One stack, several paths into knowledge-based engineering.
Genworks spans open-source Gendl, skewed-emacs, commercial Genworks GDL, and hosted workflows now taking shape. The common thread is executable engineering knowledge: symbolic models, live geometry, web delivery, and MCP-friendly tooling for humans and AI operators alike.
(define-object robot (base-object)
:computed-slots
((head-radius 1.0)
(body-length 3.0))
:objects
((head :type 'sphere
:radius (the head-radius))
(body :type 'box
:length (the body-length))))Why this works now
Start with the audience, not the SKU. The stack now supports a curious open-source path, a hosted professional path, a legacy on-site enterprise path, and a lightweight deployment-component path through Cyclops.
- Hobbyists and open-source builders
Start online with skewed-emacs, then install the full AGPL stack locally when you want your own sandbox. If you later need to distribute closed-source work, that is a separate commercial step rather than a dead end.
- Professional engineers
The near-term direction is online KBE: browser entry, hosted terminals and MCP access, then seamless paid upgrade into richer commercial capability. Much of that flow is still coming soon, but the path is now explicit.
- Enterprise organizations
The traditional on-site commercial model continues: installed development seats, commercial Common Lisp, SMLib modules, CAD interfaces, and support continuity. It is now one offering among several, not the only front door.
Cyclops
$99Cyclops is an optional host-bound deployment component for Gendl, Genworks GDL, skewed-emacs, and MCP-oriented rollouts. It is not the whole platform, just a small serious reverse proxy for people who would rather configure services with symbolic expressions than wrestle YAML. Linux/x64 is available now; ARM64 and Windows are next.
Training and Certification
Learn enough GDL to build real KBE systems, whether you are entering from the open-source path or preparing for commercial work.
Rent-a-Stack
Coming soonA hosted, metered Genworks GDL stack delivered over MCP: the online professional path we are actively building out. Higher tiers can include commercial NURBS solids, non-manifold booleans, and VAR-friendly combinations. Coming soon; shaped by real demand.
FAQ
Short answers for engineers and buyers.
How is Genworks GDL different from traditional CAD?
In Genworks GDL, your design intent lives in executable code, not frozen geometry. This means your engineering knowledge is captured as declarative definitions that update automatically when inputs change—enabling automation, optimization, and long-term flexibility that traditional CAD-only models cannot match.
Why Common Lisp?
Common Lisp combines symbolic AI heritage with industrial-strength performance. Its ANSI standard (stable since 1994) ensures your code will run for decades, while its powerful macro system and runtime flexibility make it ideal for building knowledge-based engineering systems. Franz Inc has continuously supported Allegro CL since 1984.
What is the difference between Gendl and Genworks GDL?
Gendl is the AGPL-licensed open-source kernel—perfect for research, education, and hobbyists. Genworks GDL builds on Gendl with commercial licensing, the SMLib NURBS kernel, HarmonyWare CAD I/O integration, Franz Inc partnership, and enterprise support. Both share the same core architecture refined since 1997.
How long has Genworks been in business?
Genworks International (founded as Knowledge Based Solutions in 1997) has been continuously operating for 27+ years. We've powered mission-critical applications at Fortune 500 companies since 2002 and maintain support continuity agreements with Franz Inc to ensure long-term stability.
Is this for humans or AI agents?
Both—by design, not by retrofit. Because GDL is homoiconic (code is data) and declarative (you state intent, the engine computes the result), the same define-object source a Lisp developer writes is exactly what an LLM agent emits and rewrites. The runtime is introspectable through the REPL, and the whole stack—down to the Emacs editor itself, via Elisp—is exposed over MCP. A human drives it through the editor; an agent drives it through the same tools. The symbolic foundation is what makes that confluence natural rather than forced.
Try it now
Experience Genworks GDL in Your Browser
No installation required. Today this is the easiest way to feel the stack. Soon it also becomes the front door for the professional online KBE experience: browser entry, MCP access, hosted examples, and paid upgrade paths without forcing a local install.