The latest articles on DEV Community by Local Mobile Engineer (@localmobileengineer). https://dev.to/localmobileengineer https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4244811%2F3ec570e4-efbe-4b02-a079-e7d72fae56b9.png https://dev.to/localmobileengineer en Local Mobile Engineer Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:08:40 +0000 https://dev.to/localmobileengineer/i-built-a-free-screen-annotation-tool-for-windows-teachers-epic-pen-alternative-3ccg https://dev.to/localmobileengineer/i-built-a-free-screen-annotation-tool-for-windows-teachers-epic-pen-alternative-3ccg <p>I am a mobile repair trainer from Silchar, India. When I teach online, I need to draw on my screen all the time: circle a part, underline a step, highlight a line. The tools I tried needed too many clicks or keyboard shortcuts in the middle of a class, so I built my own. It is called <strong>PenX</strong>.</p> <h2> What PenX does </h2> <p>It lets you draw on top of anything on your Windows screen: slides, PDFs, videos, live classes.</p> <ul> <li>Pen, highlighter, shapes, text, whiteboard, spotlight, zoom and a big pointer</li> <li>Everything can be controlled with just the mouse: a wheel-click opens a tool ring, and right-click gestures turn drawing on or off or tuck the toolbar away</li> <li>Save or copy a screenshot of your drawing, and customise the shortcuts</li> </ul> <h2> Good to know </h2> <ul> <li>Windows 10 and 11 only</li> <li>Free right now with unlimited use. It needs a free account (a browser sign-in on first run)</li> <li>The installer is not code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen may show a warning. Click <strong>More info</strong>, then <strong>Run anyway</strong> </li> </ul> <h2> Try it </h2> <p>Download and install guide: <a href="https://tools.localmobileengineer.com/penx" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://tools.localmobileengineer.com/penx</a></p> <p>I also wrote this story on Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@localmobileengineer/i-built-a-free-screen-annotation-tool-for-windows-teachers-epic-pen-alternative-05c821d9ff7d" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://medium.com/@localmobileengineer/i-built-a-free-screen-annotation-tool-for-windows-teachers-epic-pen-alternative-05c821d9ff7d</a></p> <p>I would love your feedback. What would you add next?</p> showdev windows productivity teaching