A curated list of valuable open-source CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, libraries, and tools, organized by category.
This list focuses on practical, reusable, and technically interesting CAD projects for developers, engineers, and researchers.
Inspired by the awesome-list philosophy.
https://github.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD
A mature, free 2D CAD application focused on DXF drafting.
Key Features
- Native DXF support
- Layers, blocks, snapping, dimensions
- Cross-platform (Qt)
- AutoCAD LT–style workflow
Professional-grade 2D drafting software with a long development history.
Key Features
- Excellent DXF compatibility
- ECMAScript scripting
- Clean UI and stable core
- Widely used in industry
https://github.com/mlightcad/cad-viewer
A modern browser-native CAD viewer that parses DXF/DWG directly on the client.
Key Features
- Client-side DXF/DWG parsing (no upload)
- Optimized for very large drawings
- Accurate snapping & layers
- WebGL / Three.js based
- Privacy-first architecture
https://github.com/microsoft/maker.js
A JavaScript library for programmatic 2D CAD geometry.
Key Features
- Declarative geometry modeling
- DXF / SVG output
- Perfect for CNC & laser cutting
- Strong TypeScript support
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD
A full-featured parametric 3D CAD system for engineering and design.
Key Features
- B-Rep modeling (OpenCascade)
- Sketch constraints & parametrics
- Assemblies, FEM, CAM, TechDraw
- Massive plugin ecosystem
https://github.com/blender/blender
A world-class mesh-based 3D creation suite (not B-Rep CAD).
Key Features
- Advanced mesh modeling
- Geometry Nodes (procedural)
- Python scripting
- Industry standard for mesh workflows
https://github.com/openscad/openscad
A script-based solid modeling tool emphasizing precision and reproducibility.
Key Features
- Text-based parametric modeling
- Exact geometry
- Excellent for 3D printing
- Deterministic CAD output
https://github.com/gumyr/build123d
A modern Pythonic parametric CAD framework built on OpenCascade.
Key Features
- Python-first CAD API
- Clean, composable design
- B-Rep modeling
- Ideal for automation & pipelines
https://github.com/CadQuery/CQ-editor
A desktop IDE for script-driven parametric 3D CAD based on CadQuery and OpenCascade.
Key Features
- Script-driven parametric modeling
- Python-based CAD logic
- Built on CadQuery + OpenCascade
- Interactive 3D preview
- Popular in engineering automation and design pipelines
https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
A lightweight constraint-based parametric 2D/3D CAD system focused on precision and simplicity.
Key Features
- Strong geometric constraint solver (core strength)
- 2D sketching and 3D solid modeling
- Parametric dimensions and relations
- Very small, fast, and deterministic
- Popular for mechanical sketches, linkages, and educational use
- Fully open-source and self-contained
https://github.com/xibyte/jsketcher
A parametric, sketch-based CAD system running in the browser.
Key Features
- Constraint-driven sketches
- OpenCascade via WebAssembly
- Browser-native CAD kernel
- One of the most advanced web CAD projects
https://github.com/xiangechen/chili3d
A lightweight web-based 2D/3D CAD editor focused on sketches and parametric modeling.
Key Features
- Sketch-driven CAD workflow
- 2D + 3D modeling
- Runs fully in the browser
- Three.js rendering
- Ideal for CAD experimentation
Design CAD models using code instead of GUI interactions — ideal for reproducible, parametric, automated, and version-controlled workflows.
https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
A Python library for parametric, script-based CAD modeling built on OpenCascade.
Key Features
- Pythonic CAD API
- B-Rep modeling via OpenCascade
- Constraint-friendly workflows
- Widely used in engineering automation
- Strong ecosystem (CQ-editor, exporters)
https://github.com/jscad/OpenJSCAD.org
A JavaScript-based CAD system for scriptable solid modeling in the browser and Node.js.
Key Features
- JavaScript CAD modeling
- Browser and CLI support
- CSG-based modeling
- STL / AMF / 3MF export
- Popular in maker and web CAD communities
https://github.com/azrecol/manifold
A fast and robust mesh geometry library supporting CSG and implicit (SDF) operations.
