OpenSCAD Crash On Window Resize M3 Mac Troubleshooting Guide

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Hey everyone! Today, we're diving into a tricky issue that some OpenSCAD users have been experiencing on M3 Macs: crashes when resizing the window or even just typing in the editor. This can be super frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of a complex design. So, let's break down the problem, explore the potential causes, and figure out how to get OpenSCAD running smoothly again. If you're encountering this OpenSCAD crash issue on your M3 Mac, you're in the right place. We'll walk through the reported bug, its symptoms, and potential solutions.

Understanding the Bug: OpenSCAD Crashes on M3 Macs

So, what's the deal? Users are reporting that when they run a specific snapshot version of OpenSCAD (2025.08.19) on their M3 Macs, the application crashes. The crashes seem to occur most frequently when resizing the OpenSCAD window or even when simply entering characters in the editor. This OpenSCAD crashing behavior makes the software virtually unusable, which is a major headache for designers and makers relying on OpenSCAD for 3D modeling. We'll investigate the specifics of this bug on M3 Macs and outline a few potential causes.

The Problem in Detail

The bug manifests as an unexpected termination of the OpenSCAD application. Imagine you're meticulously adjusting the size of your design window, or you're carefully typing in code, and suddenly, the application just quits. No warning, no error message—just a crash. This unexpected crashing issue can lead to lost work and a lot of frustration. Let’s dive deeper into the steps to reproduce this M3 Mac OpenSCAD bug.

Steps to Reproduce the Crash

  1. Installation: The issue seems to be triggered by specific versions of OpenSCAD, particularly the snapshot build. Users have reported the issue after installing OpenSCAD using brew install openscad@snapshot --cask or downloading directly from the OpenSCAD website's snapshot section.
  2. Running OpenSCAD: Once installed, simply launching the application is the next step.
  3. Triggering the Crash: The crash typically occurs when you attempt to resize the main OpenSCAD window. Even minor adjustments can trigger the bug. In some instances, simply entering text in the editor can also cause the crash. This crash during resizing is a key symptom.

Expected Behavior vs. Reality

Obviously, the expected behavior is that OpenSCAD should not crash. Resizing the window or typing in the editor are fundamental actions, and the application should handle these operations gracefully. The desired outcome is a stable, reliable OpenSCAD experience where users can design and model without fear of the program suddenly quitting. This expected behavior of OpenSCAD is crucial for a smooth workflow.

Code and Context: What's Going On Under the Hood?

The good news is that the crash seems to occur even with an empty editor. This suggests the issue isn't related to specific code or designs but rather to a more fundamental problem within the application itself, possibly related to how it interacts with the macOS windowing system or graphics drivers on M3 Macs. This code-independent crash points to a deeper problem.

Visual Evidence: The Dreaded Screenshot

The included screenshot paints a clear picture of the situation. It shows the OpenSCAD window in a typical state, but the underlying issue is invisible—the looming threat of a crash with the slightest interaction. This visual representation of the bug helps to contextualize the problem.

Environment and Version Information

To really nail down this bug, it's essential to understand the environment where it's happening. Here’s a breakdown of the key details:

The Setup

  • Operating System: macOS 15.6.1 is the OS in question. This is a crucial piece of information, as the bug might be specific to this macOS version or later.
  • Hardware: The issue is observed on an M3 Macbook Air. The M3 chip is a key factor, suggesting the problem might be related to the new Apple Silicon architecture or its interaction with OpenSCAD.
  • OpenSCAD Version: The specific version causing the grief is OpenSCAD-2025.08.19, a snapshot build from the OpenSCAD downloads page. This pinpoints the problem to a particular version, making it easier for developers to investigate.

Diving Deeper: Library & Graphics Card Information

To get even more granular, the user provided the output of openscad --info. This command dumps a ton of useful information about the OpenSCAD environment. Let's highlight some key parts:

  • OpenSCAD Version: Confirmed as 2025.08.22 (git 22bfcfceb), which is slightly newer than the originally reported 2025.08.19 but still a snapshot version.
  • System Information: macOS 15.6.1 arm64 Mac15,12 with 8 CPUs and 16.00 GB RAM. This re-emphasizes the specific hardware and OS configuration.
  • Compiler: Clang