PackVault

PackVault is an offline-first package caching and distribution CLI for JavaScript developers. It downloads npm package tarballs once, stores them in a durable local vault, installs from that cache without internet access, and can expose the cache to other machines on your LAN.

Features

• Sync npm metadata and tarballs into ~/.packvault/cache
• Install cached packages into node_modules without internet access
• Create offline starter projects from local templates
• Sync curated bundles for frontend, backend, and full-stack work
• Run a local package registry server for LAN sharing
• Connect to another PackVault node and import missing tarballs
• Track package, bundle, and peer metadata in SQLite

Install

After PackVault is published to npm:

npm install -g packvault

Install directly from this GitHub repository:

npm install -g github:Demon-Die/PackVault

For local development:

npm install
npm run build
npm link

Quick Start

npm install -g packvault
packvault bundle frontend
packvault create react my-app --install
cd my-app

To prepare broad framework support before going offline:

packvault bundle frameworks

To share your cached packages on the same Wi-Fi/LAN:

packvault share

Another machine can import your cached packages:

packvault connect <your-ip>

Basic Workflow

Create an offline starter app with a Vite-style wizard:

packvault create

Example wizard:

Project name (my-packvault-app):
Select a framework
  1. React
  2. Vue
  3. Svelte
  4. Solid
  5. Preact
  6. Qwik
  7. Angular
  8. Next.js
  9. Nuxt
  10. SvelteKit
  11. Astro
  12. Remix
  13. Express API
  14. Fastify API
  15. NestJS API
  16. Node.js
Choose a number: 1
Select a variant
  1. TypeScript + Vite
  2. JavaScript + Vite
Choose a number: 1

You can also pass the project name first:

packvault create my-app

Or start directly with a framework:

packvault create react
packvault create react my-react-app
packvault create vue my-vue-app
packvault create svelte my-svelte-app
packvault create next web-app
packvault create astro docs-site
packvault create fastify api-server

Or skip the wizard by choosing a template directly:

packvault create react-vite my-app
packvault create react-vite-js my-js-app
packvault create vue-vite vue-app
packvault create svelte-vite svelte-app
packvault create solid-vite solid-app
packvault create preact-vite preact-app
packvault create qwik qwik-app
packvault create angular angular-app
packvault create nextjs web-app
packvault create nuxt nuxt-app
packvault create sveltekit sveltekit-app
packvault create astro astro-site
packvault create remix remix-app
packvault create express-api api-server
packvault create fastify-api fast-api
packvault create nest-api nest-api
packvault create node-ts worker

Cache packages once while online:

packvault sync react vite tailwindcss

sync also caches runtime dependencies by default. Use --no-dependencies to cache only the requested package tarballs.

Install later without internet:

packvault install react
packvault install vite
packvault install tailwindcss

Cache a full bundle while online:

packvault bundle frontend
packvault bundle frameworks

Then install cached packages offline:

packvault install react
packvault install vite

Check what is available offline:

packvault doctor

Create and install cached template dependencies in one step:

packvault create react my-app --install

Usage Examples

packvault sync react vite tailwindcss
packvault install react
packvault create react-app my-app
packvault doctor
packvault bundle frontend
packvault serve
packvault share
packvault connect 192.168.1.25

Vault Layout

PackVault stores durable state under:

~/.packvault/
  cache/
  templates/
  bundles/
  database/
  exports/

Commands

packvault sync <packages...>

Downloads package metadata from the npm registry, resolves requested versions, downloads tarballs, stores them locally, and records metadata in SQLite.

Package specs can be plain names or exact versions:

packvault sync react vite@latest express@4.18.3

packvault install <package>

Installs a cached package and its cached runtime dependency tree into the current project's node_modules. This command does not require internet access.

packvault install react
packvault install express --version 4.18.3

packvault create <template> [project-name]

Creates a project from a local template and replaces __PROJECT_NAME__ tokens.

Use --install to install cached dependencies from the generated template's package.json.

Available templates:

• react-vite
• react-vite-js
• react-app alias for react-vite
• vue-vite
• vue-vite-js
• svelte-vite
• svelte-vite-js
• solid-vite
• solid-vite-js
• preact-vite
• preact-vite-js
• qwik
• angular
• nextjs
• nuxt
• sveltekit
• astro
• remix
• express-api
• fastify-api
• nest-api
• node-ts

packvault doctor

Reports vault health, cached package count, storage usage, and bundle coverage.

Example:

React          Cached
Vite           Cached
Nextjs         Missing

Packages: 2
Storage: 14 MB
Vault Health: 80%

packvault bundle <name>

Syncs a predefined bundle.

• frontend: react, react-dom, vite, tailwindcss, eslint, prettier
• backend: express, prisma, dotenv
• fullstack: react, vite, express, prisma
• frameworks: popular frontend, meta-framework, and API framework packages

packvault serve

Starts a local Express registry server on port 4873 by default and prints local LAN addresses.

packvault serve --port 4873

packvault share

Shares your cached packages with nearby machines on the same Wi-Fi/LAN. This does not require internet access after packages are cached.

On the machine with cached packages:

packvault share

On another machine connected to the same LAN:

packvault connect <your-ip>

You can also point npm at the PackVault server for cached package metadata:

npm install react --registry http://localhost:4873

packvault connect <ip>

Connects to another PackVault server, lists available cached packages, downloads missing tarballs, and records the peer.

packvault connect 192.168.1.25 --port 4873

Database Schema

CREATE TABLE packages (
  name TEXT NOT NULL,
  version TEXT NOT NULL,
  size INTEGER NOT NULL,
  cache_path TEXT NOT NULL,
  created_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
  PRIMARY KEY (name, version)
);

CREATE TABLE bundles (
  name TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
  packages TEXT NOT NULL
);

CREATE TABLE peers (
  ip TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
  hostname TEXT NOT NULL,
  last_seen TEXT NOT NULL
);

Architecture

See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md.

Roadmap

See docs/ROADMAP.md.