freecad-robust-mcp-fc111/CLAUDE.md

CLAUDE.md - AI Assistant Guidelines for This Project

Project Overview

This is a Python project that provides an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for FreeCAD integration. It follows strict code quality, security, and documentation standards.

Critical: Python Version Must Match FreeCAD

CRITICAL: This project MUST use the same Python version that the current stable FreeCAD release bundles internally. FreeCAD embeds a specific Python version (e.g., libpython3.11.dylib), and using a different Python version causes fatal crashes (SIGSEGV) due to ABI incompatibility.

Before changing the Python version in .mise.toml or pyproject.toml:

1. Check which Python version FreeCAD bundles:
   • macOS: ls /Applications/FreeCAD.app/Contents/Resources/lib/libpython*
   • Linux: ls /usr/lib/freecad/lib/libpython* or check FreeCAD's Python console
2. The Python minor version (e.g., 3.11) must match exactly
3. Using Python 3.12+ with FreeCAD that bundles Python 3.11 will crash on import FreeCAD

Current requirement: Python 3.11 (matching FreeCAD 1.0.x bundled Python)

FreeCAD Connection Modes

This MCP server supports three connection modes. Embedded mode does NOT work on macOS due to how FreeCAD's libraries are linked.

Mode	Description	Platform Support
xmlrpc	Connects to FreeCAD via XML-RPC (port 9875)	All platforms (recommended)
socket	Connects via JSON-RPC socket (port 9876)	All platforms
embedded	Imports FreeCAD directly into process	Linux only (crashes on macOS)

Why embedded mode fails on macOS: FreeCAD's FreeCAD.so library links to @rpath/libpython3.11.dylib (FreeCAD's bundled Python). When you try to import it from a different Python interpreter (even the same version), it causes a crash because the Python runtime state is incompatible.

Recommended setup for macOS/Windows:

1. Use xmlrpc or socket mode in your configuration

2. Start FreeCAD and run the MCP plugin inside FreeCAD's Python console:

   from freecad_mcp.freecad_plugin.server import FreecadMCPPlugin
   plugin = FreecadMCPPlugin()
   plugin.start()
   

3. The MCP server will then connect to FreeCAD over the network

---

Development Environment Setup

Required Tools (managed via mise)

This project uses mise for local development tool management. All tool versions are pinned in .mise.toml.

# Install mise (if not already installed)
curl https://mise.run | sh

# Install all project tools
mise install

# Activate mise in your shell (add to .bashrc/.zshrc)
eval "$(mise activate bash)"  # or zsh/fish

Package Management (via uv)

This project uses uv for Python package and virtual environment management.

CRITICAL: All Python tools (pytest, ruff, mypy, etc.) are installed in the virtual environment managed by uv. You must use uv run to execute them.

# Install dependencies
uv sync --all-extras

# Run any Python tool
uv run pytest              # Run tests
uv run ruff check src      # Run linter
uv run mypy src            # Run type checker
uv run pre-commit run      # Run pre-commit

# Run the project
uv run freecad-mcp

Why uv run is required:

• Tools like pytest, ruff, mypy are NOT installed globally
• They exist only in the project's virtual environment
• Running pytest directly will fail with "command not found"
• Always prefix with uv run when running Python tools directly

Workflow Commands (via just)

This project uses just as a command runner. Always prefer just commands over raw commands.

Commands are organized into modules for better organization:

# List all available commands
just --list

# List commands in a specific module
just --list docker
just --list quality
just --list testing
just --list freecad
just --list documentation

# Common shortcut commands (aliases to module commands)
just install      # Install project dependencies
just lint         # Run all linters (quality::lint)
just format       # Format code (quality::format)
just test         # Run tests (testing::unit)
just check        # Run pre-commit checks (quality::check)
just docs         # Build documentation (documentation::build)
just all          # Run all checks and tests

# Module commands (use :: syntax)
just docker::build        # Build Docker image for local architecture
just docker::build-multi  # Build multi-arch image (amd64 + arm64)
just docker::run          # Run Docker container
just quality::secrets     # Run all secrets scanners
just testing::cov         # Run tests with coverage
just freecad::run-gui     # Run FreeCAD GUI with MCP bridge
just documentation::serve # Serve documentation locally

Just Module Structure

Module	Description	Key Commands
docker	Docker build and run commands	build, build-multi, build-push, run
quality	Code quality and linting	check, lint, format, secrets
testing	Test execution	unit, cov, integration, all
freecad	FreeCAD plugin and macro management	run-gui, run-headless, install-*-macro
documentation	Documentation building	build, serve, open

Module files are located in the just/ directory.

