybe even make it parametric so it becomes a nice little wizard where if I'm adding an LDO I can enter a voltage and it'll calculate the adjustment resistors for me.
You're right about "code" not being the right solution for everything. In the case of the layout we have indeed already already implemented an MVP of the "snippets" approach you described: https://atopile.io/blog/2024/02/02/-layout-reuse-keeps-getti...
A big part of the code is that creating a wizard for each issue it a tall order to develop, but through expressive and composable language we should be able to articulate the parameters for the configuration just as as clearly and generically solve that class of problems.
I think OpenSCAD neatly demonstrates the issue with 3D modeling: when you come from a tool like Blender it might look amazing that you can now trivially change dimensions mid-design, but what you're really looking for is the parametric modeling you get from something like Solidworks.
Schematics-as-code doesn't solve a problem I am having. What I want, is for an easy way to import "snippets" in KiCad: I want a library where I can select an MCU, and it'll automatically add all its auxiliary parts too and let me choose from a few pre-made standard routing options. Maybe even make it parametric so it becomes a nice little wizard where if I'm adding an LDO I can enter a voltage and it'll calculate the adjustment resistors for me.