storytold/cadcraft

CADCraft: computer-aided design and drafting — an open-source, clean-room AutoCAD-style app in pure Rust

What it solves

CADCraft is an open-source, clean-room reimplementation of AutoCAD, providing a free, native alternative to proprietary computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software. It aims to replicate the professional drafting workflow—including the command line, object snaps, and DXF/DWG file compatibility—without requiring subscriptions or accounts.

How it works

Built in pure Rust and using the egui library, CADCraft operates as a high-performance native binary that runs across macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and the web via WebAssembly. It implements a comprehensive suite of drawing and modification tools, parametric constraints, and a copy-on-write entity store for efficient undo operations. The software is designed to be "agent-drivable," meaning every tool and menu item is a command that can be executed via a JSON control channel, a CLI, or the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Who it’s for

It is designed for architects, engineers, and designers who are accustomed to the AutoCAD workflow and seek an open-source alternative that is fast, native, and compatible with industry-standard file formats like DXF and DWG.

Highlights

  • AutoCAD-style Workflow: Supports the command line with AutoComplete, object snaps, polar tracking, and direct distance entry.
  • Agent-Ready Architecture: Fully controllable via MCP, allowing AI agents to type commands, inspect drawings, and render PNGs.
  • Broad File Support: Native read/write for DXF (R12–2018) and DWG (R13–2018) files, with exports to SVG and PNG.
  • Cross-Platform: Native performance on all major desktop OSs and browser support via WASM.
  • Advanced Drafting Features: Includes paper-space layouts, associative dimensions, parametric constraints, and a comprehensive hatch/block library.

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