---

Code Quality Standards

Pre-commit Hooks

CRITICAL: This project uses pre-commit for all code quality checks. Before finishing ANY code changes:

1. Run just check or uv run pre-commit run --all-files
2. Fix ALL issues reported
3. Re-run until all checks pass

Pre-commit runs these checks:

• Ruff: Linting and import sorting (replaces flake8, isort, pyupgrade)
• Ruff Format: Code formatting (replaces black)
• MyPy: Static type checking
• Bandit: Security vulnerability scanning
• Safety: Dependency vulnerability checking
• Codespell: Spell checking in code and docs
• YAML/TOML/JSON validation: Config file validation
• Trailing whitespace and EOF fixes: File hygiene

Linting Rules

• Follow PEP 8 style guidelines
• Use type hints for ALL function signatures
• Maximum line length: 88 characters (ruff/black default)
• Use modern Python syntax (3.10+ features encouraged)

Security Scanning

• Bandit scans for common security issues
• Never commit secrets, API keys, or credentials
• Use environment variables for sensitive configuration
• Safety checks dependencies for known vulnerabilities

Secrets Detection (Multi-Layer)

This project uses a comprehensive, multi-layer approach to secrets detection:

Tool	Purpose	Config File
Gitleaks	Fast regex-based scanning of files and git history	.gitleaks.toml
detect-secrets	Baseline tracking for known/approved secrets	.secrets.baseline
TruffleHog	Verified secrets (actually tests if they work)	CLI args

# Run all secrets scanners
just secrets

# Individual scanners
just secrets-gitleaks         # Fast pattern matching
just secrets-gitleaks-history # Scan git history
just secrets-detect           # Check against baseline
just secrets-audit            # Interactive baseline audit
just secrets-trufflehog       # Verified secrets only

Managing False Positives:

1. Gitleaks: Add patterns to .gitleaks.toml allowlist section
2. detect-secrets: Run just secrets-audit to mark false positives in baseline
3. TruffleHog: Uses --only-verified to minimize false positives

Markdown Linting

All markdown files are linted and formatted for consistency:

just markdown-lint    # Check markdown files
just markdown-fix     # Auto-fix markdown issues
just markdown-format  # Format with mdformat

Configuration: .markdownlint.yaml

---

Documentation Requirements

Code Documentation

ALL code must be documented for auto-documentation building:

1. Module docstrings: Every Python file must have a module-level docstring explaining its purpose

2. Class docstrings: Use Google-style or NumPy-style docstrings

   class Example:
       """Short description of the class.
   
       Longer description if needed, explaining the purpose
       and usage of this class.
   
       Attributes:
           name: Description of the name attribute.
           value: Description of the value attribute.
   
       Example:
           >>> obj = Example("test", 42)
           >>> obj.process()
       """
   

3. Function/Method docstrings: Document all public functions

   def calculate_total(items: list[Item], tax_rate: float = 0.0) -> Decimal:
       """Calculate the total price including optional tax.
   
       Args:
           items: List of Item objects to sum.
           tax_rate: Tax rate as a decimal (e.g., 0.08 for 8%).
   
       Returns:
           The total price as a Decimal, including tax.
   
       Raises:
           ValueError: If tax_rate is negative.
   
       Example:
           >>> items = [Item(price=10), Item(price=20)]
           >>> calculate_total(items, tax_rate=0.1)
           Decimal('33.00')
       """
   

4. Inline comments: Use sparingly, only for complex logic

Documentation Building

Documentation is auto-generated using the docstrings. Run:

just docs        # Build documentation
just docs-serve  # Serve documentation locally

---

Testing Requirements

Test Coverage

ALL code must have tests. Create tests for:

1. Unit tests: Test individual functions and methods
2. Integration tests: Test component interactions
3. Edge cases: Test boundary conditions and error handling
4. Regression tests: Add tests when fixing bugs

Test Structure

tests/
├── __init__.py
├── conftest.py          # Shared fixtures
├── unit/                # Unit tests
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── test_*.py
├── integration/         # Integration tests
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── test_*.py
└── fixtures/            # Test data files

