Having 3D objects described in a text based environment is the idea. That way you can version them with git. It is also focused on supporting Volumetric modelin

Having 3D objects described in a text based environment is the idea. That way you can version them with git. It is also focused on supporting Volumetric modeling of 3d objects, rather than simply being CSG based like most CAD software, even though it takes that approach for simple objects. It is really a product of open source 3d printers who were seeking a way to describe complex 3d objects, reliably version them, and then spread them around the internet. It's a cool idea, but it's toolchain has always been sub par. It is my understanding that most of the people working on it are more concerned with getting it good enough, and the bulk of their development energy on 3d printing slicing engines. But I wouldn't want to use OpenSCAD to do any traditional design work or drafting, or really even to design any object that will have to be made with subtractive manufacturing. It's a happy medium that FreeCAD has an OpenSCAD workbench - that way you can do the complicated stuff directly in OpenSCAD for 3D printed parts, and then include them in your FreeCAD assemblies.