Glossary

Embedr terms

Agent

The AI assistant in the chat panel. It reads and edits files, builds and flashes firmware, runs commands, works on schematics, boards and mechanical designs, and asks before risky actions. See Embedr agent.

Checkpoint

A saved state of the project taken at a chat turn, so the agent's changes from that turn can be taken back.

Device

The connected serial or USB port used for flashing and the Serial Monitor, such as COM5 or /dev/cu.usbserial-0001.

Embedr CLI

The embedr command-line tool that the desktop app uses for builds and project operations, also usable directly. See CLI reference.

Helper

A second agent the main agent starts for a focused job, such as reviewing or sourcing. Each helper works in its own thread and reports back when it finishes. The chat shows "… started working" and "… finished". See Helpers.

Manifest

embedr.yaml, the file at the project root that tells Embedr what the project contains and how to build it. See Project manifest.

Plan Mode

A chat mode in which the agent interviews you and writes a spec instead of changing the project. Toggle it with Shift+Tab. See Plan Mode.

Share link

A link to a published copy of your project on studio.embedr.app. It can open for anyone with the link or only for people you invite by email. See Sharing projects.

Spec

The Markdown file Plan Mode keeps under specs/, with the intent, requirements marked confirmed, assumed or open, decisions, out-of-scope items and a plan. Implement this spec hands it to the agent.

Steering

Sending a message while the agent is working. It joins the run before the agent's next step instead of stopping it.

Target

The build profile selected in the toolbar. It resolves to a board, platform and framework. See Targets and environments.

Thread

One conversation with the agent, listed in the chat history. A project can have many threads, and each helper has its own.

Firmware

Baud rate

Serial communication speed. The Serial Monitor rate must match the firmware's, for example 115200.

Bootloader

Small program on a microcontroller that accepts new firmware. Some boards must be put into bootloader mode (for example by holding BOOT on an ESP32) to flash.

Environment

A named build profile such as [env:esp32dev] in a PlatformIO project.

Firmware

Software that runs on a microcontroller.

Flash

To write compiled firmware to a board's memory. The toolbar's Flash button does this.

Framework

The software foundation the firmware is written against, such as Arduino, ESP-IDF or Zephyr.

GPIO

General-purpose input/output: a microcontroller pin firmware can read or drive.

Platform

The PlatformIO package family for a chip, such as espressif32 or ststm32.

PlatformIO

The build system Embedr uses for many firmware projects.

Rosetta 2

Apple's translation layer that runs Intel programs on Apple Silicon Macs. Some board toolchains need it.

Electronics and simulation

ERC

Electrical rules check on the schematic: unconnected pins, outputs driving outputs, missing power and similar.

Net

A set of pins that are electrically connected.

Netlist

The list of components and the nets that join them, generated from the schematic.

ngspice

The open-source SPICE simulator Embedr uses, on your machine when installed or in the cloud.

Schematic

The logical drawing of a circuit: components and their connections.

SPICE

A standard way to simulate analog and mixed circuits from a netlist and a stimulus. See Simulation.

Zener (.zen)

The text language Embedr's PCB workspace uses to describe the schematic and board intent. See Schematics and PCB.

PCB

Courtyard

The area a footprint reserves on the board so other parts are not placed too close.

DRC

Design rule check: KiCad's check of the board against its rules for clearances, track widths, holes, unconnected items and schematic parity. Errors always block ordering; individual warnings can be accepted in the Manufacturing tab.

Footprint

The copper pads, holes and outline a component needs on the board.

KiCad

The open-source schematic and PCB suite Embedr uses for boards. Local board tools need KiCad 10. See Board and KiCad.

Manufacturing profile

The fabricator process a board is designed for (PCBWay by default), recorded on the board. It sets minimum track widths, clearances, drills and annular rings so DRC catches what the fabricator cannot make.

Net class

A group of nets that share track width, clearance and via sizes.

PCB

Printed circuit board.

Routing

Drawing the copper tracks and vias that connect each net. Embedr can route automatically. See Placement and routing.

Unrouted connection

A connection in the netlist that has no copper on the board yet. The board footer counts them as Unrouted.

Via

A plated hole that connects copper on different layers.

Manufacturing

Annular ring

The copper ring left around a drilled hole.

BOM

Bill of materials: every part on the board with quantity, package, manufacturer part number and sourcing. Embedr keeps it in pcb/bom.csv and shows it in the BOM tab.

DFM

Design for manufacturing: the fabricator's rules for what it can actually make. Embedr checks them as Provider DFM in the Manufacturing tab. DFM findings always block ordering.

Fabrication drawing

A PDF of the board outline, drill table and fabrication notes for the fabricator.

Gerber

The standard file format for each layer of a PCB (copper, solder mask, silkscreen, outline). Fabricators make boards from Gerber and drill files.

IPC-2581

A single-file exchange format that describes a whole board. Embedr exports the board in this format and generates its render, drawings, Gerbers, BOM and pick-and-place file from it.

MPN

Manufacturer part number: the exact orderable part.

PCBA

Printed circuit board assembly: a board with its parts soldered on. In Embedr, PCB + assembly.

Pick-and-place (CPL)

The component placement list (reference, position, rotation, side) assembly machines use.

Polarity / orientation

The direction a part must be placed in, marked by pin 1 or a polarity mark. Wrong orientation is the most common assembly fault, so Embedr asks you to confirm it before sending an assembly order.

See Manufacturing and ordering.

Mechanical

Assembly guide

Step-by-step instructions, written by the agent, for putting a mechanical design together, saved in mechanical/assembly/.

Blueprint

A set of ten 2D drawing sheets of a built design (four corner views and six sides), with optional dimensions and part labels.

Explode view

A view that pulls the parts of an assembly apart so you can see how they fit. Press E in the Mechanical workspace.

GLB

A compact 3D file format used for previews and the web.

Parameter

A named value in a mechanical design, such as wall thickness, that you can change with a slider and rebuild.

Reference scene

A desk, room or person placed beside the model to show its real size.

Revision

One build of a mechanical design. Every build makes a new revision you can go back to.

Section view

A view that cuts the model with a plane to show its inside. Press S in the Mechanical workspace.

STEP

The standard exchange format for exact 3D CAD models (.step or .stp). Mechanical designs are built to STEP, and boards can be exported as STEP.

See Mechanical design.