Writing Tests

• Use pytest as the test framework
• Use descriptive test names: test_calculate_total_with_empty_list_returns_zero
• Use fixtures for common test data
• Use parametrize for testing multiple inputs
• Aim for high coverage but prioritize meaningful tests

import pytest
from myproject import calculate_total

class TestCalculateTotal:
    """Tests for the calculate_total function."""

    def test_empty_list_returns_zero(self):
        """Empty item list should return zero total."""
        assert calculate_total([]) == Decimal("0")

    @pytest.mark.parametrize("tax_rate,expected", [
        (0.0, Decimal("100")),
        (0.1, Decimal("110")),
    ])
    def test_tax_calculation(self, sample_items, tax_rate, expected):
        """Tax should be correctly applied to total."""
        result = calculate_total(sample_items, tax_rate=tax_rate)
        assert result == expected

Running Tests

just test                       # Run all tests
just test-cov                   # Run tests with coverage report
just test-fast                  # Run tests without slow markers
uv run pytest tests/unit/       # Run specific test directory
uv run pytest -k "test_name"    # Run specific test by name

---

Workflow for Code Changes

Before Making Changes

1. Ensure you're on the latest code
2. Run just install to update dependencies
3. Run just all to verify clean starting state

After Making Changes

MANDATORY CHECKLIST - Complete ALL steps before finishing:

1. Add/update docstrings for all new/modified code
2. Add/update tests for all new/modified functionality
3. Run formatting: just format
4. Run linting: just lint - fix ALL issues
5. Run type checking: just typecheck - fix ALL issues
6. Run security checks: just security - fix ALL issues
7. Run tests: just test - ALL tests must pass
8. Run pre-commit: just check - ALL checks must pass

Quick Verification Command

# Run everything at once - must complete with no errors
just all

Running Pre-commit on Specific Files

IMPORTANT: After editing any files, always run pre-commit hooks on those specific files before considering the task complete:

# Run pre-commit on specific files you edited
uv run pre-commit run --files path/to/file1.py path/to/file2.py

# Or run on all files (slower but comprehensive)
uv run pre-commit run --all-files

This catches issues early and ensures code quality standards are met. Never skip this step - fix all reported issues before finishing.

---

Library and Tool Versions

Version Policy

• Always use the most recent stable releases of all libraries and tools
• Pin exact versions in pyproject.toml for reproducibility
• Regularly update dependencies with just update-deps
• Check for security vulnerabilities with just security

Core Dependencies

Keep these tools at their latest stable versions:

• Python: 3.11 (must match FreeCAD's bundled Python - see "Critical: Python Version Must Match FreeCAD" above)
• Ruff: Latest stable
• MyPy: Latest stable
• Pytest: Latest stable
• Pre-commit: Latest stable

---

File Structure Conventions

project-root/
├── .mise.toml               # Tool version management
├── .pre-commit-config.yaml  # Pre-commit hook configuration
├── justfile                 # Main task runner (imports modules)
├── just/                    # Just module files
│   ├── docker.just          # Docker build/run commands
│   ├── quality.just         # Code quality commands
│   ├── testing.just         # Test commands
│   ├── freecad.just         # FreeCAD plugin/macro commands
│   └── documentation.just   # Documentation commands
├── pyproject.toml           # Project configuration and dependencies
├── Dockerfile               # Docker image definition
├── src/
│   └── package_name/        # Main package source
│       ├── __init__.py
│       └── *.py
├── tests/                   # Test files
├── docs/                    # Documentation source
└── CLAUDE.md                # This file

---

File Extension Conventions

Use full file extensions, not DOS-style shortened versions:

Correct Extension	Incorrect (DOS-style)
.yaml	.yml
.jpeg	.jpg
.html	.htm
.conf	(varies)

This applies to:

• GitHub workflow files: .github/workflows/*.yaml
• GitHub issue templates: .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/*.yaml
• Dependabot config: .github/dependabot.yaml
• MkDocs config: mkdocs.yaml
• Any other YAML, JPEG, or similar files

When creating new files, always use the full extension.

---

Justfile HEREDOC Syntax

CRITICAL: When writing heredocs in justfile recipes, the content must be indented to match the recipe body. Just parses non-indented lines as justfile syntax, which causes errors with Python code containing dots (e.g., sys.path).

