# EvoCAD: Evolutionary CAD Code Generation with Vision Language Models

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.11631 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.11631/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 22 of its 28 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 13 Oct 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 22 of 22)

- [Chain-of-Thought Prompting Elicits Reasoning in Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.11903/) (2022)
- [DeepSeek-R1: Incentivizing Reasoning Capability in LLMs via Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.12948/) (2025)
- [GPT-4o System Card](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.21276/) (2024)
- [Teaching Large Language Models to Self-Debug](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.05128/) (2023)
- [AlphaEvolve: A coding agent for scientific and algorithmic discovery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.13131/) (2025)
- [Eureka: Human-Level Reward Design via Coding Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.12931/) (2023)
- [Evolution of Heuristics: Towards Efficient Automatic Algorithm Design Using Large Language Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.02051/) (2024)
- [GPT-4V(ision) is a Human-Aligned Evaluator for Text-to-3D Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.04092/) (2024)
- [LLaMEA: A Large Language Model Evolutionary Algorithm for Automatically Generating Metaheuristics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.20132/) (2024)
- [Generating CAD Code with Vision-Language Models for 3D Designs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.05340/) (2024)
- [From Concept to Manufacturing: Evaluating Vision-Language Models for Engineering Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.12668/) (2023)
- [CAD-Coder: An Open-Source Vision-Language Model for Computer-Aided Design Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.14646/) (2025)
- [Can Large Language Models Understand Symbolic Graphics Programs?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.08313/) (2024)
- [Neurosymbolic Models for Computer Graphics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.10320/) (2023)
- [In-the-loop Hyper-Parameter Optimization for LLM-Based Automated Design of Heuristics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.16309/) (2024)
- [OpenECAD: An Efficient Visual Language Model for Editable 3D-CAD Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.09913/) (2024)
- [GAVEL: Generating Games Via Evolution and Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.09388/) (2024)
- [3D-PreMise: Can Large Language Models Generate 3D Shapes with Sharp Features and Parametric Control?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.06437/) (2024)
- [LLM Guided Evolution -- The Automation of Models Advancing Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.11446/) (2024)
- [CoCoEvo: Co-Evolution of Programs and Test Cases to Enhance Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.10802/) (2025)
- [From Idea to CAD: A Language Model-Driven Multi-Agent System for Collaborative Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.04417/) (2025)
- [Large Language Models and Evolutionary Computation: A Critical Review of Bidirectional Interaction, Automated Algorithm Design, and Co-Adaptive Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.15741/) (2025)

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [ArtiCAD: Articulated CAD Assembly Design via Multi-Agent Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.10992/) (2026)
- [MUSE: Benchmarking Manufacturable, Functional, and Assemblable Text-to-CAD Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.28579/) (2026)
- [Physics-in-the-Loop: A Hybrid Agentic Architecture for Validated CAD Engineering Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.19717/) (2026)
- [Self-Improving CAD Generation Agents with Finite Element Analysis as Feedback](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.17448/) (2026)
- [Design-Specification Tiling for ICL-based CAD Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.12712/) (2026)
- [Test-Time Scaling for CAD Generation via Verifier-Free Consensus Selection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.09706/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Combining large language models with evolutionary computation algorithms represents a promising research direction leveraging the remarkable generative and in-context learning capabilities of LLMs with the strengths of evolutionary algorithms. In this work, we present EvoCAD, a method for generating computer-aided design (CAD) objects through their symbolic representations using vision language models and evolutionary optimization. Our method samples multiple CAD objects, which are then optimized using an evolutionary approach with vision language and reasoning language models. We assess our method using GPT-4V and GPT-4o, evaluating it on the CADPrompt benchmark dataset and comparing it to prior methods. Additionally, we introduce two new metrics based on topological properties defined by the Euler characteristic, which capture a form of semantic similarity between 3D objects. Our results demonstrate that EvoCAD outperforms previous approaches on multiple metrics, particularly in generating topologically correct objects, which can be efficiently evaluated using our two novel metrics that complement existing spatial metrics.