Tagline: Parametric CAD in YAML. Semantic constraints, not just geometry.

Status: ✅ Production-grade v3.1.2 | Available on GitHub

Latest: v3.1.2 features visual regression testing, complete cone primitive support, and comprehensive documentation.

Quick Start

Define a parametric assembly:

parts:
  base:
    primitive: box
    parameters: {width: 100, height: 5, depth: 100}

  pillar:
    primitive: cylinder
    parameters: {radius: 5, height: 50}

operations:
  pillar_positioned:
    type: transform
    input: pillar
    transforms:
      - translate:
          to: base.face_top  # Semantic anchor, auto-generated!

Parts are peers with spatial references—not nested hierarchies.

The Problem

Traditional CAD tools embed parts in rigid parent-child hierarchies. Change one thing, break everything downstream. Test one part? You need the whole assembly.

The result:
- Hidden dependencies between parts
- Fragile assemblies that break on refactoring
- Impossible to test parts independently
- No semantic meaning—just geometry coordinates

The Solution: Reference-Based Composition

TiaCAD treats parts as independent, composable units connected through spatial references:

Peer Parts (Not Hierarchies)

parts:
  bracket:
    primitive: box
    parameters: {width: 20, height: 30, depth: 5}

  mount_hole:
    primitive: cylinder
    parameters: {radius: 3, height: 10}

Parts are defined independently. No coupling.

Semantic Anchors

operations:
  hole_positioned:
    type: transform
    input: mount_hole
    transforms:
      - translate:
          to: bracket.face_front  # Auto-generated semantic reference

face_front, face_top, center—TiaCAD generates meaningful anchors automatically.

Explicit Dependencies

Every relationship is visible in the YAML. No hidden hierarchies, no implicit couplings.

SIL Principles in Action

TiaCAD demonstrates core SIL architectural principles:

Principle TiaCAD Implementation
Explicit Meaning YAML declarations with semantic anchors
Traceable Transformations Operations log every transform step
Inspectable Reasoning Spatial resolver shows reference resolution
Composable Systems Parts combine like pure functions

Production Validated

Real metrics from production use:

Why TiaCAD Matters for SIL

CAD for the Semantic Age — TiaCAD is the first CAD system designed as a semantic artifact:

This is what CAD looks like when meaning matters as much as measurement.

Get Started

# Clone and explore
git clone https://github.com/Semantic-Infrastructure-Lab/tiacad
cd tiacad

# Run examples
python -m tiacad examples/bracket.yaml --output bracket.step