Correct Pattern

# Recipe with heredoc - content MUST be indented
my-recipe:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    cat > "$FILE" << EOF
    # Python code goes here - indented with spaces
    import sys
    if project_path not in sys.path:
        sys.path.insert(0, project_path)
    EOF

Incorrect Pattern (Will Fail)

# This FAILS - just interprets sys.path as justfile syntax
my-recipe:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    cat > "$FILE" << EOF
import sys
if project_path not in sys.path:  # ERROR: Unknown start of token '.'
    sys.path.insert(0, project_path)
EOF

Key Rules

1. Indent heredoc content: All lines inside the heredoc must be indented (4 spaces typically)
2. Indent the EOF marker: The closing EOF must also be indented to match
3. Use \\n for newlines: In heredoc strings that need literal \n, use \\n
4. Variable expansion: ${VAR} works inside heredocs for bash variables

See the recipes in just/freecad.just (e.g., install-bridge-macro, run-gui, run-headless) for working examples.

---

Justfile Working Directory in Modules

CRITICAL: When writing recipes in just modules (files in the just/ directory), be aware that the working directory behavior can be surprising.

The Problem

When you use $(pwd) in a module recipe, it returns the module's directory (e.g., /path/to/project/just/), NOT the project root. This causes path errors like:

Exception while processing file: /path/to/project/just/src/freecad_mcp/...

The path incorrectly includes just/ because $(pwd) returned the module directory.

The Solution

Use justfile_directory() to get the project root. In modules, this function returns the directory of the main justfile (project root), not the module file's directory.

# At the top of your module file (e.g., just/freecad.just)
project_root := justfile_directory()

# In recipes, use the variable instead of $(pwd)
my-recipe:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    PROJECT_DIR="{{project_root}}"  # Correct: /path/to/project
    # NOT: PROJECT_DIR="$(pwd)"     # Wrong: /path/to/project/just

Key Points

1. $(pwd) in modules: Returns the module's directory (just/), not project root
2. justfile_directory() in modules: Returns the main justfile's directory (project root)
3. Always define project_root: Add project_root := justfile_directory() at the top of module files
4. Use {{project_root}}: Reference paths relative to the project root using this variable

Example Fix

Before (broken):

run-headless:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    PROJECT_DIR="$(pwd)"  # Returns /path/to/project/just/ - WRONG!
    SCRIPT="${PROJECT_DIR}/src/script.py"  # /path/to/project/just/src/script.py

After (correct):

project_root := justfile_directory()

run-headless:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    PROJECT_DIR="{{project_root}}"  # Returns /path/to/project/ - CORRECT!
    SCRIPT="${PROJECT_DIR}/src/script.py"  # /path/to/project/src/script.py

---

FreeCAD GUI vs Headless Mode

FreeCAD can run in two modes:

1. GUI mode: Full graphical interface with 3D view, accessed via FreeCAD.app or freecad
2. Headless mode: Console-only, no GUI, accessed via FreeCADCmd or freecadcmd

Detecting GUI Availability

CRITICAL: Always use FreeCAD.GuiUp to check if the GUI is available. Never check for Qt/PySide availability as a proxy for GUI mode.

if FreeCAD.GuiUp:
    # GUI is available - can use FreeCADGui, ViewObjects, screenshots
    import FreeCADGui
    view = FreeCADGui.ActiveDocument.ActiveView
else:
    # Headless mode - no GUI features available
    pass

Why NOT to Check for PySide/Qt

WRONG - Do not use Qt availability to detect GUI mode:

# WRONG - PySide is available even in headless mode!
try:
    from PySide6 import QtCore
    # This will be True even in headless mode
    is_gui_mode = True
except ImportError:
    is_gui_mode = False

RIGHT - Use FreeCAD.GuiUp:

# CORRECT - GuiUp is False in headless mode
is_gui_mode = FreeCAD.GuiUp

Why this matters: FreeCAD bundles PySide6 even in headless mode (freecadcmd), but without a running Qt event loop:

• Qt timers (QTimer) will never fire
• GUI widgets cannot be created or displayed
• Any code relying on Qt events will hang indefinitely

This caused a bug where the MCP bridge queue processor used a QTimer in headless mode, resulting in execute calls hanging forever because the timer callbacks never ran.

