FreeCAD Workbench Python Programming

Introduction

This page is meant as a comprehensive collection of resources for how to create a FreeCAD workbench using Python programming.

Target Audience

This page is meant for people who are comfortable with Python Programming already.

Please refer to other resources for Programming or Python, and do not include them here.

Environment Setup

1. Install FreeCAD

See FreeCAD for instructions.

2. Setting up a Modern Code Editor - VS Code

Related Blog Article: FreeCAD External Editor With Code – OSS

The above resources cover how to enable auto-completion and debugging features.

• Visual Studio Code

• VS Code Python Extension

• FreeCAD Forum - Using Visual Studio as Python editor

• FreeCAD Wiki - Debugging (VSCode)

• FreeCAD Forum - Please demonstrate using a remote text editor to substitute the Python editor in FreeCAD

• FreeCAD Forum - VSCode / Pylint question

• FreeCAD Forum - FreeCAD python type definitions, code documentation

• FreeCAD Forum - How to set up a scripting environment in Visual Studio Code

• FreeCAD Forum - vscode, pipenv, and and environment variables...

• FreeCAD Forum - A few question about Wiki Script Object examples: "VSCode is good and has python support ... Maybe I should add a section like that to the documentation."

• FreeCAD Forum - VSCode / Pylint on Windows

• FreeCAD Forum - video tutorial Create a Workbench

Where to Learn

Introduction to Scripting in FreeCAD

Articles

• FreeCAD Wiki - Python scripting tutorial
• FreeCAD Wiki - FreeCAD Scripting Basics

Getting Started with Workbench Programming

• FreeCAD Wiki - Workbench Creation
• FreeCAD Wiki - Module Creation: Setting up a new module manually
• GitHub - Tutorials on how to create your own Python workbench in FreeCAD
• GitHub - (skaiser) Example for getting a basic FreeCAD workbench started
• GitHub - (official) FreeCAD Workbench-Starterkit (NOT COMPATIBLE WITH FREECAD 16)

FeaturePython, Scripted, or Custom Objects

• FreeCAD Wiki - FeaturePython objects
• FreeCAD Wiki - Creating a FeaturePython Box, Part II
• FreeCAD Wiki - App FeaturePython
• FreeCAD Wiki - Scripted objects`

Reference

• FreeCAD Wiki - App DocumentObject
• FreeCAD Wiki - Placement
• FreeCAD Wiki - Command

GUI

• FreeCAD Wiki - PySide
• FreeCAD Wiki - Dialog Creation

Part

• FreeCAD Wiki - Part API
• FreeCAD Wiki - Part scripting
• FreeCAD Wiki - Part Module
• FreeCAD Wiki - Topological data scripting
• FreeCAD Wiki - Part Feature

Where to Get Help

• FreeCAD Forums - Python scripting and macros
• OSE Slack Channel

Links

• FreeCAD Workbench Programming 101