feat(electronics): UX pass — global nets, Circuit tab, searchable palette, blank reset

changelog/entries/2026-06-04-circuit-tab.json

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "id": "2026-06-04-circuit-tab",
+  "version": "0.9.4",
+  "date": "2026-06-04",
+  "category": "feat",
+  "title": "Circuit tab in the top toolbar",
+  "summary": "Electronics is now a first-class Circuit tab (between Assembly and Simulate) instead of a PCB button buried under Create, making the schematic/PCB workspace discoverable.",
+  "features": ["electronics", "pcb"]
+}

changelog/entries/2026-06-04-global-power-label-nets.json

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "id": "2026-06-04-global-power-label-nets",
+  "version": "0.9.4",
+  "date": "2026-06-04",
+  "category": "feat",
+  "title": "Global power ports and net labels",
+  "summary": "Same-named labels and one-pin power symbols (VCC/GND/...) now merge into one net across the sheet without a wire, so power rails no longer need hand-wiring through every pin.",
+  "features": ["electronics", "pcb"]
+}

changelog/entries/2026-06-04-searchable-parts-palette.json

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "id": "2026-06-04-searchable-parts-palette",
+  "version": "0.9.4",
+  "date": "2026-06-04",
+  "category": "feat",
+  "title": "Searchable, labeled component palette",
+  "summary": "The schematic component palette is now a labeled, searchable list (icon + part name, filtered by name/prefix/value) instead of a row of unlabeled icons.",
+  "features": ["electronics", "pcb"]
+}

changelog/entries/2026-06-04-start-blank-resets.json

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "id": "2026-06-04-start-blank-resets",
+  "version": "0.9.4",
+  "date": "2026-06-04",
+  "category": "fix",
+  "title": "\"Start blank\" gives a truly empty document",
+  "summary": "The welcome screen's Start blank now resets to a fresh empty document instead of dropping a cube onto (and never clearing) whatever was already open.",
+  "features": ["onboarding"]
+}

changelog/entries/2026-06-04-wire-snap-pin-label.json

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "id": "2026-06-04-wire-snap-pin-label",
+  "version": "0.9.4",
+  "date": "2026-06-04",
+  "category": "feat",
+  "title": "Wire snap shows the pin name and net",
+  "summary": "While drawing a wire, the snap target now labels the pin you're about to connect (e.g. Q1.C) and the net it's already on, so you don't accidentally grab the wrong pin.",
+  "features": ["electronics", "pcb"]
+}

crates/vcad-ecad-schematic/src/lib.rs

@@ -277,6 +277,43 @@ pub fn generate_netlist(sheet: &SchematicSheet) -> Netlist {
         }
     }
 
+    // Global nets: merge points that share a net name. A name comes from a
+    // label, or from a power port — a one-pin power symbol like VCC/GND whose
+    // `value` names a global rail. This makes same-named labels and every
+    // VCC/GND symbol join a single net across the whole sheet without an
+    // explicit wire (the standard "global label / power port" behaviour), which
+    // is what keeps power rails sane on a dense board.
+    let mut named_anchors: Vec<(String, usize)> = label_indices.clone();
+    for comp in &sheet.components {
+        let is_power_port = comp.pins.len() == 1
+            && matches!(
+                comp.pins[0].pin_type,
+                PinType::PowerInput | PinType::PowerOutput
+            );
+        if !is_power_port {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let name = comp.value.trim();
+        if name.is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if let Some(&(_, _, idx)) = pin_indices
+            .iter()
+            .find(|(r, p, _)| r == &comp.reference && p == &comp.pins[0].number)
+        {
+            named_anchors.push((name.to_string(), idx));
+        }
+    }
+    let mut first_by_name: HashMap<String, usize> = HashMap::new();
+    for (name, idx) in &named_anchors {
+        match first_by_name.get(name) {
+            Some(&first) => uf.union(first, *idx),
+            None => {
+                first_by_name.insert(name.clone(), *idx);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // Phase 3: Group into nets.
     // Map root -> set of pin connections and labels.
     let mut net_pins: HashMap<usize, Vec<NetConnection>> = HashMap::new();
@@ -290,8 +327,8 @@ pub fn generate_netlist(sheet: &SchematicSheet) -> Netlist {
         });
     }
 
-    for &(ref name, idx) in &label_indices {
-        let root = uf.find(idx);
+    for (name, idx) in &named_anchors {
+        let root = uf.find(*idx);
         net_labels.entry(root).or_default().insert(name.clone());
     }
 