GUI-Only Features

These features only work in GUI mode and will fail or crash in headless mode:

Feature	Requires GUI	Alternative in Headless
FreeCADGui module	Yes	Not available
obj.ViewObject	Yes	Returns None
Screenshots	Yes	Not available
Camera/view control	Yes	Not available
Display mode/color	Yes	Not available
Object visibility	Yes	Not available
Zoom in/out	Yes	Not available

Implementing GUI-Safe Tools

CRITICAL: All MCP tools that use GUI features must check FreeCAD.GuiUp and return a structured error response instead of crashing.

Pattern for GUI-Safe Tools

@mcp.tool()
async def set_object_visibility(object_name: str, visible: bool) -> dict[str, Any]:
    """Set object visibility. Requires GUI mode."""
    bridge = await get_bridge()

    code = f"""
if not FreeCAD.GuiUp:
    _result_ = {{"success": False, "error": "GUI not available - visibility cannot be set in headless mode"}}
else:
    doc = FreeCAD.ActiveDocument
    obj = doc.getObject({object_name!r})
    if obj is None:
        _result_ = {{"success": False, "error": f"Object not found: {object_name!r}"}}
    elif hasattr(obj, "ViewObject") and obj.ViewObject:
        obj.ViewObject.Visibility = {visible}
        _result_ = {{"success": True, "visible": {visible}}}
    else:
        _result_ = {{"success": False, "error": "Object has no ViewObject"}}
"""
    result = await bridge.execute_python(code)
    if result.success and result.result:
        return result.result
    return {{"success": False, "error": result.error_traceback or "Operation failed"}}

Key Requirements

1. Check FreeCAD.GuiUp first: Before accessing any GUI features
2. Return structured errors: Use {"success": False, "error": "..."} format
3. Never raise exceptions: Return error dicts instead of raising ValueError
4. Document GUI requirement: Add "Requires GUI mode" to docstrings

Tools Updated for GUI Safety

The following tools in src/freecad_mcp/tools/view.py check FreeCAD.GuiUp:

• set_object_visibility
• set_display_mode
• set_object_color
• zoom_in / zoom_out
• set_camera_position
• get_screenshot

Running FreeCAD in Each Mode

# GUI mode - with MCP bridge auto-started
just run-gui

# Headless mode - console only
just run-headless

# Or manually:
# GUI: /Applications/FreeCAD.app (macOS) or freecad (Linux)
# Headless: FreeCADCmd or freecadcmd

FreeCAD Plugin Import Restrictions

CRITICAL: Code running inside FreeCAD's Python environment cannot import packages that aren't available in FreeCAD's bundled Python (like mcp, pydantic, etc.).

The headless_server.py script imports the plugin directly from the module file to avoid triggering the mcp import in freecad_mcp/__init__.py:

# WRONG - triggers mcp import via freecad_mcp/__init__.py
from freecad_mcp.freecad_plugin.server import FreecadMCPPlugin

# CORRECT - import directly from the module file
script_dir = str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent)
sys.path.insert(0, script_dir)
from server import FreecadMCPPlugin  # Direct module import

This pattern is required because:

1. freecad_mcp/__init__.py imports from freecad_mcp.server import mcp
2. The MCP SDK is installed in the project's virtualenv, not in FreeCAD's Python
3. Python processes parent package __init__.py files when importing nested modules

---

Common Issues and Solutions

Pre-commit Failing

# Update pre-commit hooks
uv run pre-commit autoupdate

# Clear pre-commit cache
uv run pre-commit clean

# Run specific hook for debugging
uv run pre-commit run <hook-id> --all-files

Type Checking Errors

• Ensure all function parameters and return types have type hints
• Use typing module for complex types
• Add # type: ignore[error-code] only as last resort with explanation

Test Failures

• Read the full error message and traceback
• Check if fixtures are properly defined
• Verify test isolation (no shared state between tests)

---

Pre-commit Hook Requirements

This section documents specific requirements for each pre-commit hook to avoid common issues.

Ruff Linting

• UP038: Use modern union syntax for isinstance: isinstance(obj, str | int) NOT isinstance(obj, (str, int))
• Line length: 88 characters max (but E501 is ignored for embedded code strings)
• Import sorting: Ruff handles this automatically with ruff --fix

MyPy Type Checking

This project uses relaxed mypy settings because FastMCP lacks proper type stubs.