Key Features
- High-performance mesh booleans
- CSG and SDF-based modeling
- Robust handling of non-manifold geometry
- Used internally by OpenSCAD
- Suitable for CAD → mesh pipelines
https://github.com/SolidCode/SolidPython
A Python frontend that generates OpenSCAD-compatible code.
Key Features
- Pythonic wrapper for OpenSCAD
- Parametric & reproducible designs
- Easy integration with Python tooling
- Ideal for quick scripting and automation
https://github.com/Adam-CAD/CADAM
An open-source AI-powered text-to-CAD web application that turns natural language and images into parametric 3D models in the browser.
Key Features
- Natural language input to describe 3D models
- Image-assisted model generation
- Parametric controls with interactive sliders
- Real-time 3D preview in browser
- Export to .STL and .SCAD formats
- Browser-based with no installation required
https://github.com/mlightcad/cad-viewer
High-performance CAD viewer focused on correctness and scale.
Key Features
- DXF/DWG support
- Large drawing optimization
- Layer control & snapping
- No server dependency
https://github.com/vagran/dxf-viewer
A minimal DXF viewer for quick embedding.
Key Features
- Lightweight
- Canvas-based rendering
- Simple DXF support
https://github.com/gdsestimating/three-dxf
DXF loader for Three.js scenes.
Key Features
- DXF → Three.js conversion
- WebGL-friendly
- Easy integration with 3D viewers
https://github.com/pattern-x/gemini-viewer-examples
Example projects and demos showcasing the Gemini CAD viewer, a WebGL-based 3D viewer optimized for CAD data.
Key Features
- Interactive 3D model viewing in the browser
- WebGL/WebGPU rendering
- Includes examples for various CAD formats
- Good starting point for integrating web CAD viewers
https://github.com/LibreDWG/libredwg
A C library for reading and writing DWG files, part of the GNU project.
Key Features
- Native DWG read/write support
- Covers multiple AutoCAD DWG versions
- Low-level, spec-oriented implementation
- Suitable for CAD import/export pipelines
https://github.com/mozman/ezdxf
A Python library for reading, writing, and modifying DXF files.
Key Features
- High-level Python API
- Excellent DXF spec coverage
- Actively maintained
- Ideal for CAD automation and data processing
- Popular in scripting and batch workflows
https://github.com/DomCR/ACadSharp
A .NET library for reading, writing, and manipulating DXF and DWG files without requiring AutoCAD.
Key Features
- Native C# / .NET API
- Read and write DXF (ASCII & binary) and DWG files
- Strong support for CAD structures (Entities, Blocks, Layers, Tables, Styles)
- Multi-version DXF/DWG compatibility
- Fine-grained control over geometry and document data
- No AutoCAD dependency
- Open-source (MIT license), suitable for automation and CAD tooling
https://github.com/LibreCAD/dxflib
A widely used C++ DXF parsing library.
Key Features
- Accurate DXF spec support
- Mature & battle-tested
- Used by LibreCAD
https://github.com/LibreCAD/libdxfrw
An open-source DXF/DWG read/write library.
Key Features
- DXF + DWG support
- Multiple AutoCAD versions
- Core dependency for LibreCAD
https://github.com/gdsestimating/dxf-parser
A JavaScript DXF parser for web and Node.js.
Key Features
- Browser-friendly
- Common in web CAD viewers
- Easy to extend
https://github.com/dotoritos-kim/dxf-json
A tool for converting DXF files to JSON format for easier processing in web and scripting environments.
Key Features
- Converts DXF to structured JSON
- Browser and Node.js friendly
- Lightweight and easy to integrate
https://github.com/Open-Cascade-SAS/occt
An industrial-grade B-Rep geometry kernel.
Key Features
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Solid & surface modeling: robust B-Rep modeling with Booleans, fillets, chamfers, offsets, sweeps, drafts, and advanced construction tools.
