cadquery
CadQuery is a parametric scripting language for creating and traversing CAD models
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. CadQuery is production-stable (Development Status 5), actively maintained, permissively licensed, and has no known vulnerabilities. Install friction is low for supported Python versions (3.11+). It is the right choice if you need to generate or manipulate 3D CAD models programmatically; if you require a graphical CAD editor, use CQ-editor alongside it or choose a different tool.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.11 or later; pip installation is limited to Python 3.9–3.12 on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with some older Linux distributions unsupported—conda installation recommended for broader compatibility.
- Low friction: distributed as a wheel for Python 3.9–3.12 on Linux, macOS, and Windows, though some older Linux distributions are not supported.
- Active maintenance with a release 54 days ago and 5601 repository stars.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache Public License 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache Public License 2.0 (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-06-21 (54 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 5,601 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 704,227 downloads/mo, #5,276 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install cadquery
from cadquery.func import box, fillet
from cadquery.vis import show
b = box(1, 1, 1)
show(fillet(b, b.edges("|Z"), 0.1))- Whether the 13 runtime dependencies (including cadquery-ocp, trame, casadi, nlopt) are all required for basic use or only for advanced features.
- Performance characteristics and model complexity limits for large assemblies or high-resolution exports.
What it is and what it does
CadQuery is a Python library that lets you describe 3D CAD models using code rather than a graphical interface. You write scripts that define geometry—boxes, extrusions, fillets, lofts, and assemblies—and CadQuery translates them into high-quality CAD files. It wraps the OpenCASCADE kernel through its cadquery-ocp dependency, giving you access to industrial-strength modeling without leaving Python.
The library is designed for automation, integration into servers, and scientific workflows. It includes built-in visualization via trame and vtk, and works with Jupyter notebooks and the optional CQ-editor GUI. You can create parametric models where end users customize dimensions or features by editing script variables, then regenerate the entire design. Output formats include lossless STEP and DXF as well as mesh formats like STL and 3MF.
Use it for
- Generate STEP files programmatically for mechanical parts, enclosures, or assemblies in manufacturing workflows.
- Build parametric design tools where non-programmers adjust dimensions in a script and re-run to produce new CAD models.
- Automate repetitive CAD tasks—batch-generating variants, applying design rules, or integrating CAD into CI/CD pipelines.
- Create scientific or engineering simulations that output CAD geometry for visualization or further analysis.
- Embed 3D model generation in web services or backend systems without requiring a GUI CAD application.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
CadQuery is production-stable (Development Status 5), actively maintained, permissively licensed, and has no known vulnerabilities. Install friction is low for supported Python versions (3.11+). It is the right choice if you need to generate or manipulate 3D CAD models programmatically; if you require a graphical CAD editor, use CQ-editor alongside it or choose a different tool.
Install
cadquery on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: distributed as a wheel for Python 3.9–3.12 on Linux, macOS, and Windows, though some older Linux distributions are not supported. Active maintenance with a release 54 days ago and 5601 repository stars.
Requires Python 3.11 or later; pip installation is limited to Python 3.9–3.12 on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with some older Linux distributions unsupported—conda installation recommended for broader compatibility.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache Public License 2.0 (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install cadquery
from cadquery.func import box, fillet
from cadquery.vis import show
b = box(1, 1, 1)
show(fillet(b, b.edges("|Z"), 0.1))Verify before relying
- Whether the 13 runtime dependencies (including cadquery-ocp, trame, casadi, nlopt) are all required for basic use or only for advanced features.
- Performance characteristics and model complexity limits for large assemblies or high-resolution exports.
Package facts
| License | Apache Public License 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.11 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 13 packagescadquery-ocpezdxfmultimethodnloptruntypecasaditrametrame-vtktrame-componentstrame-vuetifypyparsingscipynumba |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 54 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 704,227 / month, #5,276 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: End Users/DesktopIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: MacOSOperating System :: POSIXOperating System :: UnixProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: InternetTopic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: cadquery-2.8.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also cadquery-ocp · cadquery-ocp-novtk · ocp-tessellate · build123d · ocp-gordon · manifold3d · cascadio · numpy-stl · gmsh