Free & Open Source

S3 PDM Vault

An affordable alternative to SOLIDWORKS PDM for solo users.
Works on Mac and PC.
Version control, file history, and folder management—backed by affordable cloud storage.
No software fees.

Learn More Usage Guide GitHub

Key Features

Folder Tree with Sizes

Browse your vault with a collapsible folder tree. See total folder sizes, modification status, and untracked files at a glance.

Bulk Operations

Select entire folders and check in everything changed inside at once. No more file-by-file management.

Smart Rename & Move

Rename and move files or folders while preserving full history. Works seamlessly with SOLIDWORKS renames and Pack & Go.

File History & Untrack

Full version history for every file. Untrack files safely—history is archived, never truly deleted.

Local Cache - No Database

First refresh downloads history once. Subsequent refreshes only fetch changes—fast and efficient.

Any S3-Compatible Storage

Works with Backflaze B2, AWS S3, MinIO, DigitalOcean Spaces, or any S3-compatible provider. No vendor lock-in. Free trials and pay-as-you-go pricing with no software licenses.

Direct File Sharing

Latest versions are stored in the S3 provider's current/ folder. Generate shareable links directly from your cloud provider—no re-upload needed. Send secure URLs to clients or colleagues.

Works on Mac & PC

Run S3 PDM Vault on Windows or macOS. Same experience across platforms with full feature parity.

Any File Type

Version control for SOLIDWORKS, Office, Blender, Images, and anything else. Not limited to CAD — works for any project that needs revision history.

How It Works

S3 PDM Vault is a lightweight alternative to SOLIDWORKS PDM that gives you version control and file history using affordable S3 cloud storage instead of expensive server infrastructure. Your designs are stored reliably without paying for PDM licenses or maintaining your own servers.

The Workflow

  1. Point S3 PDM Vault at a folder containing your SOLIDWORKS projects
  2. Check in files—they're uploaded to your S3 storage with full version history
  3. Browse the folder tree, see file sizes and modification status
  4. Rename, move, or untrack files with history preserved
  5. Restore any previous version instantly

System Details

System Requirements

  • Operating Systems: Windows or macOS
  • S3-Compatible Storage:Backblaze, AWS, Wasabi
  • Free Space: Restore operations need space for temp files

Current Features

  • ✓ Folder tree with collapsible structure
  • ✓ File and folder sizes
  • ✓ Bulk check-in by folder
  • ✓ Rename and move with history
  • ✓ Untrack with safe archiving
  • ✓ Local history cache
  • ✓ Version history and restore

Coming Soon

Right-click context menus, Open in SOLIDWORKS, Show in Folder, and improved large file handling.

Why S3 PDM Vault?

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100% Free Software

Open source. No license fees, no subscriptions. You only pay for actual cloud storage you use.

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No Vendor Lock-In

Use Backblaze, AWS, MinIO, or any S3-compatible provider. Switch anytime, keep all your files.

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Pennies Per Month

Backblaze B2 costs $0.006 per GB/month. Store 100 GB for $0.60/month.

⚠️ Disclaimer: S3 PDM Vault is version control software, not a backup system. Maintain independent backups of critical files. See full disclaimer in the usage guide.

Ready to get started?

View Usage Guide GitHub Repository