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Choose SolidCraft in the browser for immediate, installation-free access; choose the desktop app for projects that need local files, desktop-only imports, built-in agent chat or a dependable offline archive. Both interfaces use SolidCraft’s parametric modeling engine, so the decision is mainly about where your files live, which integrations you need and how much control you want over the working environment.
SolidCraft is an open-source, pure-Rust CAD application that can run as a desktop program, browser app, headless command-line tool or MCP-connected engine. It is capable enough for many brackets, enclosures, jigs and 3D-printable mechanical parts, but its documentation also describes the project as “early.” Surfaces, drawings, CAM and simulation are deferred, which is decisive if your work depends on manufacturing documentation or analysis.
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Desktop or browser: the short decision
| If your priority is… | Choose… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting immediately on a managed laptop, classroom computer or trial machine | Browser | No installer and no account are required. |
| Keeping a durable project archive under your control | Desktop | Projects are saved as local .solidcraft files. |
| Importing existing FreeCAD or Rhino models | Desktop | The download guidance identifies FreeCAD .FCStd and Rhino .3dm import as desktop-only. |
| Using built-in agent chat | Desktop | The same guidance lists built-in agent chat as a desktop feature. |
| Working after the first visit without installing an app | Browser | The official guide says the web app can run from its cached copy offline. |
| Automating repeatable parts with the reference MCP setup | Desktop | Desktop MCP is the reference implementation today. |
If none of those boundaries matters, either interface can handle the shared core workflow: sketch a profile, constrain and dimension it, create a solid with timeline features, then change parameters and let the model rebuild.
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SolidCraft is a parametric 3D CAD application written in pure Rust and released as open source. “Parametric” means that dimensions and relationships are part of the model rather than merely being lines in a static mesh. A typical part starts with a sketch. Constraints define how entities relate, dimensions establish exact sizes, and feature operations turn the profile into a solid. Later edits to a parameter cause the timeline to rebuild the dependent features.
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The project exposes the same modeling engine through several modes:
- Desktop: a locally installed graphical application with local project files and the broadest documented integrations.
- Browser: a web application that starts without an installer or account.
- Headless CLI: a command-line route for workflows that do not need an interactive viewport.
- MCP-connected mode: an automation interface through which an agent can issue the same engine commands used by the toolbar and dialogs.
That common engine is important. Moving from browser to desktop does not mean learning a different modeling language. The practical differences are storage, integrations, installation, offline behavior and automation support.
How the shared modeling workflow works
1. Sketch the profile
You begin with a two-dimensional profile on a plane. Lines, arcs and other sketch entities describe the outline that a feature will use. At this stage, geometric relationships are more important than visual approximation: a horizontal edge, a coincident endpoint or a centered circle becomes a rule the model can preserve.
2. Constrain and dimension it
Constraints remove unwanted degrees of freedom, while dimensions provide numerical intent. A fully specified mounting-hole pattern, for example, can remain centered even after the plate gets wider. This is the reason to use a parametric system instead of editing a collection of disconnected polygons.
3. Build solids with timeline features
The profile can drive solid operations such as an extrusion and subsequent feature steps. SolidCraft records those operations in a timeline. The timeline gives you an ordered history that can be edited rather than forcing you to remodel the part from scratch after every change.
4. Change parameters and rebuild
When a dimension or feature parameter changes, SolidCraft rebuilds the model from the updated history. A well-constrained design should preserve its intent through ordinary changes, such as increasing an enclosure wall or moving a hole pattern. Poorly constrained sketches can still fail or produce unexpected geometry, so treat constraint quality as part of model maintenance.
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Why the desktop app suits long-lived projects
Local ownership of editable files
The desktop application saves designs as .solidcraft files in your local filesystem. You can place those files in your normal project folders, include them in a backup routine and move them between machines using whatever file-transfer or version-control process your team already trusts. A local file also gives you a clear editable artifact instead of tying the only copy to a browser profile.
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Existing CAD imports
SolidCraft’s desktop route supports importing FreeCAD .FCStd files and Rhino .3dm files. This matters when you are evaluating SolidCraft against an existing library or want to continue work on a model created in one of those applications. The download guidance identifies these imports as desktop-only, so do not plan a browser-only migration around them.
