2025

FeatureScript: A Year of New Standard Capabilities

2025 was a massive year for the FeatureScript Standard Library. Onshape didn’t just improve existing tools; they introduced entirely new classes of modeling capabilities. The addition of Sheet Metal Forms (1.193) and Routing Curves (1.195) opened up new domains for programmatic geometry creation.

For developers building custom features, the New Query Variable (1.203) is a game-changer, allowing any user to “parametrically create selection”—enabling features that can intelligently select geometry created during the feature’s execution. Diagnostics also got a boost with custom message support for reportFeatureWarning (1.207), allowing developers to write cleaner, more informative error states.

API: Drawings, Webhooks, and Direct Translation

2025 was defined by closing the gap between the UI and the API, specifically in Drawings and Data Translation. Developers gained the ability to manipulate Drawing Views (1.203), Centermarks (1.203), and Surface Finish Symbols (1.200).

Crucially, this year saw the introduction of API Versions V11 and V12, bringing stricter typing and new capabilities. The new Direct Translation Endpoints (1.199) and Asynchronous STEP Export (1.198) streamlined how external applications extract geometry. On the integration side, the long-awaited Document Sharing Webhook (1.202) finally arrived, allowing apps to react instantly when access permissions change.

See the following change log summaries for Onshape’s FeatureScript and REST API:

FeatureScript Change Log Summary 2025

See Onshape’s general change log here: https://www.onshape.com/en/changelog/

• Query Variables: New Parametric Create Selection query variable type. setQueryVariable (1.203)
• Diagnostics: Support for custom messages in reportFeatureWarning (1.207)
• Sheet Metal Forms: New Standard Library features for sheetMetalFormed (1.193)
• Routing Curves: New routingCurve capabilities for 3D wires and tubing (1.195)
• Constrained Surfaces: New capabilities for creating surfaces from meshes or point clouds: constrainedSurface (1.195)
• Replace Face: Updated replaceFace to support multiple face selections (1.198)
• Wrap: Enhanced opWrap feature to support conical faces (1.194)
• Cosmetic Threads: New programmatic support for  cosmeticThread (1.195)
• Performance: Improvements to FeatureScript editing logic and execution. (1.206)
  Note: even though this was improved, I’ve noticed some performance hits in this area regarding custom features. Some custom features no longer function as originally intended.

API Change Log Summary 2025

See Onshape’s API change log here: https://onshape-public.github.io/docs/changelog/

• Drawings – Views: Support for creating and editing standard views (1.203)
• Drawings – Annotations: Create/Edit Centermarks, Surface Finish Symbols, Chamfer Dimensions, and Datums (1.193 – 1.203)
• Drawings – Geometry: Support for creating Sketches within Drawings (1.200)
• Webhooks: New onshape.document.lifecycle.shared event for sharing/unsharing (1.202)
• API Versioning: Introduction of API V11 and V12 with stricter element type checking (1.199, 1.201)
• App Elements: New endpoint for subelements and improved JSON tree diffing (1.197, 1.206)
• Direct Translation: Export Assemblies/Part Studios directly to glTF, OBJ, SOLIDWORKS, and STEP (1.199)
• Async Export: New Asynchronous STEP export endpoint (1.198)
• Items & Content: New endpoints for Items (1.198) and Standard Content (1.205)
• Workflow: Lightweight endpoint for release package status (1.200)
• Configurations: New visibilityCondition attribute for configuration parameters (1.192)
• Global Permissions: Endpoints to manage Enterprise global permissions (1.201)

Want to keep up with future CADSharp.com content and training events? Join our newsletter!

2024

FeatureScript Performance Improvements

The updates focused on improving the performance of FeatureScript are among the most significant enhancements. These improvements include the optimization of library calls and vector math performance using a recursive evaluator, which will substantially reduce computational overhead and execution time. This is particularly crucial for complex scripts that handle extensive data or require frequent evaluations, ensuring smoother and faster user experiences.

Additionally, the support for fast evaluation of operators like += and *= for the recursive evaluator will simplify scripting and reduce the time complexity of operations. These enhancements streamline code execution, making scripts more efficient and responsive.

Evaluation Efficiency

The new query for objects on one side of a plane (qInFrontOfPlane) is a powerful addition that enhances geometric queries’ precision and performance. This function is essential for features requiring spatial analysis and precise object selection.

The addition of the undefined-coalescing operator (??) and the string join() function further enriches the scripting capabilities by providing more robust handling of null or undefined values and simplifying string operations. These items improve code readability and maintainability, making feature studios more intuitive and less error-prone.

API Enhancements

The API updates aimed at supporting public and anonymous share endpoints and simplifying the features endpoint to require fewer parameters are notable improvements. These changes facilitate easier integration and interaction with Onshape from external applications, broadening the scope of automation and customization possibilities for users.

The inclusion of detailed attributes like isDangling in export JSON and additional parameters for GET endpoints enhances the granularity and utility of data retrieved through the API. These enhancements provide developers with more control and information, enabling more sophisticated and accurate application development.

See the following change log summaries for Onshape’s FeatureScript and Rest API:

FeatureScript Change Log Summary 2024

See Onshape’s general change log here: https://www.onshape.com/en/changelog/

• Improve performance of library calls: evaluate.fs
• Add a string join() function
• New BLOB import text file (*.txt)
• Improve vector math performance using recursive evaluator
• Add undefined-coalescing operator (??)
• Allow inequality comparisons for enum values (>, <=, and >=)
• Support fast evaluation of operators like += and *= for the recursive evaluator
• New query for objects on one side of a plane: qInFrontOfPlane
• New function getAllAttributes as a map of all attributes for an entity
• Add text reference parameter (text files as a string)
• Improve evFaceTangentPlanes with new parameter returnUndefinedOutsideFace
• Add nest parameter groups for feature precondition (limit 5)
• Improve performance for processing derived part studios
• Refactor opSplitPart and opDraft to accept Plane
• Allow cylinder selection for opSplitPart
• Add an option for opEnclose to keep redundant edges

API Change Log Summary 2024

See Onshape’s API change log here: https://onshape-public.github.io/docs/changelog/

• Support public and anonymous share endpoints
• Add ‘isDangling’ field to the export JSON in Drawings API
• Add Assembly GET endpoint for Display states
• Increase allowed size for POST to featurestudio endpoint
• New parameter for Part Studio GET endpoint for sketches for full defined status (V7)
• Simplify the features endpoint to require fewer parameters
• Return variable description in GET variables endpoint when variable is set through custom feature
• Add microversion (mv) to response for app extensions endpoint
• Support for export of tables in JSON
• New Drawings sample application public repo
• Improved location of drawing notes when placing using Drawing API
• Improve FSTable API documentation
• Fixed issues preventing usage of Publication APIs including delete endpoint
• Fixed Mass properties API to account for overridden masses in a version