What is SketchForge?

SketchForge runs in the browser as a local-first CAD workspace. It provides a 3D workplane with grid, camera controls, and transform handles. Users create primitives like boxes, cylinders, spheres, cones, and text, then convert shapes into cutters and combine them using boolean operations including intersection. Reversible chamfer and fillet tools keep topology intact after rotation. STL files can be imported and edited alongside native shapes. Exports support STL, OBJ, and STEP (B-Rep). Projects stay in browser localStorage; Docker adds a shared project library with thumbnails. Stack: Next.js, React, TypeScript, Three.js, Manifold/CSG. Self-host via Docker (recommended for classrooms), run locally with Node.js 20+, or install the macOS desktop app. No accounts, auth, or cloud services.

Should you self-host SketchForge?

SketchForge scores 55/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #9 of 22 in 3D Printing. It has 1 175 GitHub stars.

It shipped 3 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v1.0.3, came out on 17 August 2026. New versions land roughly every 4 weeks.

Setup is easy: most people get it running in one sitting. An official Docker image is available. It is AGPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in Typescript.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Octoprint (73/100, 9 166 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See SketchForge vs Octoprint side by side.

Features

3D workplane with camera controls
Boolean intersection
Camera projection toggle
Local-first browser storage
macOS desktop appUnsigned releases have -unsigned in the filename and require Gatekeeper workaround.
MCP server for AI automationOnly available in local development (npm run dev), disabled in production builds and Docker/static hosting.
Multi-format export (STL, OBJ, STEP)
Primitive shape library
Reversible edge tools (chamfer/fillet)
Rotated solid edge treatment
Shared project library (Docker)
Solid and hole workflow
STL import