kernelcad-from-reference

kernelCAD — from reference (orchestrator)

Reproduce a real-world artifact from one or more reference photographs using kernelCAD primitives. This is an orchestrator skill that names sub-skills and their order. Read this first; then load each sub-skill in sequence as you work through the stages.

Decision tree (1 screen — start here)

Have a written spec with numeric dimensions? → just read kernelcad-authoring
                                                + use-the-available-kernel,
                                                build single-pass, score.
Simple front-on consumer electronics or passive enclosures with a photo and a
known dimension? → read `photo-to-device/SKILL.md` before blockout. Its
                   hosted-vs-local reference-asset rule controls generic
                   `referenceImage()` advice for this path; it is not a mesh
                   concept or mechanism workflow.
Have a reference photo only? ──┬─ Extract numeric dimensions FIRST
                               │  (measure visually OR if STL available
                               │   use trimesh to extract bbox+landmarks),
                               │  then proceed as if you had a spec.
                               │
                               └─ Don't iterate against the 2D-photo scorer —
                                  R5/R16/R18 empirical: it's gameable. Use
                                  the geometric scorer (scripts/scoreMeshVsMesh.ts)
                                  if an STL reference is shipped.

Building an organic-curve outline (brow, grip, sneaker)?
   → use path().smoothSpline() — chained sagittaArc hits solver cliffs.

Building an acetate-bevel-style chamfer on post-cut topology?
   → just call .chamfer(d). The kernel auto-skips edges shorter than 2×d
     and emits a clean warning. Do NOT "skip and document."

Iteration mode: visual > scored > spec+photo (R1-R6 empirical).
   Single-pass with a detailed spec OUTPERFORMS visual or scored iteration.
   Adding the photo to a good spec REGRESSES (R3). Closed-loop scorer-only
   iteration plateaus FAR below single-pass (R2 / R16). Only iterate when
   you have a CLEAR signal pointing at a SPECIFIC defect.