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Rich geometric algorithms: point/surface projection, curve/surface intersections, analytical and approximate constructions.
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NURBS & parametric geometry: support for NURBS curves and surfaces, transformations, and analytic primitives (planes, cylinders, cones, spheres, etc.).
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Data interoperability: import/export for STEP, IGES, STL, VRML, BREP plus extended exchange with attributes and assembly (XCAF).
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Shape healing & model repair: tools to correct inconsistencies in imported CAD models.
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Visualization & rendering: interactive 3D display, selection, shading, real-time ray tracing, layered display controls.
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Mesh handling: conversion between exact geometry and tessellated meshes for display and rapid prototyping workflows.
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Application framework: document management (OCAF), undo/redo, attribute tracking, and extensible architecture.
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Modular C++ class libraries designed for rapid development of domain-specific CAD/CAM/CAE applications.
https://github.com/tpaviot/pythonocc
Python bindings for OpenCascade.
Key Features
- Rapid CAD prototyping
- Scriptable B-Rep modeling
- Research & automation friendly
https://github.com/DLR-SC/tigl
A parametric geometry kernel for aircraft design based on CPACS and OpenCASCADE.
Key Features
- Parametric aircraft geometry (wings, fuselages, control surfaces)
- CPACS-driven modeling workflow
- NURBS-based surface generation (built on OCCT)
- Geometry queries (surface points, intersections, sections)
- Export to STEP, IGES, STL, VTK, Collada
- Multi-language bindings (C, C++, Python, Java, MATLAB)
- Includes TiGL Viewer for geometry visualization
https://github.com/libfive/libfive
A functional CAD kernel based on implicit geometry (SDF).
Key Features
- Infinite resolution geometry
- Functional modeling paradigm
- Excellent for generative CAD
https://github.com/KittyCAD/ezpz
A modern geometric constraint solver for parametric CAD.
Key Features
- Rust + WebAssembly
- Designed for sketches
- Web-CAD ready
https://github.com/NoteCAD/NeoGeoSolver.NET
A geometric constraint solver written in C#.
Key Features
- Sketch constraint solving
- Educational & practical
- Clean solver design
https://github.com/Geoplexity/Frontier
A research-oriented geometric constraint solving framework for parametric CAD systems.
Key Features
- Focused on geometric constraint solving
- Designed for sketch-based CAD
- Emphasizes robustness and correctness
- Suitable for academic and experimental CAD engines
- Clear separation between geometry and solver logic
https://github.com/SeanDS/pygeosolve
A Python-based geometric constraint solver using numerical optimization techniques.
Key Features
- Written in Python
- Uses numerical methods to solve constraints
- Suitable for prototyping and research
- Easy to integrate with Python CAD workflows
- Helpful for understanding constraint-solving fundamentals
The gold standard for computational geometry.
Key Features
- Robust mesh booleans
- Exact arithmetic
- Research & industrial use
https://github.com/libigl/libigl
A simple geometry processing library.
Key Features
- Mesh analysis & deformation
- Academic-friendly
- Easy integration
https://github.com/elalish/manifold
A fast and robust mesh boolean engine.
Key Features
- Handles non-manifold input
- Used by OpenSCAD
- Performance-focused
https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openvdb
A sparse volumetric representation library.
Key Features
- Voxel-based booleans
- CAD ↔ VFX pipelines
- Extremely scalable
https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP
A parametric aircraft geometry modeling tool developed by NASA.
Key Features
- Aircraft-specific parametric modeling
- Aerospace-grade geometry
- Industry & research usage
https://github.com/fritzing/fritzing-app
An electronics CAD and prototyping tool.
Key Features
- Schematic + PCB + breadboard views
- Maker-friendly
- Open hardware ecosystem
CAD datasets organized by representation and supervision type, covering mesh-based geometry, parametric / B-Rep CAD, and language-guided (Text-to-CAD) datasets.
Datasets where geometry is represented primarily as triangle meshes or point clouds.
