CadMacro

A slick Windows desktop app for creating and running macros for AutoCAD & BaCAD. Create a macro, pick a command from an autocomplete library, bind it to a keyboard shortcut or an extra mouse button, and CadMacro types that command into the focused CAD window for you. It runs in the background from the system tray and updates itself straight from GitHub Releases.

Built with Tauri v2 (Rust core) + React + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS.

Features

• Macros that fire one or more CAD commands via keystroke injection (works with both AutoCAD and BaCAD).
• Command library with autocomplete, seeded with common AutoCAD commands and fully editable (add your own BaCAD/custom commands, import/export as JSON).
• Triggers: global keyboard shortcuts or the extra mouse buttons (X1 / X2).
• Target focusing: optionally bring an AutoCAD/BaCAD window to the front before typing, or just type into whatever is focused.
• Runs in the tray with a master on/off switch and optional launch-at-startup.
• In-app auto-updater wired to GitHub Releases.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 20+
• Rust (stable)
• Microsoft WebView2 runtime (preinstalled on Windows 10/11)
• Tauri Windows prerequisites (MSVC build tools): see tauri.app/start/prerequisites

Getting started (development)

npm install
npm run tauri dev

The window opens with the dark UI. Frontend code lives in src/, the Rust core in src-tauri/src/.

Project structure

src/                     React + TypeScript UI
  components/            Title bar, modal, cards, command picker, toaster, UI kit
  views/                 Macros, Library, Settings screens
  lib/                   types, api (invoke wrappers), zustand store, utils
src-tauri/src/
  lib.rs                 Tauri builder, plugins, system tray, window behavior
  commands.rs            #[tauri::command] handlers (CRUD, import/export, settings)
  store.rs / models.rs   JSON persistence + data model
  seed.rs                Default command library (first-run)
  engine.rs              Trigger registration + dispatch
  mouse_hook.rs          Low-level WH_MOUSE_LL hook for X1/X2 buttons
  injector.rs            Keystroke injection (enigo) + window focusing

Data is stored as macros.json and commands.json in the app config directory (%APPDATA%/com.cadmacro.app).

Building an installer locally

npm run tauri build

This produces an NSIS installer under src-tauri/target/release/bundle/nsis/.

To produce signed updater artifacts locally, set the signing env vars first (see below).

Auto-update setup (GitHub)

The app checks GitHub Releases for a latest.json manifest and can download + install updates in-app (Settings -> Updates).

Updater signing keys were generated into .keys/ (git-ignored, never commit them):

• .keys/cadmacro_updater.key - private key (secret)
• .keys/cadmacro_updater.key.pub - public key (already embedded in src-tauri/tauri.conf.json under plugins.updater.pubkey)
• .keys/updater_password.txt - the private key password (secret)

One-time configuration

1. Create the GitHub repo and push this project.
2. Set the update endpoint: in src-tauri/tauri.conf.json, replace YOUR_GITHUB_USERNAME in plugins.updater.endpoints with your GitHub owner/repo (e.g. https://github.com/alice/cadmacro/releases/latest/download/latest.json).
3. Add repository secrets (Settings -> Secrets and variables -> Actions):
   • TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY - the full contents of .keys/cadmacro_updater.key
   • TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY_PASSWORD - the password in .keys/updater_password.txt

Cutting a release

# bump the version in package.json AND src-tauri/tauri.conf.json, then:
git tag v0.1.1
git push origin v0.1.1

The Release workflow builds the installer, signs the update artifacts, creates the GitHub Release, and uploads latest.json. Installed apps will then offer the update on next check.

Code signing (optional)

The build is not Authenticode code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may warn on first install. This is optional for the MVP. The updater's minisign signature (set up above) is separate and ensures updates are verified/trusted regardless.

License

Private project.