CodeCAD is a lightweight, code-first parametric CAD tool. You write Lua scripts, CodeCAD builds solids using the robust OpenCascade kernel (OCCT) — with live preview, reusable parts, and a workflow that feels as natural as editing code in your favorite editor.

Please find more information on our documentation site https://www.codecad.xyz.

• ⚡ Live: code in your editor, geometry updates instantly in an integrated viewer
• 🧩 Composable: split designs into parts and reuse them
• 📐 Parametric: adjust dimensions by changing a single parameter
• 🛠 For makers: designed with 3D printing and woodworking in mind
• 🌱 Open: built on C++17, Lua, and OpenCascade

Most GUI-based CAD tools are powerful, but:

• 🌀 Steep learning curves
• 💸 Expensive licenses
• 🔒 Hard to automate, version, and share

With CodeCAD you:

• Model in pure code (with Lua)
• Get live preview in the integrated viewer
• Keep your models small, diff-able, and version-controlled in Git
• Parametrically adapt designs, do not start all over, if you want to change a small parameter

👉 If you love code, the command line, and reproducible workflows — CodeCAD is for you.

Pure C++ layer on top of OCCT: custom types (Shapes, TriMesh, Ops), Extrude/Revolve, Booleans, Fillet/Chamfer, Section, Triangulation, STL/STEP export. OCCT stays encapsulated internally. The kernel API does not expose any OCCT types.

Binds the kernel API to Lua (via sol2). Provides a stable, curated scripting API (Primitives, Transforms, Ops, higher-level parts like Threads, Rods).

Lightweight render engine (GLFW + GLM + ImGui). Accepts TriMeshes from Kernel/Lua/Service, renders them, displays status bar & dock panel.

Project tool (ccad init/parts/live/build/bom, etc.). Can execute Lua/kernels locally; shows live geometry through Pure.

Playground for new geometries/algorithms. Uses kernel and PURE for visualization.

• CMake
• C++17 compiler
• OpenCascade (OCCT) installed (version 7.9.1)

git clone https://github.com/breiting/codecad
cd codecad
mkdir build && cd build
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release ..
make -j
make install

# initialize new project
mkdir myproject && cd myproject
ccad init

# add a first part (the name is optional)

ccad parts add "Box"

# run live viewer
ccad live

This opens the viewer: edit parts/box.lua in your editor and see geometry update live.

myproject/
├── project.json # project metadata (name, units, params, materials, parts…)
├── parts/ # Lua scripts for parts
│ └── box.lua # each part is self-contained
└── generated/ # generated meshes (STL, STEP…)

Parts are written in Lua, e.g.:

-- parts/box.lua
local c = box(10, 20, 5)
emit(c)

Parametric nut block:

local size = param("size", 20)
local hole = param("hole", 6)

local b = box(size, size, size/2)
local cut = cylinder(hole, size)
emit(difference(b, cut))

Change hole from 6 → 8 and regenerate — instantly updated.

• Lua LSP stubs in types/ for completion & diagnostics
• For Neovim: include ./types and ./lib in your Lua.workspace.library

You are welcome to contribute to this project. I am developing under MacOS and Linux. However, I cannot test with Windows. So volunteers are welcome to support all three platforms. Any feature requests should be filed directly in Github.

• OpenCASCADE

MIT License