Commonly used in 3D vision, shape generation, and geometry learning, but not ideal for parametric CAD reconstruction.
https://github.com/ShapeNet/ShapeNet
A massive dataset of 3D shapes, including many CAD-like objects.
Key Features
- Large-scale mesh dataset
- Category-level annotations
- Widely used ML benchmark
- Not parametric or editable CAD
https://github.com/daerduoCarey/PartNet
A structured dataset with hierarchical part annotations built on ShapeNet.
Key Features
- Fine-grained part decomposition
- Semantic part labels
- Assembly-aware structure
- Mesh-based representation
https://github.com/kchen92/text2shape
A dataset pairing natural language descriptions with 3D shapes.
Key Features
- Text ↔ mesh pairs
- Early benchmark for text-driven 3D generation
- Useful for multimodal pretraining
- Not parametric CAD
Datasets that represent geometry as procedural CAD programs, feature trees, or B-Rep solids.
These are critical for editable CAD, design automation, and engineering-focused ML.
https://github.com/AutodeskAILab/abc
A large-scale dataset of real-world CAD models.
Key Features
- B-Rep + mesh representations
- Industry-grade CAD geometry
- High-quality solids
- Popular benchmark for CAD reconstruction
https://github.com/AutodeskAILab/Fusion360GalleryDataset
A dataset of parametric CAD models with full design history.
Key Features
- Feature trees and construction sequences
- Sketches + operations
- Ideal for learning parametric modeling
- Strong foundation for CAD ML research
https://github.com/ChrisWu1997/DeepCAD
A parametric CAD dataset with explicit procedural construction sequences.
Key Features
- Programmatic CAD modeling steps
- Sketch-based operations
- Clean parametric representation
- Ideal for sequence learning and CAD synthesis
https://github.com/fazhihe/WHUCAD
Paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3233/ICA-240744
A large-scale feature-level parametric CAD dataset designed to model advanced CAD operations beyond simple sketch–extrude workflows.
Key Features
- Parametric CAD programs with structured command sequences
- Includes advanced modeling features
- Bridges low-level commands and high-level feature representations
- Suitable for procedural CAD generation and feature learning
Datasets that align natural language with CAD models or CAD programs, enabling research in
Text → CAD generation, language-guided modeling, and multimodal CAD understanding.
https://sadilkhan.github.io/text2cad-project/
A large-scale dataset explicitly designed for Text-to-CAD research, aligning natural language with parametric CAD models.
Key Features
- Natural language ↔ parametric CAD pairs
- CAD represented as procedural programs
- Fine-grained design intent annotations
- Supports Text → CAD and CAD → Text tasks
Primary Use Cases
- Text-to-parametric CAD generation
- Language-driven CAD editing
- CAD retrieval from natural language
- Multimodal representation learning
https://huggingface.co/datasets/jingwei-xu-00/Omni-CAD
A large-scale multimodal CAD dataset designed for unified learning across geometry, CAD programs, and natural language.
Key Features
- Multimodal CAD representation (geometry + program + language)
- Supports Text ↔ CAD ↔ Geometry tasks
- Includes parametric CAD construction sequences
- Designed for training foundation models for CAD
- Suitable for CAD generation, understanding, and editing
Primary Use Cases
- Text-to-CAD generation
- CAD program synthesis
- Multimodal CAD representation learning
- CAD understanding with language supervision
https://github.com/ShapeTalk/ShapeTalk
A dataset of language grounded in 3D geometry.
Key Features
- Referring expressions for shapes
- Language grounding in geometry
- Useful for semantic understanding
- Often combined with CAD datasets
https://github.com/AutodeskAILab/Fusion360GalleryDataset
While not natively textual, Fusion 360 Gallery is frequently augmented with synthetic or human-written descriptions for Text-to-CAD experiments.
Key Features
- Parametric CAD + feature trees
- Common base dataset for text annotation
- Used in weakly supervised Text-to-CAD research
- Bridges classic CAD ML and language models
Contributions are welcome!
