I Built an Open-Source 3D Electronics Simulator That Lets You Control Circuits with AI

dev.to OpenSource2026-11-08 12:370 views

What started as a way to teach my son electronics became CircuitLab, a free, open-source platform for learning, experimenting, and building interactive electronic circuits.

I've always enjoyed electronics and programming. I wanted to make learning electronics more accessible, especially for children who are curious about how things work but don't necessarily have access to physical components.

That's why I built CircuitLab.

🌐 Live Demo: https://circuitlab.app

💻 GitHub: https://github.com/circuitlab-app/circuitlab

What is CircuitLab?

CircuitLab is an interactive 3D electronics simulator that runs directly in your browser.

You can drag electronic components onto a workspace, connect them, and see how circuits behave.

LEDs light up, motors spin, buzzers make sounds, sensors respond to changes, and displays show information.

The goal is simple: make electronics easier to understand through experimentation.

Electronics meets AI

One of my favorite features is the AI-powered circuit control system.

Instead of manually configuring every component, you can describe what you want your circuit to do using natural language.

For example:

"Turn on the red LED."
"Make the light blink."
"Turn on the lamp when it gets dark."

CircuitLab uses AI to interpret these instructions and control compatible components in the simulation.

The AI integration supports local language models through Ollama, allowing users to experiment without relying on a cloud-based AI service.

More than a basic circuit simulator

CircuitLab includes electronic components, microcontroller boards, sensors, displays, motors, and interactive learning projects.

It supports familiar platforms such as Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and PLC systems.

You can explore digital logic, experiment with sensors, examine communication protocols, and understand how different electronic systems work.

The platform also includes guided lessons, practical challenges, and workshop tools to help beginners learn step by step.

Built for a wider audience

CircuitLab supports English, Persian, and Arabic, including right-to-left interfaces.

It works on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices, and supports offline use after the initial visit.

I wanted the experience to be accessible to anyone interested in electronics, regardless of their experience level.

Free and open source

CircuitLab is available on GitHub under the MIT License.

I decided to make the project open source so developers, educators, electronics enthusiasts, and students can explore the code, suggest improvements, report issues, and contribute.

If you enjoy working with TypeScript, electronics, educational software, or AI integrations, I'd be interested in hearing your feedback.