Built-in agent chat
The download guidance also identifies built-in agent chat as desktop-only. If your workflow depends on asking an in-app assistant to help construct or modify a model, the desktop build is the documented choice. This is separate from MCP automation: agent chat is an integrated desktop feature, while MCP connects an external agent or automation client to the modeling engine.
Platforms and installation
Desktop builds are documented for Windows, Linux and macOS. Installation is therefore the trade-off for local files and desktop integrations. On a managed machine, you may need administrator approval or an approved software-distribution route; a browser session avoids that operational hurdle.
Why the browser app suits quick and controlled access
No installer and no account
The browser app starts without an installer or account. That makes it practical on a classroom computer, a managed work laptop where you cannot install software, or a temporary machine used to test the workflow. You can open the app and begin modeling without first setting up a local package.
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Browser designs are kept in browser-private storage. They are not automatically a copy in a cloud project library or a file on your operating system. Before clearing browser data, resetting a profile or moving to another computer, download an editable copy. If you skip that step, deleting the browser’s private data can remove the only accessible version of the design.
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Offline behavior after the first visit
The official guide says the web app can work offline from its cached copy after the first visit. This is different from having a local project file: the application code may be cached, while your design remains in browser-private storage. For an offline session, open the app successfully while connected first, then verify that the browser and device retain the site data you need.
Graphics requirements
The browser runtime supports WebGPU or WebGL2. A browser or device that lacks a usable implementation of either API may not provide a functional 3D viewport. If the canvas is blank, unstable or extremely slow, check graphics support and browser policy before blaming the model itself. The desktop build is the more predictable option when your organization restricts browser graphics APIs.
Feature boundaries that apply to both versions
Switching interfaces does not remove SolidCraft’s current product limits. Its introduction lists sketching, solid modeling, parameters, components with joints, sheet metal and a subset of plastic-enclosure work as working areas. It explicitly defers surfaces, drawings, CAM and simulation.
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|---|---|---|
| Brackets and simple mechanical parts | Solid modeling and parameters are working areas. | A reasonable use case, especially when the part is driven by sketches and dimensions. |
| Jigs and fixtures | Core solid modeling is available. | Suitable for concepting and many printable or shop-built forms, subject to your own validation. |
| Enclosures | Plastic-enclosure work is supported as a subset. | Useful for a defined class of housings, but not evidence that every enclosure workflow is complete. |
| Assemblies | Components with joints are listed as working. | Basic connected-component studies are possible. |
| Free-form surface design | Surfaces are deferred. | Do not make SolidCraft your sole system for surface-led industrial or consumer design. |
| Production drawings | Drawings are deferred. | You will need another tool for drawing packages, dimensions and formal documentation. |
| Machining preparation | CAM is deferred. | SolidCraft is not a complete CAD-to-toolpath workflow. |
| Engineering analysis | Simulation is deferred. | Use a separate analysis system for stress, motion or other simulation-led decisions. |
The documentation’s wording that “SolidCraft is early” should guide your risk assessment. It can be a productive modeler without being a complete replacement for an established production CAD stack.
Desktop versus browser at a glance
| Decision axis | Desktop | Browser |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Requires an installer or a build. | No installation is required. |
| Account | Not stated as required by the desktop guidance. | Starts without an account. |
| Primary storage | Local .solidcraft files. |
Private storage inside the browser. |
| Editable backup | Use normal filesystem backup and file-copy practices. | Download an editable copy before clearing browser data or changing machines. |
| FreeCAD import | Supported through .FCStd import. |
Identified as desktop-only. |
| Rhino import | Supported through .3dm import. |
Identified as desktop-only. |
| Built-in agent chat | Documented as available. | Not documented as available. |
| Offline use | Local application and files. | Cached app can work offline after the first visit; project remains browser-private. |
| Graphics path | Desktop graphics stack. | WebGPU or WebGL2. |
| Automation | Reference implementation for desktop MCP. | Uses the same core command surface for modeling, but desktop MCP is the reference setup. |
Safe browser workflow: protect your model
- Open SolidCraft while connected. This gives the browser an opportunity to cache the application for later offline use.
- Confirm the viewport works. The browser needs WebGPU or WebGL2. If the 3D canvas does not initialize, resolve the graphics issue before creating a critical design.
- Model using the normal parametric sequence. Sketch, add constraints and dimensions, create timeline features, then rebuild after parameter changes.
