VanillaDesk - Local-First Knowledge & Workspace Manager

Languages: English | Italiano

VanillaDesk is not just a simple notepad. It’s a hybrid workspace that combines an advanced WYSIWYG word processor with a powerful in-memory Relational Database Engine (RDBMS).

Everything runs at lightning speed, entirely in your browser. No servers, no clouds, no subscriptions, no dependencies (Zero NPM, No React/Vue/Angular). Just pure, solid, and blazingly fast Vanilla JavaScript.

Why I Built VanillaDesk

Working as an IT professional in AMS (Application Management Services), I constantly found myself managing repetitive tasks, log queries, code snippets, and fragmented documentation. I needed a tool as fast as a notepad but as powerful as a relational database, one that I could run on corporate machines without installing servers or relying on external Clouds blocked by strict firewalls. That’s how VanillaDesk was born.

Key Features

• 100% Privacy & Local-First: Your data never leaves your computer. The app saves everything into a local folder (Workspace) on your hard drive using the native File System Access API.
• Native Relational Databases: Turn raw data into Kanban Boards, Calendars, or Gantt Charts (Timelines) with a few clicks. Supports inter-table Relations, Rollups, and Formulas.
• Automation Engine & Macros: Create Triggers and Actions. Fire chain updates, trigger sound alerts, or modify hundreds of records in batch via custom programmable buttons.
• Sandboxed JS Formulas: A computation engine that allows you to write pure JavaScript code inside cells for complex math, string manipulation, and dynamic styling.
• Transclusion (Live Citations): Dynamically embed a text block or a table from another note. Edit the original, and all citations across your entire workspace update in real-time.
• Military-Grade Encryption: Protect your data with native WebCrypto API AES-GCM 256-bit encryption. Set a password, and the JSON saved on your disk becomes completely unreadable.
• Crash Recovery System: With every keystroke, the app performs a silent backup in IndexedDB. If your browser crashes or the tab is accidentally closed, your session is restored instantly.

Architecture & Tech Stack

The engineering goal behind VanillaDesk is absolute longevity and zero technical debt from third-party frameworks.

• Core: HTML5, CSS3, ES6+ Vanilla JavaScript. Custom Virtual DOM and Caret Engine for Widgets.
• Storage: File System Access API (Disk Persistence) + IndexedDB (RAM Cache & Crash Recovery).
• External Libraries: The only external dependency is Chart.js (bundled locally in the repo) used to generate Analytic Dashboards and Pivot Charts.

AI-Assisted Development (Pair-Programming)

To build this project, I adopted a modern AI-assisted development approach. The software architecture, business logic, in-memory database design, and overall UX are the result of my own vision and AMS background. LLM models acted as my "Co-Pilots" to accelerate boilerplate coding, optimize sorting/filtering algorithms, and refine the Vanilla CSS UI, always operating under strict, pre-defined architectural rules.

How to Use (Zero Installation)

The application is a true serverless Single Page Application (SPA).

1. Clone or download the source code from this repository.
2. Double-click on index.html to open it in your browser.
3. Click on "Create New Workspace" to initialize your working folder on your PC.

⚠️ Browser Compatibility: Since VanillaDesk heavily relies on the modern File System Access API to physically write files to your hard drive, a Chromium-based browser is required (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera). Browsers like Safari or Firefox do not yet fully support these APIs natively.

📧 Email: dragoneblu@gmail.com

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. You are free to use, study, modify, and distribute it, even for commercial purposes. See the LICENSE file for details.