IfcOpenShell — The Complete Guide: Read, Write, Convert and Compare IFC Models With Open Source
IfcOpenShell is an open-source C++ and Python library for working with IFC BIM models. It is used to automate model checks, quantity take-off and conversions, and it is also the foundation of Bonsai, the graphical authoring interface inside Blender.
IfcOpenShell
IfcOpenShell project
Open toolkit to read, write, convert and compare IFC BIM models — IfcConvert, IfcDiff, IfcClash and more.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- IfcConvert — convert the geometry to other formats.
- IfcDiff — compare versions of a model.
- IfcClash — detect clashes between elements.
- IfcPatch — run ready-made fixes on the model.
- IfcCSV — export and import schedules and element data.
Who it suits
Engineers and BIM managers who want to check models received from consultants, extract quantities with a script or convert files without commercial software. Basic Python knowledge or comfort with the command line is required. The licence is LGPL-3.0, and some components, such as the Blender add-ons, are distributed under GPL-3.0; use is free for any purpose, including commercial work.
Related tools
For a graphical authoring interface built on the library — Bonsai. For quick model viewing — Open IFC Viewer. For checking models in a graphical interface — FZKViewer.
Bonsai (BlenderBIM)
IfcOpenShell
Native IFC editing inside Blender — open-source BIM.
Get it from the vendor
Open IFC Viewer
Open Design Alliance (ODA)
A free, light IFC viewer, available for Linux and macOS too.
Get it from the vendorFZKViewer
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
An academic viewer for IFC and CityGML — the bridge between BIM and city models.
Get it from the vendorSpeckle
Speckle Systems
Moves geometry and data between design tools — instead of exporting and importing files.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
The most important open tool for anyone who wants to work with IFC in an automated way — free and vendor-independent.