Why this partnership matters

Designing reliable PCB reference designs from chip datasheets is painstaking: engineers read hundreds of pages, interpret figures, and wire supporting components correctly. By collaborating with Diode Computers, Anthropic focused Claude on this exact agentic task—reading chip documentation and outputting a complete, configurable Zener schematic.

What’s Zener—and why use it?

Zener is Diode’s domain-specific language (built on Starlark) for describing PCB schematics as code. Diode’s open tooling—including the pcb CLI—compiles Zener to EDA tools like KiCad, bringing software-style linting, versioning, and automation to hardware design.

What’s new: measurable gains with Sonnet 4.5

Anthropic and Diode scoped a realistic, tool-use workflow: Claude reads/writes files, runs the Zener compiler, and consults the language docs—then produces a reference design that’s graded with a testbench (e.g., “≥ 22 µF between power and ground” rather than brittle, component-exact checks). In blind, head-to-head evaluations across Claude models, Sonnet 4.5’s outputs were preferred 8/10 times by Diode’s engineers. Detailed splits: 60% vs 40% vs Opus 4 and 82% vs 18% vs Sonnet 4.

Key benefits (for teams adopting the approach)

• Fewer datasheet misses: Better capture of small configuration nuances and schematic semantics.

• Code-first schematics: Zener enables diffs, reviews, CI checks, and templating—then exports to familiar EDA.

• Agentic workflow readiness: The setup mirrors production agent patterns (tool calling, file ops, graded outcomes).

How it works (at a glance)

1. Provide Claude with the chip datasheet and a Zener project skeleton.

2. Allow controlled tool use: Zener docs, pcb compiler, read/write, limited shell.

3. Ask Claude to generate a full, configurable reference design in Zener.

4. Grade with a testbench that encodes outcome-level requirements (capacitance, modes).

5. Export to KiCad for human review, DRC, and BOM checks.

Practical steps you can run this week

• Set up Zener + pcb: Follow Diode’s quickstart and VS Code extension; create a sample project.

• Create a grading harness: Encode higher-level requirements (e.g., allowable ranges, placements) so the model gets useful signals.

• Start with a narrow chip family: Provide 1–2 representative datasheets and a minimal parts library to reduce ambiguity.

• Run a small H2L loop (human-to-loop): Review Claude’s output, correct misinterpretations, and feed examples back as reference modules.

• Export and verify in KiCad: Perform ERC/DRC, generate a BOM, and document deltas from the datasheet’s application circuits.

What to watch out for

• Underspecified datasheets: Some requirements aren’t explicit; the graded testbench approach helps avoid over-fitting to brittle checks.

• Language semantics: Early failures included misunderstanding Zener conventions—keep a short “style guide” with common patterns for your team.

• Human sign-off: Treat Claude’s output as a draft; always run engineering review and toolchain verification before fabrication.

Why this is credible

Diode has been building a code-first PCB design stack and recently raised funding to accelerate AI-assisted board design, positioning it as a serious player in EDA-adjacent tooling.

FAQs

What improvements has Claude made in PCB design?
With the Zener workflow and a graded testbench, Claude better captures datasheet nuances and Zener semantics; Sonnet 4.5 designs were preferred 8/10 times versus earlier Claude models. website.claude.com

Who partnered with Anthropic for this enhancement?
Diode Computers, creators of the Zener language and the pcb toolchain that compiles to KiCad. website.claude.com+1

What measurable gains were achieved?
In blind evaluations by Diode engineers: 60% vs 40% over Opus 4 and 82% vs 18% over Sonnet 4; overall, Sonnet 4.5 was preferred 8/10 times. website.claude.com

Can teams try this today?
Yes—install Zener/pcb, set up a controlled agent environment (file I/O, compiler access), and start with a single chip family plus a grading harness. docs.pcb.new+1