# vcad

7 Hacker News commenters recommended vcad and 7 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free, open source CAD that runs in the browser or offline, with a Rust kernel compiled to WASM that people find impressively fast to get working. Common caveats are awkward camera controls and unclear feature status.

## Why people recommend it

- Free and open source (3 comments): "this is free and open source :) also runs directly in your browser / offline" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46831385)) "a free CAD application with an open source kernel (Rust/WASM)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48089936)) "my open source Rust BRep CAD kernel" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48174784))
- Rust kernel compiled to WASM (3 comments): "a free CAD application with an open source kernel (Rust/WASM)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48089936)) "I implemented a full kernel in rust and compile it to wasm" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47590551)) "my open source Rust BRep CAD kernel" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48174784))
- Runs in browser and offline (2 comments): "this is free and open source :) also runs directly in your browser / offline" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46831385)) "my open source Rust BRep CAD kernel" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48174784))
- Impressive and easy to start (3 comments): "I'm super impressed what you achieved in a very little time." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46834283)) "Seemed like a great tool to me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46828877)) "it worked on the first try" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47505485))

## What people warn about

- Camera controls confusing (2 comments): "Why is right/middle click both orbit and pan? Why is scroll wheel vertical orbit?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46828826)) "The camera controls are all fucked up." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46832600))
- Unclear which features work (2 comments): "I'm not really sure what is supposed to be working and what isn't." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48176546)) "I wanted to make a note for anyone else seeing odd behavior" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46834972))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [FreeCAD](https://hackerapproved.com/p/freecad.md): 199 recommend
- [OpenSCAD](https://hackerapproved.com/p/openscad.md): 173 recommend
- [Onshape](https://hackerapproved.com/p/onshape.md): 65 recommend
- [Autodesk Fusion 360](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fusion-360.md): 60 recommend
- [SolveSpace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/solvespace.md): 37 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "vcad", https://hackerapproved.com/p/vcad/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).