Working with BIM data is… not fun.
At least, that’s been my experience whenever IFC files enter the conversation. Between complex schemas, heavy desktop tools, and limited developer-first workflows, simple tasks quickly become complicated.
So I started building something to scratch my own itch.
The idea
I wanted a platform where you could:
- Generate IFC files programmatically
- Upload and inspect existing models
- Run compliance checks
- Expose everything through clean APIs
- And actually enjoy the developer experience
That became BIMFlow Suite.
What’s inside
The project is currently built around:
- Backend: Django REST API
- Frontend: React + Vite
- Async & realtime support: Channels
- IFC processing: IfcOpenShell
- Task processing: Celery
My focus wasn’t just “make it work,” I wanted it to be extensible and automation-friendly.
Why I built it
Most BIM tooling still assumes, heavy desktop workflows, manual steps, or closed ecosystems, but I noticed that more teams are moving toward cloud pipelines, automated validation, digital twin workflows, and an API-first infrastructure.
In essence, I wanted something that fits that world better.
What’s next
There’s still a lot to improve. I would need to work on deeper IFC validation, better visualization, performance optimizations, and more real-world rulepacks.
But the core is there and guess what? It is open-source!
Explore the Project
The full BIMFlow Suite source code, examples, and documentation are available on GitHub.
You can:
- Browse the repositories
- See detailed project structure
- Try out the platform locally
- Contribute or suggest improvements
If you work around BIM, AEC, or construction tech, I’d love your thoughts and hopefully, your contributions, too.
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