Halfspace brings visual debugging to distance field CAD

Designing 3D parts with math code gets much easier when you can actually see the distance fields.

Developer Matt Keeter released Halfspace, an experimental IDE for solid modeling built on his Fidget geometry kernel. Instead of hiding the math behind basic 3D shapes, the tool puts signed distance fields right in the foreground. It visualizes field values and gradient jumps in real-time, letting you export models as images or triangle meshes.

Why it matters: Writing low-level implicit surface math usually feels like writing assembly language. Halfspace makes debugging visual by showing you exact math jumps and bad shading normals before you try to 3D print a part.

You can try the live WebGPU demo on a desktop browser—though mobile Safari has issues and multitouch isn't ready. The author explicitly notes the project isn't AI-generated, having written it by hand since April 2025.

It is far too early for production work, but turning CAD math into visible topographic maps makes hunting for geometry glitches much easier.