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Handy script to start OpenSCAD on Linux.

L
larry
Fri, Apr 24, 2026 4:47 PM

I'm not a touch-typist, so I try to save as many keystrokes as possible
for operations I use a lot.

I got REAL tired of opening a new instance of OpenSCAD, loading the
basic BOSL2 library with a template. This may not seem like much, but
when I do some coding and save it, I have to use the SAVE requester and
navigate through
filesystem
drive
make
3D
OpenSCAD
directory
possible_subdirectories

I can then save it.

So I wrote a little script that I use a fair number of times each day.
It's called ns (for 'new scad').

#!/bin/bash
echo "include <BOSL2/std.scad>" >$1.scad
echo "$fn=$preview ? 60 : 180;" >>$1.scad
echo "" >>$1.scad
echo "" >>$1.scad

To use it, I cd to the directory I want it in, then just type
ns cart_coin

That places cart_coin.scad into the current directory.
When I open it, it has this, followed by three blank lines.

include <BOSL2/std.scad>
$fn=$preview ? 60 : 180;

Not sure how to do the same thing in Windows, but I'm sure it's
possible.

Hope it's of use to someone.

I'm not a touch-typist, so I try to save as many keystrokes as possible for operations I use a lot. I got REAL tired of opening a new instance of OpenSCAD, loading the basic BOSL2 library with a template. This may not seem like much, but when I do some coding and save it, I have to use the SAVE requester and navigate through filesystem drive make 3D OpenSCAD directory possible_subdirectories I can then save it. So I wrote a little script that I use a fair number of times each day. It's called ns (for 'new scad'). #!/bin/bash echo "include <BOSL2/std.scad>" >$1.scad echo "\$fn=\$preview ? 60 : 180;" >>$1.scad echo "" >>$1.scad echo "" >>$1.scad To use it, I cd to the directory I want it in, then just type ns cart_coin That places cart_coin.scad into the current directory. When I open it, it has this, followed by three blank lines. include <BOSL2/std.scad> $fn=$preview ? 60 : 180; Not sure how to do the same thing in Windows, but I'm sure it's possible. Hope it's of use to someone.