CADCraft — Open-Source CAD Software (Free, Rust)
Who this is for: Engineers, makers and designers who need real CAD drafting without expensive licenses — and want drafting scriptable.
Open-source CAD in pure Rust — a free, clean-room take on professional CAD drafting, scriptable and agent-native.
Quick answer: CADCraft is a free, open-source CAD application in pure Rust — a clean-room take on professional drafting from the ArtCraft family. Drawing, dimensioning, open diffable formats, scriptable via CLI/JSON/MCP. Alpha stage with documented gaps.
Official source — CADCraft
getartcraft.com → the app's page → Download for desktop (Windows build)
- Download the Windows build from getartcraft.com (official source only).
- Run the installer or unzip the package — it is a native Rust binary, no runtime required.
- Open the app, create a document or open a real file (e.g. .psd in PhotoCraft, .svg in VectorCraft).
- No account, no signup, no subscription — the family has none.
GPU compositing runs through wgpu (DX12/Vulkan). A GPU with a supported driver helps; it is not mandatory.
Based on the project's stated rendering stack (wgpu: Metal/Vulkan/DX12/WebGPU; WASM browser builds). The project publishes no hard minimum specs.
| Replaces | Commercial CAD drafting |
|---|---|
| License | Open source |
| Status | Alpha |
| Platforms | macOS · Windows · Linux · Web |
| Price | Free, no subscription |
Drafting, rebuilt clean
CADCraft is an open-source CAD application, part of the ArtCraft family rebuilt in pure Rust. It is positioned as a free, clean-room take on professional CAD drafting — the drawing and dimensioning workflow engineers and makers know — without the license costs of commercial CAD.
Like its siblings, CADCraft runs natively on macOS, Windows and Linux plus a WebAssembly browser build, and exposes a CLI, JSON control channel and MCP server so drafting operations can be scripted and driven by AI agents.
Key facts at a glance
- Open-source CAD drafting in pure Rust, from the ArtCraft family
- Drawing and dimensioning workflow without commercial license costs
- Native macOS, Windows and Linux plus WebAssembly browser build
- Agent-native: CLI, JSON control channel and MCP server
- Free, no subscription
Quick start — first five minutes
- Download CADCraft from getartcraft.com (macOS, Windows, Linux) or use the browser build — free, no subscription.
- Create a drawing and start drafting — lines, shapes and dimensioning in the standard workflow.
- Organize work in layers and keep the family's open, diffable formats.
- Script drafting operations (grids, repeats, exports) via CLI/JSON/MCP.
- Export drawings and share with collaborators.
Common uses
- Draft and dimension without commercial CAD licenses
- Keep CAD files in version control with open formats
- Automate repetitive drafting from scripts or AI agents
- Learn CAD workflow free
CAD without the license wall
Professional CAD carries heavy license costs. CADCraft is the family's answer: real drafting and dimensioning as open source, with the same no-subscription model as the rest of ArtCraft. For makers and small shops that is the difference between affording CAD and not.
Drafting that scripts
CLI, JSON control channel and MCP server make drafting operations — grids, repeats, dimensioning, exports — scriptable. Patterns that would take an hour of clicking can be one command.
Honest gaps
Alpha-stage. Full commercial-CAD parity — advanced parametric workflows, huge assembly/part ecosystems, plugin markets — is not claimed. Check the project's status before committing production drawings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CADCraft free?
Can it open DWG files?
Can I automate CAD work?
More guides for this app
Download, install and first-launch PhotoCraft on Windows, macOS or in the browser — with the exact official sources.
Grade with the 16 adjustment layer types, then export to PSD, PNG, JPEG, WebP or TIFF — with round-trip verification.
PdfCraft in ten minutes: read anything beautifully, organize pages like cards, merge/split safely, open protected PDFs.
More ArtCraft apps
Open-source Photoshop replacement in pure Rust: layers, masks, adjustment layers, layer styles, text, vectors, brushes and real PSD files — free, no subscription.
Open-source Illustrator replacement in pure Rust: Pen, Pathfinder, smart guides, appearance, layers — fast, scriptable, free.
Open-source After Effects alternative in pure Rust: compositions, keyframes, 306 effects, expressions, 3D cameras, Lottie import/export — no FFmpeg dependency.
Open-source nonlinear video editor in pure Rust — a free, clean-room take on the Premiere Pro workflow, scriptable and agent-native.
Open-source PDF reader and editor in pure Rust — a clean-room Acrobat replacement with beautiful rendering, page organization, merge/split and document protection.
Open-source non-destructive photo editor in pure Rust — a free Lightroom-style workflow: edit without destroying the original, agent-native.