I build, local-first open-source apps — here's everything I shipped

quetzalcoatl — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:28:13 +0000

I have a simple rule when I build something: no account, no server if I can avoid it, and your data stays on your device.

I'm a developer, and over the last months I've shipped a set of open-source web apps around that idea. They're tools I wanted to exist. Here's the whole list, grouped by what they're for.

Privacy and communication

Nephtys — an end-to-end encrypted messenger that runs in the browser. Text, media, documents and voice notes, plus WebRTC calls. Two modes: a managed account, or private mode over a blind relay, with one-click Tor.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/Nephtys

Anima — serverless video calls. Create a room or join with a code; audio and video go peer-to-peer, with no account and no central media server.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/anima

JemaDrop — send files between your phone and your PC by scanning a QR code. They stay on your local network, and it ships with a Docker setup.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/jemadrop

Writing and documents

JemaNote — local-first Markdown notes with live preview and a command palette. No account, works offline as a PWA.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/jemanote

JemaPDF — merge, split, compress, resize and extract pages, entirely in the browser. Most "free PDF" sites upload your files; this one doesn't.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/JemaPDF

QuickText — a tiny, distraction-free text editor, available as a PWA and a Chrome extension.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/quicktext

Audio and video

OsiVibe — a video editor that runs in a browser tab: multi-track timeline, cuts, transitions, effects, titles and export presets.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/osivibe

SetSound — cut, join, convert and record audio locally in the browser. Nothing is uploaded.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/setsound

Developer tools

JemaTrace — paste a traceroute and see it on a 3D globe, with every hop geolocated and the real submarine-cable layout.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/jematrace · demo: https://jematrace.vercel.app

For fun

JemaChess — chess that works offline, with 4 AI levels, pass-and-play and peer-to-peer online games. No account, no server.
→ https://github.com/JemaOS/jemachess

What they have in common

Open source (MIT or AGPL)
No account required for the core features
Installable as a PWA, works offline
Local-first: the processing happens in your browser
No tracking, no ads

What's next

I'm now focusing on the two that got the most feedback: Nephtys (the threat model) and JemaTrace (cable routing accuracy). If one of these tools is close to something you need, tell me what's missing — I prioritise based on real use, not on feature lists.

And if one of them is genuinely useful to you, a star helps me know it's worth maintaining.

Thanks for reading.

DEV Community: quetzalcoatl