• Type ignores: When needed, use specific error codes: # type: ignore[attr-defined]
• FastMCP methods: on_startup, on_shutdown, and some run() args need type ignores
• XML-RPC: register_function has overly restrictive types, use # type: ignore[arg-type]
• Lambda captures: If mypy complains about union types in lambdas, assign to a local variable first

Codespell

• Technical terms: Add legitimate technical terms to .codespell-ignore-words.txt
• FreeCAD API: "vertexes" is valid FreeCAD terminology (not "vertices")
• Tool names: Add tool/library names that look like typos

Markdownlint (MD035)

• Horizontal rules: Must use --- format (3 dashes)
• mdformat-simple-breaks: This plugin ensures mdformat produces --- instead of 70 underscores
• Conflict resolution: markdownlint and mdformat must agree on horizontal rule style

Bandit Security

These checks are intentionally skipped in pyproject.toml:

• B101: Asserts allowed (needed for validation)
• B102: exec() required for FreeCAD Python execution
• B110: try-except-pass used for optional cleanup operations
• B411: XML-RPC required for FreeCAD compatibility

detect-secrets

• False positives: Add # pragma: allowlist secret comment to lines with false positives
• Baseline updates: Run just secrets-audit to update .secrets.baseline

no-commit-to-branch

• This hook fails when on main or master branch - this is expected behavior
• Always work on feature branches for actual commits

---

Changelog Maintenance

IMPORTANT: Update CHANGELOG.md at the end of any session where files in the repository are modified.

• Follow Keep a Changelog format
• Group changes under: Added, Changed, Deprecated, Removed, Fixed, Security
• Include date for each release version
• Document all significant changes, not just code changes

---

FreeCAD MCP Tools Reference

When Claude Code is connected to the FreeCAD MCP server, the following tools are available for interacting with FreeCAD. Use these tools to control FreeCAD, create/modify objects, and debug issues.

Discovering Capabilities at Runtime

The MCP server provides a freecad://capabilities resource that returns a complete JSON catalog of all available tools, resources, and prompts. This is the authoritative source for what's available.

IMPORTANT: When adding new MCP tools or resources, you MUST also update the freecad://capabilities resource in src/freecad_mcp/resources/freecad.py to keep it in sync. The capabilities resource is defined in the resource_capabilities() function.

Execution & Debugging Tools

Tool	Description
execute_python	Execute arbitrary Python code in FreeCAD's context. Use _result_ = value to return data. Has access to FreeCAD, App, Part, and all FreeCAD modules.
get_console_output	Get recent FreeCAD console output - useful for debugging macros and seeing error messages. Returns up to N lines of console history.
get_console_log	Alternative console log access with different formatting.
get_freecad_version	Get FreeCAD version, build date, Python version, and GUI availability.
get_connection_status	Check MCP bridge connection status, mode, and latency.
get_mcp_server_environment	Get MCP server environment info (OS, hostname, Docker detection). Useful for verifying container vs host.

Document Management Tools

Tool	Description
list_documents	List all open FreeCAD documents.
get_active_document	Get information about the currently active document.
create_document	Create a new FreeCAD document.
open_document	Open an existing .FCStd file.
save_document	Save a document to disk.
close_document	Close a document.
recompute_document	Force recomputation of document features.

Object Creation Tools (Part Workbench)

Tool	Description
list_objects	List all objects in a document with their types and properties.
inspect_object	Get detailed information about a specific object.
create_object	Create a generic FreeCAD object.
create_box	Create a Part::Box primitive.
create_cylinder	Create a Part::Cylinder primitive.
create_sphere	Create a Part::Sphere primitive.
create_cone	Create a Part::Cone primitive.
create_torus	Create a Part::Torus primitive.
create_wedge	Create a Part::Wedge primitive.
create_helix	Create a Part::Helix primitive.

Object Manipulation Tools

Tool	Description
edit_object	Modify object properties.
delete_object	Delete an object from the document.
boolean_operation	Perform union, cut, or intersection operations.
set_placement	Set object position and rotation.
scale_object	Scale an object by a factor.
rotate_object	Rotate an object around an axis.
copy_object	Create a copy of an object.
mirror_object	Mirror an object across a plane.

Selection Tools

Tool	Description
get_selection	Get currently selected objects.
set_selection	Select specific objects.
clear_selection	Clear the current selection.

