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<table width="100%">
<tr>
<td align="left" width="120">
<img src="apps/web/public/logo.png" alt="OpenCut Logo" width="100" />
</td>
<td align="right">
<h1>OpenCut <span style="font-size: 0.7em; font-weight: normal;">(prev AppCut)</span></h1>
<h3 style="margin-top: -10px;">A free, open-source video editor for web, desktop, and mobile.</h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
## Why?
- **Privacy**: Your videos stay on your device
- **Free features**: Every basic feature of CapCut is paywalled now
- **Simple**: People want editors that are easy to use - CapCut proved that
## Features
- Timeline-based editing
- Multi-track support
- Real-time preview
- No watermarks or subscriptions
- Analytics provided by [Databuddy](https://www.databuddy.cc?utm_source=opencut), 100% Anonymized & Non-invasive.
## Project Structure
- `apps/web/` – Main Next.js web application
- `src/components/` – UI and editor components
- `src/hooks/` – Custom React hooks
- `src/lib/` – Utility and API logic
- `src/stores/` – State management (Zustand, etc.)
- `src/types/` – TypeScript types
## Getting Started
### Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed on your system:
- [Bun](https://bun.sh/docs/installation)
- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) (for `npm` alternative)
**Additional requirements for full-stack development:**
- [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) and [Docker Compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/) (only needed for database/auth features)
### Frontend-only Development (Recommended for UI work)
If you're working on the UI/frontend and don't need authentication or database features:
1. Fork the repository
2. Clone your fork locally
3. Navigate to the web app directory: `cd apps/web`
4. Copy `.env.example` to `.env.local`:
```bash
# Unix/Linux/Mac
cp .env.example .env.local
# Windows Command Prompt
copy .env.example .env.local
# Windows PowerShell
Copy-Item .env.example .env.local
```
5. Install dependencies: `bun install`
6. Start the development server: `bun dev`
The application will be available at [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000).
**Note:** This setup runs without Docker and is perfect for frontend development, UI improvements, and most feature work.
### Full Development Setup (Database + Auth)
Only follow this if you need to work with authentication, user accounts, or database features.
1. Start the database and Redis services:
```bash
# From project root
docker-compose up -d
```
2. Navigate to the web app directory:
```bash
cd apps/web
```
3. Copy `.env.example` to `.env.local`:
```bash
# Unix/Linux/Mac
cp .env.example .env.local
# Windows Command Prompt
copy .env.example .env.local
# Windows PowerShell
Copy-Item .env.example .env.local
```
4. Configure required environment variables in `.env.local`:
**Required Variables:**
```bash
# Database (matches docker-compose.yaml)
DATABASE_URL="postgresql://opencut:opencutthegoat@localhost:5432/opencut"
# Generate a secure secret for Better Auth
BETTER_AUTH_SECRET="your-generated-secret-here"
BETTER_AUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
# Redis (matches docker-compose.yaml)
UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL="http://localhost:8079"
UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN="example_token"
# Development
NODE_ENV="development"
```
**Generate BETTER_AUTH_SECRET:**
```bash
# Unix/Linux/Mac
openssl rand -base64 32
# Windows PowerShell (simple method)
[System.Web.Security.Membership]::GeneratePassword(32, 0)
# Cross-platform (using Node.js)
node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('base64'))"
# Or use an online generator: https://generate-secret.vercel.app/32
```
5. Run database migrations: `bun run db:migrate` from (inside apps/web)
6. Start the development server: `bun run dev` from (inside apps/web)
The application will be available at [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000).
## Contributing
We welcome contributions! While we're actively developing and refactoring certain areas, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute effectively.
**🎯 Focus areas:** Timeline functionality, project management, performance, bug fixes, and UI improvements outside the preview panel.
**⚠️ Avoid for now:** Preview panel enhancements (fonts, stickers, effects) and export functionality - we're refactoring these with a new binary rendering approach.
See our [Contributing Guide](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md) for detailed setup instructions, development guidelines, and complete focus area guidance.
**Quick start for contributors:**
- Fork the repo and clone locally
- Follow the setup instructions in CONTRIBUTING.md
- Create a feature branch and submit a PR
## Sponsors
Thanks to [Vercel](https://vercel.com?utm_source=github-opencut&utm_campaign=oss) for their support of open-source software.
<a href="https://vercel.com/oss">
<img alt="Vercel OSS Program" src="https://vercel.com/oss/program-badge.svg" />
</a>
[](https://vercel.com/new/clone?repository-url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FOpenCut-app%2FOpenCut&project-name=opencut&repository-name=opencut)
## License
[MIT LICENSE](LICENSE)
---
|
