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Alex Kernel
Alex Kernel

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PearPass Desktop — Open-Source Peer-to-Peer Password Manager Built on Pear Runtime

#security #privacy #javascript #passwordmanager

PearPass Desktop — Open-Source Peer-to-Peer Password Manager Built on Pear Runtime

If you’re tired of “password managers” that still depend on centralized cloud servers, PearPass Desktop is a refreshing direction: a distributed password manager built on Pear Runtime, designed to keep your vault data on your devices and sync it across your own endpoints.

Repo:
https://github.com/tetherto/pearpass-app-desktop

Why This Project Is Cool (and Why Devs Should Care)

PearPass Desktop is interesting for more than just end-user security:

  • Peer-to-peer / distributed sync mindset (no classic “one cloud to breach” architecture)
  • Open-source by default (easier to audit and extend)
  • Modern desktop stack (Pear Runtime + React ecosystem)
  • Great real-world reference for:
    • crypto + security UX
    • local-first apps
    • end-to-end encryption product design
    • multi-device sync without centralized infra

SEO keywords naturally covered:

open-source password manager, peer-to-peer password vault, local-first security app, end-to-end encrypted vault, Pear Runtime desktop app

Features (What You Get)

PearPass Desktop focuses on secure storage and usability:

  • Secure storage for passwords, identities, credit cards, notes, and custom fields
  • Cross-device and cross-platform synchronization
  • Offline access (local-first usage)
  • Encryption for vault security
  • Password strength analysis
  • Random password generator
  • Simple, clean UI

High-Level Architecture

PearPass Desktop follows a local-first model:

UI (React)
  ↓
Vault / state management
  ↓
Local encrypted storage
  ↓
Peer-to-peer distribution (Pear Runtime)
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This means your “source of truth” is your devices, not a centralized web account.

Getting Started (Installation & Dev Setup)

This repo is primarily a developer setup flow (clone → install deps → run via Pear).

0) Requirements

  • Node.js (match the version in .nvmrc)
  • npm
  • Pear Runtime installed

Check Node version:

node --version
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1) Clone the Repo 

git clone https://github.com/tetherto/pearpass-app-desktop.git
cd pearpass-app-desktop
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2) Update Submodules

PearPass uses submodules. Update them with the provided script:

npm run update-submodules
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If you need a specific remote:

npm run update-submodules -- [remote-name]
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3) Install Dependencies 

npm install
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4) Generate i18n (Translations)

PearPass uses Lingui. Generate and compile message catalogs:

npm run lingui:extract
npm run lingui:compile
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5) Run the Desktop App (Dev Mode) 

pear run --dev .
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If everything is set correctly, the app should launch.

Testing

PearPass uses Jest for unit testing.

Run tests:

npm test
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Usage: What to Try First

Once the app runs, a good “first session” checklist:

  1. Create a vault and set a strong master password
  2. Add sample entries:
    • login
    • note
    • identity
  3. Try password generator + strength checks
  4. Explore sync / distribution options (if you have multiple devices)

Tech Stack

  • Pear Runtime
  • React
  • Styled Components
  • Redux
  • Lingui (i18n)
  • Jest (tests)

This is a great repo to learn how a security-focused desktop app structures:

  • state
  • encryption boundaries
  • UX flows for sensitive data

Who Should Fork This?

This repo is perfect if you want to build:

  • a local-first password manager fork
  • a secure “vault” module for another app
  • P2P sync experiments
  • privacy-first productivity tools

Ideas:

  • add hardware key / OS keychain integrations
  • add vault export formats
  • add threat-model docs + security tooling
  • build a plugin system for record types

Related Projects in the Ecosystem

PearPass also has:

  • browser extension
  • mobile app
  • vault core libraries

If you want full-stack parity (desktop + browser autofill), look at the extension repo too.

Final Notes

PearPass Desktop is one of those repos that’s both:

  • immediately useful
  • and a very teachable architecture for local-first security apps.

If you’re exploring modern, open-source security software — this is absolutely worth starring and reading.

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