PartDesign Tools (Parametric Modeling)

Tool	Description
create_partdesign_body	Create a new PartDesign::Body container.
create_sketch	Create a sketch attached to a plane or face.
add_sketch_rectangle	Add a rectangle to a sketch.
add_sketch_circle	Add a circle to a sketch.
add_sketch_line	Add a line to a sketch.
add_sketch_arc	Add an arc to a sketch.
add_sketch_point	Add a point to a sketch (for hole placement).
pad_sketch	Extrude a sketch (additive).
pocket_sketch	Cut into solid using a sketch (subtractive).
revolution_sketch	Revolve a sketch around an axis.
groove_sketch	Cut by revolving a sketch (subtractive).
create_hole	Create parametric holes from sketch points.
fillet_edges	Add fillets (rounded edges).
chamfer_edges	Add chamfers (beveled edges).
loft_sketches	Create a loft between multiple sketches.
sweep_sketch	Sweep a sketch along a path.

Pattern Tools

Tool	Description
linear_pattern	Create linear pattern of features.
polar_pattern	Create polar/circular pattern of features.
mirrored_feature	Mirror a feature across a plane.

View & GUI Tools (Require GUI Mode)

Tool	Description
get_screenshot	Capture a screenshot of the 3D view. Requires GUI mode.
set_view_angle	Set camera to standard views (front, top, isometric, etc.).
fit_all	Zoom to fit all objects in view.
zoom_in / zoom_out	Adjust zoom level.
set_camera_position	Set exact camera position and orientation.
set_object_visibility	Show/hide objects. Requires GUI mode.
set_display_mode	Set display mode (wireframe, shaded, etc.).
set_object_color	Change object colors. Requires GUI mode.
list_workbenches	List available FreeCAD workbenches.
activate_workbench	Switch to a different workbench.

Undo/Redo Tools

Tool	Description
undo	Undo the last operation.
redo	Redo an undone operation.
get_undo_redo_status	Get available undo/redo operations.

Export/Import Tools

Tool	Description
export_step	Export objects to STEP format.
export_stl	Export objects to STL format (for 3D printing).
export_3mf	Export objects to 3MF format (modern 3D printing).
export_obj	Export objects to OBJ format.
export_iges	Export objects to IGES format.
import_step	Import STEP files.
import_stl	Import STL files.

Macro Tools

Tool	Description
list_macros	List available FreeCAD macros.
run_macro	Execute a macro by name.
create_macro	Create a new macro file.
read_macro	Read macro source code.
delete_macro	Delete a macro file.
create_macro_from_template	Create a macro from a template.

Parts Library Tools

Tool	Description
list_parts_library	List available parts in FreeCAD's parts library.
insert_part_from_library	Insert a part from the library.

Example: Debugging a Macro

To debug issues with a macro running in FreeCAD:

# Get recent console output to see errors
console_output = await get_console_output(lines=50)

# Or execute Python to check state
result = await execute_python('''
doc = FreeCAD.ActiveDocument
if doc:
    _result_ = {
        "doc_name": doc.Name,
        "objects": [obj.Name for obj in doc.Objects],
        "errors": [obj.Name for obj in doc.Objects if hasattr(obj, 'isValid') and not obj.isValid()]
    }
else:
    _result_ = {"error": "No active document"}
''')

Example: Creating a Simple Part

# Create a document
await create_document(name="MyPart")

# Create a PartDesign body
await create_partdesign_body(name="Body")

# Create a sketch on the XY plane
await create_sketch(body_name="Body", plane="XY_Plane", sketch_name="Sketch")

# Add a rectangle to the sketch
await add_sketch_rectangle(sketch_name="Sketch", x=-10, y=-10, width=20, height=20)

# Extrude the sketch
await pad_sketch(body_name="Body", sketch_name="Sketch", length=15)

# Add fillets
await fillet_edges(body_name="Body", edges=["Edge1", "Edge2"], radius=2)

# Export to STL
await export_stl(object_names=["Body"], file_path="/tmp/mypart.stl")

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Summary Checklist

When working on this project, ALWAYS:

• Use mise for tool management
• Use just commands for workflows
• Write comprehensive docstrings (Google-style)
• Write tests for all new code
• Run just all before finishing - everything must pass
• Use latest stable library versions
• Follow security best practices
• Update CHANGELOG.md with session changes