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BIMserver
What it is
BIMserver is free, open-source software for storing and managing construction and other building-project information as IFC data. It stores IFC information as objects in a model-driven architecture and presents itself as an IFC database rather than a fileserver. The platform supports model checking, versioning, project structures, merging, querying, filtering, and on-demand IFC output. Multiple users can work on separate parts of a dataset and receive notifications when models or sections change. BIMserver is intended to serve as an IFC backend for other software, with custom plugins, services, clients, and embedding options. Listed service interfaces include SOAP, JSON, and Protocol Buffers. It runs through API, web, and self-hosted deployments on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The core project uses AGPL-3.0, while some plugins and libraries have different licenses. Downloads are directed through GitHub Releases, and the wiki includes an Ubuntu installation guide.
For and against
For
- Free, open-source AGPL-3.0 project
- Supports IFC model checking and versioning
- Multi-user editing with change notifications
- SOAP, JSON, and Protocol Buffers interfaces
- Runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and API
Against
- Self-managed deployment is required
- Some plugins and libraries use different licenses
- Built primarily for developers
The verdict
BIMserver combines IFC database-style storage with model operations and collaboration features. Its APIs, plugins, and deployment choices make it suited to developer-led, self-managed building-information workflows.
Who it suits
BIMserver suits developers building IFC-based software and teams managing structured building-project data. It fits organizations able to operate self-managed software.
Plans and prices
Open-source BIMserver
Core server distributed as AGPL-3.0 open-source software · self-hosted deployment
Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- API
- The project wiki lists SOAP, JSON, and Protocol Buffers service interfaces.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- API protocols
- BIMserver exposes service interfaces through Protocol Buffers, SOAP and JSON channels.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Change notifications
- Users can receive notifications when a model or model part changes.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Client libraries
- The documentation lists Java, Maven-based Java, PHP and JavaScript client options.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Multi-user support lets people work on separate parts of a dataset, and users can receive notifications when a model or part changes.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Current maintenance signal
- The repository page shows 101 open issues, including reports concerning a security vulnerability, WebSocket timeouts, memory leaks and query bugs.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop installation
- A cross-platform executable JAR is provided for desktop evaluation and can normally be launched by double-clicking it.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer audience
- The project says BIMserver is built for developers.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The project points developers to a GitHub wiki and says maintainers actively support developers through GitHub issues.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The project wiki directs users to GitHub Releases for downloads.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- IFC database
- The platform acts as an IFC database with model-driven storage and on-demand IFC generation.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent API evidence
- A 2013 CIB paper reports that SOAP and JSON interfaces expose many methods for IFC objects, downloads, version control, users and projects.itc.scix.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent feature evidence
- The same paper reports user management, model upload/download, check-in/check-out, versioning, change sets, filtering and a web-service API.itc.scix.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent history
- A 2010 CIB paper describes BIMserver as a free, open IFC model server created by Jakob Beetz, Léon van Berlo, Ruben de Laat and Pim van den Helm.itc.scix.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent integration evidence
- The 2013 study used BIMserver SOAP services to exchange mapped data between SketchUp and Revit workflows through IFC.itc.scix.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent technical description
- German Wikipedia describes BIMserver as IFC-conformant free server software, Java-based with a C++ IFC engine and support for Linux, macOS, Windows and Unix.de.wikipedia.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent viewer evidence
- An ISPRS paper describes BIMserver working with the open-source BIM Surfer WebGL viewer for IFC visualization and BIMviews for online model viewing.isprs-archives.copernicus.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integration
- BIMserver is intended to integrate with other software as an IFC backend, with support for custom plugins, services, clients, and embedding.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
