Form

Build hardware from ideas.

Form is an open-source AI hardware design workspace. Describe a design, add reference images, and iterate toward CAD models, wiring diagrams, bills of materials, and assembly instructions.

Try Form · Browse projects · Run locally · Documentation

See it in action

Mechanical design and motion previews:

Hexapod walking	Screw-driven arm	Robotic 3D printer

Watch the full walkthrough: designing a security camera →

What you can build

• CAD you can take with you. Preview mechanical designs in 3D and export STEP, STL, 3MF, and OBJ from supported native CAD builds.
• Electronics with the details attached. Generate a bill of materials, interactive wiring diagrams, and assembly instructions. Rule-based checks flag shorts, voltage mismatches, pin conflicts, and other electrical issues.
• Designs you can keep refining. Use follow-up instructions to change geometry, dimensions, placement, and requirements within an existing project.
• Mechanisms you can inspect. Play, pause, and scrub supported joint-driven motion previews, including the two meshing gears example.
• Hardware workflows for your agents. Use Forma through the web app, Python package, CLI, or MCP. The shared skill works with OpenCode, Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, and NemoClaw.

Forma is an alpha research prototype for makers and developers. Electrical validation focuses on 3.3–5 V educational projects; CAD and motion previews still need engineering review before fabrication. See scope and validation.

Quick start

Use Form in your browser, or run it locally with OpenCode. Local authoring, validation, rendering, and project status do not require a Forma account.

Run locally with OpenCode

You need Python 3.11+, Node.js and npm (Node.js 22+ recommended), Git, and OpenCode with a working model connection. Your model provider's usage charges still apply.

macOS / Linux

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/caid-technologies/Forma-OSS/main/scripts/development/install-opencode.sh | bash

Windows PowerShell

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/caid-technologies/Forma-OSS/main/scripts/development/install-opencode.ps1 | iex

The installer creates ~/forma-workspace, adds the Forma skill and MCP connection, installs missing app dependencies, and starts the backend and frontend. Keep that terminal open, then open a second terminal:

cd ~/forma-workspace
opencode mcp list
opencode

Try a first prompt:

Design a 3.3 V temperature monitor with an OLED display. Include a bill of materials, wiring, and an enclosure.

Open the local UI at localhost:3000. CAD generation and exports also require the native OpenCAD setup. For installation details and troubleshooting, see the setup guide.

git clone https://github.com/caid-technologies/Forma-OSS.git
cd Forma-OSS
./scripts/development/dev.sh

pip install caid-forma-core
forma-core --help
forma-oss --help

Install Forma for Cursor / Grok Bot

Install the Cursor plugin to discover the shared forma-hardware skill and local Streamable HTTP MCP connection. The guide covers local installation, protected cloud authentication, CLI-only use, and compatible Grok Bot deployments. Marketplace publication requires a separate maintainer submission and review; the repository includes the packaging and checklist.

How it works

1. Describe the project. Start with requirements and optional reference images; refine the design through conversation.
2. Author a structured design. An agent produces Hardware Intermediate Representation, Forma's typed, versioned representation of components, connections, geometry, and project history.
3. Compile and inspect. Forma validates the design and produces schematics, previews, and supported CAD artifacts. Iterate on the saved project as your requirements change.

With the local agent workflow, your host agent supplies the model and Forma performs deterministic compilation. The reusable forma_core package also supports server-side generation. See architecture and agent integrations.

Go deeper

All documentation · Roadmap · Report a bug

Build with us

Try a design, share what worked, or help improve CAD generation, validation, examples, and the interface. Read CONTRIBUTING.md for the contribution workflow.

If you want open-source hardware design to be easier, star Forma to follow its progress and help other builders find it.

Built by Caid Technologies. Licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.