# libfive/libfive

Infrastructure for solid modeling

Repository: https://github.com/libfive/libfive
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/libfive
Homepage: https://libfive.com
Language: C++
License Family: other
Topics: cad, design, scheme, 3dprinting, guile
Last push: 2025-11-12T13:52:17+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 55/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 51, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3918, "days_push": 294, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1653, forks 176 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:17.150170+00:00)

## What it is
libfive is a C++ framework and geometry kernel for solid modeling using functional representations (f-reps), with a C API, Scheme and Python bindings, and a standard library of shapes and CSG operations. It also includes Studio, an OpenSCAD-style desktop GUI for live-coded, parametric solid modeling with direct manipulation.

## Use cases
- build a custom CAD application on a solid modeling kernel
- create parametric 3D models from scripts for 3D printing
- generate watertight manifold meshes from implicit surfaces
- run headless CAD model generation as a design customizer service
- do constructive solid geometry with blends and warps
- live-code solid models in Scheme or Python

## When to choose
- you need programmatic or procedural solid modeling rather than manual mesh editing
- you want robust CSG, blends, and warps on implicit surfaces
- you're building domain-specific CAD tools and need a commercially friendly (MPL) kernel
- you want high-resolution meshes from f-rep geometry

## When to avoid
- you need a traditional polygon-mesh or NURBS-based CAD workflow
- you want a polished end-user CAD app rather than a library/framework
- you need extensive official documentation or commercial support out of the box
- your project requires a permissive license for the GUI component (Studio is GPL)

## Facets
- artifact type: framework
- maturity: active
- function: graphics, simulation, sdk, gui, cli
- domain: graphics, hardware, developer-tools, cross-platform
- platform: cpp, python, windows, cross-platform
- tags: cad, solid-modeling, f-rep, csg, signed-distance-fields, meshing, guile-scheme, parametric-design, generative-design, qt, computer-aided-design, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- libfive/libfive (main) score 55

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:17.150170+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:44:58.184799+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/libfive/libfive (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:17.150170+00:00, sha 77ed5e5c9546)
  - homepage: https://libfive.com (fetched 2026-08-29T11:17:57.674969+00:00, sha 4d0afa1d4c6e)
  - site_page: https://libfive.com/about (fetched 2026-08-29T11:17:57.678614+00:00, sha 17ff5fc1dcd6)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.