@@ -498,15 +535,112 @@ mod tests {
             })
             .expect("R1 pin 1 net");
         assert!(
-            !r1_net
-                .connections
-                .iter()
-                .any(|c| c.component_ref == "R2"),
+            !r1_net.connections.iter().any(|c| c.component_ref == "R2"),
             "crossing wires must not connect; R1 net = {:?}",
             r1_net.connections,
         );
     }
 
+    /// A one-pin power port (e.g. VCC/GND) at `position`, pin at the origin.
+    fn make_power(
+        reference: &str,
+        value: &str,
+        position: Vec2,
+        pin_type: PinType,
+    ) -> SchematicComponent {
+        SchematicComponent {
+            reference: reference.to_string(),
+            value: value.to_string(),
+            footprint_id: String::new(),
+            position,
+            rotation: 0.0,
+            mirror: false,
+            pins: vec![SchematicPin {
+                number: "1".to_string(),
+                name: "1".to_string(),
+                pin_type,
+                position: Vec2::new(0.0, 0.0),
+            }],
+            properties: std::collections::HashMap::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn power_ports_merge_by_value() {
+        // Two separate VCC symbols (no wire between them) tie their attached
+        // pins into one global "VCC" net.
+        let sheet = SchematicSheet {
+            title: None,
+            components: vec![
+                make_resistor("R1", Vec2::new(10.0, 0.0)), // pins (5,0),(15,0)
+                make_resistor("R2", Vec2::new(40.0, 0.0)), // pins (35,0),(45,0)
+                make_power("PWR1", "VCC", Vec2::new(5.0, 0.0), PinType::PowerOutput), // on R1 pin1
+                make_power("PWR2", "VCC", Vec2::new(35.0, 0.0), PinType::PowerOutput), // on R2 pin1
+            ],
+            wires: vec![],
+            junctions: vec![],
+            labels: vec![],
+        };
+
+        let netlist = generate_netlist(&sheet);
+        let vcc = netlist
+            .nets
+            .iter()
+            .find(|n| n.name == "VCC")
+            .expect("a net named VCC");
+        let has = |r: &str, p: &str| {
+            vcc.connections
+                .iter()
+                .any(|c| c.component_ref == r && c.pin_number == p)
+        };
+        assert!(
+            has("R1", "1") && has("R2", "1"),
+            "both VCC ports should merge their pins into one net, got {:?}",
+            vcc.connections,
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn same_name_labels_merge() {
+        // Two "BUS" labels on unconnected pins join one net by name.
+        let sheet = SchematicSheet {
+            title: None,
+            components: vec![
+                make_resistor("R1", Vec2::new(10.0, 0.0)),
+                make_resistor("R2", Vec2::new(40.0, 0.0)),
+            ],
+            wires: vec![],
+            junctions: vec![],
+            labels: vec![
+                SchematicLabel {
+                    name: "BUS".to_string(),
+                    position: Vec2::new(5.0, 0.0), // R1 pin 1
+                    rotation: 0.0,
+                    scope: LabelScope::Local,
+                },
+                SchematicLabel {
+                    name: "BUS".to_string(),
+                    position: Vec2::new(35.0, 0.0), // R2 pin 1
+                    rotation: 0.0,
+                    scope: LabelScope::Local,
+                },
+            ],
+        };
+
+        let netlist = generate_netlist(&sheet);
+        let bus = netlist
+            .nets
+            .iter()
+            .find(|n| n.name == "BUS")
+            .expect("a net named BUS");
+        assert_eq!(
+            bus.connections.len(),
+            2,
+            "same-named labels should merge, got {:?}",
+            bus.connections,
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn label_assigns_net_name() {
         // R1 at (10, 0): pin 1 at world (5,0), pin 2 at world (15,0)