- Download an editable copy at milestones. Do this before clearing site data, signing out of a managed browser profile, resetting the device or switching computers.
- Keep more than one copy for important work. Browser-private storage is convenient for a session but should not be treated as your only archive.
- Reopen the downloaded file where you intend to continue. A backup is useful only if you know it is editable and can be restored in your chosen SolidCraft environment.
The browser route is therefore best understood as “no installation,” not “automatic cloud backup.” Its convenience is highest when you control the browser profile and remember to export.
When desktop is the safer operational choice
Use desktop when the design is expected to live for months, pass between teammates or serve as the source for future revisions. Local .solidcraft files make the archive visible and manageable. Desktop is also the correct starting point when the project begins in FreeCAD or Rhino, or when built-in agent chat is part of the intended workflow.
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Desktop does not solve SolidCraft’s missing production features. You may still need another application for drawings, CAM, simulation or advanced surface work. The advantage is control over files and integrations, not a larger feature list in those deferred areas.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsAutomation with MCP and the headless engine
SolidCraft exposes its engine through MCP. The official MCP guide says an agent models with the same engine commands used by the toolbar and dialogs. That shared command surface makes automation more meaningful than a separate macro language that behaves differently from the graphical application: a scripted part can follow the same modeling concepts a person uses interactively.
Desktop MCP is the reference implementation today. Choose that route when you need a local CLI or desktop bridge for repeatable parts, parameter sweeps or AI-assisted modeling. A team should still decide how generated files are reviewed, named, backed up and checked for geometric correctness. MCP connectivity does not remove the need for constraint discipline or human validation.
Navigation hardware: optional 3D mice
For users who spend long sessions orbiting and panning models, a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse or SpaceNavigator 3D mouse is an optional hardware improvement. SolidCraft’s official guide documents browser support through the Gamepad API. Compatibility can depend on the particular browser, operating-system permissions and device, so check that your browser exposes the controller before buying for a browser-only setup. Treat the device as an input aid, not as a feature that changes SolidCraft’s modeling capabilities.
Is SolidCraft ready for professional CAD?
It depends on what “professional” means in your workflow. For a professional who needs parametric solids for brackets, fixtures, enclosures or similar mechanical parts, SolidCraft may be useful, especially when local files or scriptable modeling are valuable. The browser can lower the barrier for teaching, evaluation and occasional editing.
It is not yet a complete sole system for a production process built around engineering drawings, machining toolpaths, surface modeling or simulation. Those areas are explicitly deferred. A sensible adoption plan is to use SolidCraft for the modeling work it supports while retaining purpose-built tools for downstream deliverables, then reassess as the project develops.
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Common failure modes and fixes
“My browser model disappeared.”
Browser designs live in private browser storage. If site data was cleared, the profile was reset or you changed machines without downloading an editable copy, the browser may no longer have the design. Restore from a downloaded copy or another backup if one exists. Prevent the problem by exporting at milestones.
“I cannot open a FreeCAD or Rhino file in the browser.”
The documented import support is desktop-only. Install or build the desktop application, import the .FCStd or .3dm file there, and then decide how to continue the resulting SolidCraft project.
“The web viewport is blank or unusable.”
Check whether the browser and device provide WebGPU or WebGL2 and whether an organizational policy blocks hardware acceleration. Try the documented desktop build when browser graphics support cannot be enabled.
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“Offline mode does not show my expected project.”
The cached browser app and browser-private project data are separate concerns. The app may be cached after the first visit, but a design still must exist in the same browser profile and site storage. Use a downloaded editable copy for portable offline work.
“I need drawings, CAM or simulation.”
Those capabilities are deferred in SolidCraft’s current documentation. Plan a companion tool or choose a different primary system for that deliverable instead of assuming the desktop build adds it.
A practical choice for three typical readers
The student or classroom user
Start in the browser. No installer or account is required, and the same core sketch-and-feature workflow is available. Download work before leaving a shared computer or allowing its browser profile to be reset.
The product developer with an existing CAD library
Start on desktop. FreeCAD and Rhino imports are documented there, and local .solidcraft files are easier to place in an established backup process. Keep another system available if your release process requires drawings, CAM or simulation.
The automation-focused team
Use desktop as the reference MCP environment. Define review and file-management rules before generating many parts, and verify that each scripted result rebuilds correctly when its parameters change.
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