af31594e24
InitGui.py: Store SiloAuthDockWidget reference on the QDockWidget to prevent Python from garbage-collecting it while its 30-second QTimer is still running. The lost reference caused 'QThread: Destroyed while thread is still running' followed by abort. ztools InitGui.py: Move addWorkbenchManipulator() call from module-level into Initialize(), after command modules are imported. The manipulator references ZTools_DatumCreator, ZTools_DatumManager, ZTools_EnhancedPocket, and ZTools_RotatedLinearPattern, which don't exist until the imports run. Also updates README.md and submodule pointers.
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Kindred Create
An engineering-focused parametric 3D CAD platform built on FreeCAD 1.0+
Website • FreeCAD Documentation • FreeCAD Forum
MVP Release - Kindred Create is currently in active development. Features and interfaces may change.
Overview
Kindred Create is a fork of FreeCAD 1.0+ that integrates custom workbenches and tooling for professional engineering workflows. It combines the power of FreeCAD's parametric modeling with purpose-built extensions for part design, assembly management, and parts database integration.
Key additions over base FreeCAD:
- ztools Workbench - Unified interface consolidating part design, assembly, and drawing tools with custom engineering features
- Silo Integration - Parts database system for tracking, versioning, and managing CAD files across teams, with an interactive browsing panel for searching, opening, and inspecting parts directly from the dock
- Catppuccin Mocha Theme - Dark theme with spanning tree branch indicators, optimized for extended work sessions
Kindred Create is maintained by Kindred Systems LLC.
Features
ztools Workbench
The ztools workbench provides a unified interface that consolidates functionality from multiple FreeCAD workbenches while adding custom engineering-oriented tools.
Consolidated Toolbars (17 total)
ztools exposes commands from PartDesign, Sketcher, Assembly, and Spreadsheet workbenches through a single unified interface:
- Structure & Sketcher Tools - Body/Sketch creation, editing, mapping, validation
- PartDesign Datums - Planes, lines, points, coordinate systems, binders, clones
- Additive Features - Pad, revolution, loft, pipe, helix, and primitives
- Subtractive Features - Pocket, hole, groove, loft, pipe, helix, and primitives
- Transformations - Mirror, linear pattern, polar pattern, multi-transform
- Dress-Up Features - Fillet, chamfer, draft, thickness
- Boolean Operations - Union, intersection, difference
- Assembly Tools - Create assembly, insert link, insert new part
- Assembly Joints - 13 joint types (fixed, revolute, cylindrical, slider, ball, distance, parallel, perpendicular, angle, rack-pinion, screw, gears, belt)
- Assembly Management - Toggle grounded, solve, create view, create BOM, export
- Spreadsheet Tools - Create, import, export, aliases, merge/split cells
Custom Datum Tools
ztools includes a custom datum creation system with 16 creation modes, using a purpose-built attachment system that stores geometry references for reliable parametric updates.
Datum Planes (7 modes):
- Offset from Face - Distance offset perpendicular to a face
- Offset from Plane - Distance offset from an existing datum plane
- Midplane - Plane equidistant between two parallel faces
- 3 Points - Plane defined by three vertices
- Normal to Edge - Plane perpendicular to an edge at a specified parameter
- Angled - Plane rotated about an edge by a specified angle
- Tangent to Cylinder - Plane tangent to a cylindrical surface
Datum Axes (4 modes):
- 2 Points - Axis through two vertices
- From Edge - Axis aligned with a linear edge
- Cylinder Center - Axis at the center of a cylindrical face
- Plane Intersection - Axis at the intersection of two planes
Datum Points (5 modes):
- At Vertex - Point at a selected vertex
- XYZ Coordinates - Point at absolute coordinates
- On Edge - Point at a parameter along an edge
- Face Center - Point at the centroid of a face
- Circle Center - Point at the center of a circular edge
Custom Pattern Tools
- Rotated Linear Pattern - Linear pattern with incremental rotation per instance
- Assembly Linear Pattern - Pattern assembly components linearly with spacing control
- Assembly Polar Pattern - Pattern assembly components around a rotation axis
Enhanced Pocket
SOLIDWORKS-style "Flip Side to Cut" feature that removes material outside the sketch profile instead of inside, using boolean operations internally.
Spreadsheet Formatting Tools
Dark-theme compatible formatting commands for spreadsheets:
- Bold, italic, underline toggles
- Left, center, right alignment
- Background and text color pickers
- Quick alias creation from cell labels
Silo Parts Database
Silo is a parts database system designed for managing CAD files, part numbers, and revision history across engineering teams.
Architecture:
- Server Daemon - Go-based REST API server
- PostgreSQL - Relational data storage for part metadata, relationships, and revision history
- MinIO - S3-compatible object storage for CAD file versioning
- FreeCAD Workbench - Integrated commands for check-in, check-out, and synchronization
Core Capabilities:
- Configurable part numbering schemas defined in YAML
- Full revision history with status tracking (draft, review, released, obsolete)
- Bill of materials management with relationship types and quantities
- Project-based organization and tagging
- CSV import/export for bulk operations
- Web interface for browsing and searching parts
FreeCAD Integration:
- Open, save, and commit files directly to Silo
- Pull latest revisions and push changes
- View item metadata and revision history
- Database Activity Panel - Interactive dock panel for browsing, searching, and opening parts without leaving the 3D viewport. Includes search filtering, type filtering (part/assembly), a details pane showing metadata (part number, description, type, revision, projects), and direct open/info actions.
