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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Desktop App

OpenSCAD

Design precise 3D parts by writing a short script.

Visit OpenSCAD4.5

  • Rating

    4.5 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Advanced

  • Works on

    macOS, Windows, Linux

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What is OpenSCAD?

OpenSCAD is free software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. Instead of dragging shapes around, you write a script and it builds the model, which suits machine parts and exact measurements more than artistic modelling. It can read and write STL and OFF files and runs on Linux, Windows and macOS.

Third-party open-source projects. We are not affiliated with their authors; repositories are provided as-is by their maintainers. Review each project's license, code and security before installing. See our Disclaimer.

Pros: what OpenSCAD does well

  • Exact, repeatable designs from a script
  • Free on Linux, Windows and macOS
  • Exports STL files for 3D printing

Cons: where it falls short

  • You write code instead of drawing
  • Not meant for artistic or organic shapes

Who OpenSCAD is for

Makers and engineers who want precise, tweakable 3D parts.

Who can skip it

People who want to sculpt shapes with a mouse.

OpenSCAD alternatives

Not sold on OpenSCAD? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

All Personal Productivity resources

LMMS

Focus: music production, daw and beats. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.4 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.4Visit

Jellyfin

Focus: media server, streaming and self-hosted. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. A web app, not a desktop app. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Web AppFreeCross-Platform
4.7Visit

Atuin

Focus: shell history, terminal and command line. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit

btop

Focus: system monitor, terminal and processes. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit

fd

Focus: file search, command line and developer tool. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

Free alternatives to OpenSCAD

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

mpv

Focus: video player, media and subtitles. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

MuseScore Studio

Focus: music notation, sheet music and composition. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

restic

Focus: backup, encryption and snapshots. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.7 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

BorgBackup

Focus: backup, encryption and deduplication. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.6 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

Ditto

Focus: clipboard manager, snippets and windows. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.6 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreeWindows
4.6Visit

Etcher

Focus: usb, sd card and disk image. Shares open source and github with OpenSCAD. Rated 4.6 (OpenSCAD: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
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