FreeCAD is a mature, open-source parametric 3D CAD application with a modular workbench architecture. The codebase reveals a well-structured monolithic desktop application written in C++ with extensive Python bindings. The core uses OpenCASCADE as its geometry kernel, Coin3D (Open Inventor) for 3D scene representation, and Qt for the GUI. The architecture separates the application logic (App) from the GUI (Gui), with a Base layer providing fundamental utilities (math, units, persistence, Python integration). Workbenches (PartDesign, Sketcher, Draft, Arch, FEM, CAM, Mesh, etc.) are implemented as loadable modules that extend the document-object model. The parametric engine supports expression-driven constraints, a full dependency graph with topological naming, and a sketcher solver for 2D constraints. The FEM workbench includes a solver framework supporting CalculiX, Elmer, and Z88. The CAM workbench provides CNC toolpath generation with post-processing. The codebase demonstrates strong engineering practices: comprehensive unit tests, CI/CD pipelines, modern CMake, C++17, and clean separation of concerns. With 31k+ stars and active development (last commit June 2026), it's a production-grade CAD system used by hobbyists and professionals alike.
Chili3D is a web-based 3D CAD application for online model design and editing. It features a modular TypeScript architecture with core packages for foundations, application logic, UI, Three.js rendering, and WebAssembly bindings to OpenCASCADE for CAD operations. The system uses a command pattern with decorators for UI actions, a transaction system for undo/redo, and a plugin architecture for extensibility. Key capabilities include primitive shape creation, Boolean operations, extrusion/revolve/sweep/loft, snapping, measurement tools, document management with IndexedDB persistence, and import/export of STEP, IGES, STL, and BREP formats. The UI implements an Office-style ribbon interface with property panels and hierarchical scene tree. The application is actively maintained with recent commits and demonstrates strong engineering practices in its reactive primitives, plugin system, and serialization framework.
pythonocc-core is a Python binding for the OpenCASCADE Technology (OCCT) 3D CAD kernel, providing full access to OCCT's geometry, topology, visualization, and data exchange capabilities. It is a library, not a standalone application, designed for engineers and developers building CAD/CAE/PLM tools in Python. The architecture is a C++ extension module generated via SWIG, with a thin Python layer that adds convenience utilities, multiple display backends (Qt, wxPython, Tkinter, WebGL/Jupyter), and high-level helpers for shape creation, topology traversal, and file I/O (STEP, IGES, STL, glTF, OBJ, PLY). The core API mirrors OCCT's class hierarchy, while the `OCC.Extend` and `OCC.Display` packages provide Pythonic wrappers and interactive 3D viewers. The repository is actively maintained, with recent releases (7.9.3) and CI pipelines for conda packages across platforms. It includes extensive type stubs for IDE support, a comprehensive test suite, and support for offscreen rendering and Jupyter notebooks. Key entry points include `OCC.Display.SimpleGui.init_display()` for interactive viewers, `OCC.Extend.DataExchange.read_step_file()` for CAD file import, and `OCC.Core.Tesselator.ShapeTesselator` for mesh generation. The codebase demonstrates strong engineering practices with reusable patterns like the topology explorer, shape factory utilities, and a generic proxy pattern for OCCT objects. However, the SWIG-generated wrapper layer is large and fragile, requiring careful version alignment with OCCT, and some OCCT classes remain unwrapped.