KiCad 10.0.2 addresses two bugs that were corrupting the value of automated checks in professional PCB workflows: DRC false positives on teardrop zones and differential pairs, and Bill of Materials exports that included components marked Do Not Place.
The mechanism matters more than the fix. When a DRC rule fires incorrectly, engineers learn to dismiss the category rather than investigate. Over time, DRC becomes noise rather than a gate, and the team's effective floor for catching layout violations shifts from automation back to manual review. A BOM that includes DNP components pushes incorrect procurement data downstream, creating rework when parts arrive that should not have been ordered. Both bugs reward the workaround over the tool, and both are now patched in 10.0.2.
KiCad 10.0 shipped in April 2026 as a major release with significant new features across schematic capture and PCB layout. The 10.0.2 patch is the point where the version is stable for production review workflows. Teams running 10.0.0 or 10.0.1 on active board designs should upgrade before the next DRC sign-off cycle.