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Code-based PCB design is reshaping how engineers build hardware, and in this OnTrack Podcast episode, host Zach Peterson sits down with Ioannis Papamanoglou and Narayan Powderly, co-founders of atopile, to explore their code-first, AI-driven approach to PCB design. Drawing on backgrounds at Tesla and across the electronics industry, the founders explain why hardware has lagged behind software tooling and how capturing engineering intent in code can unlock automation across the entire design process — from requirements capture to schematic capture and layout.
You'll learn why the real bottleneck in AI for PCB design is tooling and orchestration rather than raw model capability, how deterministic and nondeterministic layers work together, and why the designer's role is shifting toward system architecture as low-level boilerplate disappears. The conversation also covers test board generation, the Jevons paradox effect on engineering resources, supply chain and firmware integration, and a live demo showing atopile working alongside Altium Designer. Whether you're a PCB designer, hardware engineer, or curious about AI in electronics, this episode offers a grounded look at where code-based hardware design is headed.
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The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
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