Cannot install Render Workbench

[feeela]

Using FreeCAD 1.0.2 via snap

A) When trying to install the Render Workbench via the Addon-Manager, the installation fails with the following error:

Git returned a non-zero exit status: -1
Called with: /snap/freecad/1634/usr/bin/git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-render /home/******/snap/freecad/common/Mod/Render

Returned stderr:
Cloning into '/home/******/snap/freecad/common/Mod/Render'...
fatal: early EOF

See also: FreeCAD/FreeCAD#21740

B) When I do install the Render Workbench manually as described here, it is visible in the Addon-Manager as "installed". But no such workbench can be selected (not even after refreshing the addon local cache and restarting FreeCAD).

Also no settings for "Render" are visible in the FreeCAD setting (as suggested in your EngineInstall docs).

How can I use the Render Workbench with FreeCAD v1.0.2?

[howetuft]

Hello,
I'm sorry but I don't support snap or any containerization. As I stated before, I'm unfortunately unskilled in this domain. If someone knows how to deal with that, contributions will be welcome.

[sax1johno]

I'm having this issue on Mac OSX 15.6.1 (24G90) using 'git clone' when using the addon manager.

The error message is as follows:

Failed to install Render
Git returned a non-zero exit status: -1
Called with: /usr/bin/git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-render /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/FreeCAD/Mod/Render

Returned stderr:
Cloning into '/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/FreeCAD/Mod/Render'...
fatal: early EOF

This clones correctly from the terminal.

OS: macOS 15.6.1
Architecture: arm64
Version: 1.0.2.39319 (Git) Conda
Build type: Release
Branch: (HEAD detached at 1.0.2)
Hash: 256fc7eff3379911ab5daf88e10182c509aa8052
Python 3.11.13, Qt 5.15.15, Coin 4.0.3, Vtk 9.3.0, OCC 7.8.1
Locale: C/Default (C)
Stylesheet/Theme/QtStyle: FreeCAD Dark.qss/FreeCAD Dark/Fusion
Installed mods:

• woodworking 1.1.0.dev.1.1.1.2025.10.20
• Assembly4.backup1761237977.254292 (Disabled)
• A2plus 0.4.68
• fasteners 0.5.43
• LCInterlocking
• Assembly4

[ElettroLinux]

Same error here.

OS: GNU/Linux, ROSA Linux distribution
Architecture: x86_64
FreeCAD version: 1.0.2
Python: 3.11.13
Coin3D: 4.0.3
Qt: 6.8.3
OpenCascade: 7.7.2

[floresacton]

Same error here

[luzpaz]

@howetuft this ticket needs to be renamed to "... when using Snap packages"

[luzpaz]

@furgo16 any insights here how to make Render WB work in snaps ?

[furgo16]

I do not know, sorry. It seems the git command fails. But also, was the git installation method not deprecated in Add-On Manager? Is the OP using the latest Add-On Manager version?

[furgo16]

I can install the Render workbench successfully via snap package when using FreeCAD 1.1.0-dev.

[luzpaz]

Thanks @furgo16

@JohnOCFII would you have a moment to test if Render WB installs on macOS ?

[JohnOCFII]

@JohnOCFII would you have a moment to test if Render WB installs on macOS ?

Installation seems to succeed using freshly built 1.1.0dev. I've never used the Render workbench, and selecting a Body in PartDesign and hitting the Render Project button gives an error message, so there must be more to it than that -- but it does seem to install correctly. Below I've included a screen capture after using the Add-on Manager, as well as Render related items from the Report Window:

09:00:00  [Render][Init] Checking dependencies...
09:00:00  [Render][Init] >>> Environment folder does not exist - Creating
09:00:02  [Render][Init] Checking package 'renderplugin' - OK
09:00:03  [Render][Init] Checking package 'QtPy' - OK
09:00:11  [Render][Init] Checking package 'materialx' - OK
09:00:12  [Render][Init] Checking package 'PyQt6' - OK
09:00:15  [Render][Init] Checking package 'PyQt6-WebEngine' - OK
09:00:15  [Render][Init] Done.

OS: macOS 26.1
Architecture: arm64
Version: 1.1.0dev.44215 (Git)
Build date: 2025/11/11 08:47:59
Build type: Unknown
Branch: main
Hash: 28a5bcdf8e6d7945decd55b6368af87699ee1502
Python 3.11.13, Qt 6.8.3, Coin 4.0.3, Vtk 9.3.1, boost 1_86, Eigen3 3.4.0, PySide 6.8.3
shiboken 6.8.3, xerces-c 3.3.0, IfcOpenShell 0.8.0, OCC 7.8.1
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
Navigation Style/Orbit Style/Rotation Mode: Touchpad/Rounded Arcball/Window center
Stylesheet/Theme/QtStyle: OpenDark.qss/OpenDark/
Logical DPI/Physical DPI/Pixel Ratio: 72/127.5/2
Installed mods: 
  * OpenTheme 2025.5.20
  * Render 2024.12.15
  * Telemetry 1.0.2

[feeela]

Is the OP using the latest Add-On Manager version?

As stated above this is FreeCAD 1.0.2. I can't see, that the Add-On Manager is a separate application with distinct version numbering.

[furgo16]

Then this appears to point to an Add-On Manager issue that was fixed in the development version but not backported to 1.0.2. Is there another installation protocol other than git that the Render workbench can use? What do most other workbenches use?