STL Workbench

A fast, local-first STL viewer implemented as a VS Code custom editor.

Prototype features

• Opens ASCII and binary .stl files directly
• Orbit, pan, and zoom controls
• Fit, isometric, top, front, and side views
• Grid, XYZ axes, and wireframe toggles
• Bounding dimensions and triangle count
• Explicit errors for unreadable or empty models
• Bundled Three.js renderer with no CDN or network dependency

Run locally

npm install
npm run build

Open this folder in VS Code and press F5. In the Extension Development Host, open an STL file. If another STL extension owns the file association, use Reopen Editor With… → STL Workbench.

With an STL file active, press Cmd+Shift+V on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows/Linux to toggle between the raw STL text and STL Workbench, matching VS Code's Markdown preview workflow.

Controls

• Left drag: orbit
• Right drag: pan
• Scroll: zoom
• F: fit the model in the current viewing direction