MIT OR Apache-2.0freeRuns locallyImage & Design

SolidCraft: Open-Source SolidWorks Alternative

Pure-Rust parametric 3D CAD (B-rep, feature timeline, MCP) from Tangency Labs.

SolidCraft sample plate model in the parametric 3D editor — Official project image. Source · License: MIT OR Apache-2.0.

License: MIT OR Apache-2.0
Stars: 7,346 (2026-10-20)
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Web
First seen: 2026-10-07

TL;DR. SolidCraft is Pure-Rust parametric 3D CAD (B-rep, feature timeline, MCP) from Tangency Labs. License: MIT OR Apache-2.0 (verified). Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Web. Price: free. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to SOLIDWORKS.

Name	SolidCraft
Language	Rust
License	MIT OR Apache-2.0
Pricing	free
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Web
Runs locally	Yes
Stats	7,346 stars · 832 forks (as of 2026-10-20)
First seen	2026-10-07
Repository	https://github.com/tangency-labs/solidcraft

SolidCraft is an open-source parametric 3D CAD app written in pure Rust by Tangency Labs. It is listed on SolidWorks alternatives as an editorial mapping, not because we measured SolidWorks parity. Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-20: tangency-labs/solidcraft (API full_name is lowercase tangency-labs/solidcraft), release v0.16.2, and solidcraft.io.

Key facts (2026-10-20)

Field	Value	Source
Stars / forks	7,346 / 832	GitHub API `tangency-labs/solidcraft`
Created	2026-10-07T18:57:48Z	same
Last push	2026-10-20T02:02:07Z	same
License files	MIT OR Apache-2.0 (dual)	`LICENSE-MIT`, `LICENSE-APACHE`, README, Cargo.toml
GitHub license field	Apache-2.0	GitHub API
Latest release	v0.16.2, 2026-10-19T02:03:01Z	GitHub Releases
Maturity	“Early but usable for simple parts”	README
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Web	README / docs/downloads.md
Site	https://solidcraft.io	GitHub homepage field + live site

What the README says it does

Copied labels: sketches and a constraint solver, extrude/revolve/sweep/loft, fillet/chamfer/shell/draft, holes, threads, patterns, mirror, split/combine on an editable parametric timeline, parameters and configurations, assemblies with joints, sheet metal, STEP/IGES/3MF/STL/OBJ/glTF where supported, .solidcraft designs, desktop + browser + headless CLI + MCP. Kernel note on the site: SolidCore is described as a Rust port of SMLib. Those sentences are upstream.

The README’s oracle claim: 75 of 76 public reference parts match analytic or FreeCAD-computed volume/area/CoM/bbox; the other is a tracked bug. We did not rerun that corpus.

Gaps versus SolidWorks

We have no sourced, tested gap list. The project’s own words are early but usable for simple parts. Downloads are not signed yet (Windows SmartScreen / macOS Open Anyway). Do not treat star count as a bake-off against FreeCAD 1.1.4 (LGPL-2.1, 34,543 stars).

2D DWG drafting is a different job: CADCraft and LibreCAD on AutoCAD alternatives.

Install (from the official README, not yet tested)

cargo run --release -p solidcraft -- --sample

Binary paths listed: Windows MSI (winget install bherbruck.SolidCraft), macOS DMG, Linux AppImage, sudo snap install solidcraft, browser app at solidcraft.io/app. forkalt has not run them.

FAQ

Is SolidCraft free?

Yes. Dual MIT OR Apache-2.0 (LICENSE-MIT, LICENSE-APACHE, README, Cargo.toml, checked 2026-10-20). GitHub’s license field shows Apache-2.0. Not legal advice.

Does it replace SolidWorks?

No sourced bake-off. The README calls it “early but usable for simple parts” and lists sketches, a parametric feature timeline, assemblies, sheet metal, and STEP/IGES/3MF/STL exchange. That is identification, not SolidWorks parity.

What is the latest release?

GitHub Releases latest is v0.16.2 (published 2026-10-19T02:03:01Z), matching Cargo.toml workspace version 0.16.2. The marketing homepage still showed a “v0.12.0 available” line when we opened it; we keep the GitHub Release as the sourced version. Downloads “aren't signed yet” per the README.

Same job as CADCraft?

CADCraft is AutoCAD-class 2D/DWG drafting. SolidCraft is parametric 3D B-rep CAD. Different hubs.

Sources & verification

Last verified 2026-10-20 · Last updated 2026-10-20· Edited by forkalt editors · Editorial policy

License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.