Analysis
Circuit Simulation
BetaProSimulate your circuit without leaving the schematic. ProtoFlow runs a built-in SPICE engine, turns your design into a netlist automatically, and plots the results in an interactive waveform viewer — so you can verify behavior before you build.
# Overview & Availability
Beta & Pro feature. The simulator is an early beta — some features may be incomplete or change. Running simulations requires a Pro or Max plan.
Simulation runs a local SPICE engine on your machine. ProtoFlow generates the netlist from your schematic, including built-in models for common diodes, transistors, MOSFETs, and an ideal op-amp, and auto-creates sources from your power symbols when no explicit source is present.
# Running a Simulation
Open the Simulation panel, choose an analysis, and run it — or press F5 to run with your last configuration. While it runs, a progress bar and live console show the simulation’s status; press the same control to Stop. If a run fails, a dialog explains why (missing connectivity, parse errors, and so on).
# Analysis Types
| Analysis | Parameters | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Transient | Step, stop, start time | Time-domain response — waveforms over time |
| AC | Decade / octave / linear sweep, points, start & stop frequency | Frequency response — Bode plots, filters, impedance |
| DC sweep | Source, start, stop, step voltage | Output vs. a swept source value |
| Operating point | None | DC steady-state node voltages and currents |
# Probes & Measurements
After a run, click any wire to toggle a voltage probe on that node — probes appear as color-coded dots on the schematic. Branch currents through resistors, capacitors, and inductors are captured automatically. Each probe’s current, minimum, and maximum value is listed alongside the waveforms, and Clear probes removes them all.
# Waveform Viewer
Results plot in a multi-trace viewer with a gridded, color-coded display. Toggle individual signals with the pills along the top, and the axes auto-scale with engineering (SI) notation. The X-axis adapts to the analysis — time, frequency, or swept voltage — and AC results carry both real and imaginary data.
Waveform viewer with multiple traces and a measurement readout
Next Steps
- → Wire up the circuit you want to simulate in the Schematic Editor
- → Add sources and rails with Power & Net Management
- → Check connectivity first with Design Analysis