Silo documentation is available in the mods/silo/ directory.
Catppuccin Mocha Theme
A comprehensive dark theme using the Catppuccin Mocha color palette, applied across:
- Main window, toolbars, and menus
- 3D viewport backgrounds and selection colors
- Sketch editor colors for edges, vertices, and constraints
- Python console and code editor syntax highlighting
- Spreadsheet backgrounds and text
- Property editor and tree view
- All dialog and widget styling
- Tree view branch indicators using spanning lines (
├,└,│) instead of disclosure arrows
The theme is automatically applied when using Kindred Create.
Installing
Prebuilt Binaries
Prebuilt packages for Linux are available on the releases page.
Debian/Ubuntu (.deb)
Download the .deb package from the releases page and install with:
sudo dpkg -i kindred-create_*.deb
sudo apt-get install -f # Install any missing dependencies
Or install directly with apt:
sudo apt install ./kindred-create_*.deb
AppImage
Download the .AppImage file from the releases page, make it executable, and run:
chmod +x KindredCreate-*.AppImage
./KindredCreate-*.AppImage
After installation, launch Kindred Create from your application menu or run kindred-create from the terminal.
Building from Source
Kindred Create uses pixi for dependency management and CMake for building. Pixi handles all build dependencies automatically via conda packages.
Prerequisites
- pixi (conda-based package manager)
- Git with submodule support
Build Steps
git clone --recursive ssh://git@git.kindred-systems.com:2222/kindred/create.git
cd create
pixi run configure
pixi run build
pixi run install
To launch the built application:
pixi run freecad
Platform Support
CMake presets are available for:
- Linux (x86-64, aarch64) - Clang compiler
- macOS (Intel, Apple Silicon) - Clang compiler
- Windows - MSVC compiler
See CMakePresets.json for platform-specific configuration. For general FreeCAD build guidance:
Usage
Getting Started
Kindred Create is compatible with standard FreeCAD workflows. The FreeCAD wiki provides documentation on general usage:
ztools Workbench
The ztools workbench is available from the workbench selector. On activation, it presents consolidated toolbars and applies the Catppuccin Mocha theme to spreadsheets.
Silo Setup
Silo requires a running server instance with PostgreSQL and MinIO. See mods/silo/README.md for server deployment instructions.
Configure the FreeCAD workbench with environment variables:
SILO_API_URL- Silo server API endpoint (default:http://localhost:8080/api)SILO_PROJECTS_DIR- Local projects directory (default:~/projects)
Project Structure
kindred-create/
├── src/ # FreeCAD core source
│ ├── App/ # Core application logic
│ ├── Base/ # Base classes and utilities
│ ├── Gui/ # GUI framework
│ │ └── Stylesheets/ # Theme stylesheets and assets
│ ├── Mod/ # FreeCAD modules (PartDesign, Assembly, Sketcher, etc.)
│ │ └── Create/ # Kindred Create module (loads addon workbenches)
│ └── 3rdParty/ # Vendored dependencies (OndselSolver, GSL)
├── mods/ # Kindred Create addon modules (git submodules)
│ ├── ztools/ # ztools workbench
│ │ ├── ztools/ # Workbench package
│ │ │ ├── InitGui.py # Workbench registration
│ │ │ └── ztools/ # Commands and resources
│ │ └── CatppuccinMocha/ # Theme preference pack
│ └── silo/ # Silo parts database
│ ├── cmd/ # Go server entry points
│ ├── internal/ # Go API, database, storage packages
│ ├── pkg/freecad/ # FreeCAD workbench (Python)
│ ├── deployments/ # Docker configuration
│ └── migrations/ # PostgreSQL migrations
├── resources/ # Branding and preferences
│ ├── branding/ # Splash screens and logos
│ ├── preferences/ # Default preference packs
│ └── icons/ # Application icons (16x16 to 512x512)
├── package/ # Packaging (debian, AppImage)
├── .gitea/workflows/ # CI/CD workflows (build, release)
├── CMakeLists.txt # Root CMake configuration
├── CMakePresets.json # Platform-specific CMake presets
└── pixi.toml # Pixi environment and dependency definition
The mods/ztools and mods/silo directories are git submodules. After cloning, initialize them with:
git submodule update --init --recursive
Reporting Issues
Report issues at git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/create/issues.
When reporting:
- Specify whether the issue is with Kindred Create additions (ztools, Silo, theme) or base FreeCAD functionality
- Include version info from
Help > About FreeCAD > Copy to clipboard - Provide steps to reproduce the issue
- Attach example files if applicable (FCStd as ZIP)
For base FreeCAD issues, consider also checking the FreeCAD issue tracker.
License
Kindred Create is licensed under the LGPL-2.1-or-later license, consistent with FreeCAD.
Acknowledgments
Kindred Create is built on FreeCAD, an open-source parametric 3D modeler. We acknowledge the FreeCAD community and contributors for their foundational work.
Underlying Technology:
- OpenCASCADE - Geometry kernel
- Coin3D - 3D scene representation
- Qt - GUI framework
- Python - Scripting and workbench development
- Catppuccin - Color palette