packages/app/src/components/InlineOnboarding.tsx

@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ import { Waveform } from "@phosphor-icons/react/dist/ssr/Waveform";
 import { Star } from "@phosphor-icons/react/dist/ssr/Star";
 import type { Icon } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
-import { useDocumentStore, useUiStore, useChatStore, parseVcadFile } from "@vcad/core";
+import { useDocumentStore, useChatStore, parseVcadFile } from "@vcad/core";
+import { newDocId } from "@/lib/doc-id";
 import { useAuth, isAuthEnabled, AuthModal } from "@vcad/auth";
 import { useOnboardingStore } from "@/stores/onboarding-store";
 import { examples, exampleToVcadFile } from "@/data/examples";
@@ -51,9 +52,7 @@ export function InlineOnboarding({ visible }: InlineOnboardingProps) {
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
   const loadDocument = useDocumentStore((s) => s.loadDocument);
-  const addPrimitive = useDocumentStore((s) => s.addPrimitive);
-  const select = useUiStore((s) => s.select);
-  const setTransformMode = useUiStore((s) => s.setTransformMode);
+  const newDocument = useDocumentStore((s) => s.newDocument);
   const setChatOpen = useChatStore((s) => s.setOpen);
   const incrementProjectsCreated = useOnboardingStore(
     (s) => s.incrementProjectsCreated,
@@ -96,9 +95,10 @@ export function InlineOnboarding({ visible }: InlineOnboardingProps) {
 
   function handleStartBlank() {
     incrementProjectsCreated();
-    const partId = addPrimitive("cube");
-    select(partId);
-    setTransformMode("translate");
+    // A blank canvas should actually be blank: reset to a fresh empty
+    // document (clearing any autosaved one) rather than dropping a cube onto
+    // whatever happened to be open.
+    newDocument(newDocId(), "Untitled");
     hide();
   }
 

packages/app/src/components/electronics/ElectronicsToolbar.tsx

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * Tabs: Schematic | Components | PCB | View | Finish
  */
 
-import { useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useCallback, useState } from "react";
 import { Cursor } from "@phosphor-icons/react/dist/ssr/Cursor";
 import { ArrowsOutCardinal } from "@phosphor-icons/react/dist/ssr/ArrowsOutCardinal";
 import { Plugs } from "@phosphor-icons/react/dist/ssr/Plugs";
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ export function ElectronicsToolbar() {
   const exit = useElectronicsStore((s) => s.exit);
   const toggleLayout = useElectronicsStore((s) => s.toggleLayout);
   const symbols = useSymbolLibrary();
+  const [componentSearch, setComponentSearch] = useState("");
 
   const unplacedComponents = useElectronicsStore((s) => s.unplacedComponents);
   const syncSchematicToPcb = useDocumentStore((s) => s.syncSchematicToPcb);
@@ -413,21 +414,54 @@ export function ElectronicsToolbar() {
     </>
   );
 
-  const renderComponentsContent = () => (
-    <>
-      {symbols.map((sym) => (
-        <ToolbarButton
-          key={sym.id}
-          tooltip={`${sym.name} (${sym.defaultValue})`}
-          active={placingSymbol === sym.id}
-          onClick={() => placeComponent(sym.id)}
-          iconColor={ELECTRONICS_TAB_COLORS.components}
-        >
-          <SymbolIcon id={sym.id} />
-        </ToolbarButton>
-      ))}
-    </>
-  );
+  const renderComponentsContent = () => {
+    const q = componentSearch.trim().toLowerCase();
+    const filtered = q
+      ? symbols.filter(
+          (s) =>
+            s.name.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
+            s.id.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
+            s.prefix.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
+            s.defaultValue.toLowerCase().includes(q),
+        )
+      : symbols;
+    return (
+      <div
+        className="flex w-56 flex-col gap-1 p-1"
+        onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+      >
+        <input
+          type="text"
+          value={componentSearch}
+          onChange={(e) => setComponentSearch(e.target.value)}
+          placeholder="Search parts…"
+          aria-label="Search parts"
+          className="w-full rounded border border-border bg-transparent px-2 py-1 text-[11px] text-text placeholder:text-text-muted"
+        />
+        <div className="flex max-h-[50vh] flex-col gap-0.5 overflow-y-auto">
+          {filtered.map((sym) => (
+            <ToolbarButton
+              key={sym.id}
+              tooltip={`${sym.name} (${sym.defaultValue})`}
+              active={placingSymbol === sym.id}
+              onClick={() => placeComponent(sym.id)}
+              iconColor={ELECTRONICS_TAB_COLORS.components}
+              label={sym.name}
+              expanded
+              className="!justify-start gap-2 px-2"
+            >
+              <SymbolIcon id={sym.id} />
+            </ToolbarButton>
+          ))}
+          {filtered.length === 0 && (
+            <div className="px-2 py-1 text-[10px] text-text-muted">
+              No parts match “{componentSearch}”.
+            </div>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  };
 
   const renderPcbContent = () => (
     <>