For realizing designs in physical space, I create a Python library with a DSL that allows us to express all of the components and how they relate with each other. The most important thing this provides is a deterministic way to test the assembly. Then, you take the parameterized relationships between the components and export them into things like three-dimensional views or cut lists, rather than trying to manipulate three-dimensional software as your source of truth. (Although Claude is pretty effective at driving Blender via Python, too.)

Sounds interesting!

I've been working on this sort of thing at a far lower-level (directly modeling toolpaths and tool shapes so as to get 3D models of parts).

PythonSCAD has an Align command which I need to wrap my mind around to see if it would be workable for positioning parts.

I’m doing exactly this (in TypeScript) for buildings / construction. It can’t really do woodworking (not designed for that) but I can confirm that it’s an effective strategy for spatial assemblies.