app-it plugin
app-it builds a macOS app from a local web project, with its own Dock icon and window and a clean stop of the dev server on quit
- 215 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- The plugin copies launch templates and `desktop:*` scripts into the project, edits `package.json` and ad-hoc signs the built app
- The built app starts a dev server and opens a port on the local machine
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add plugins/app-itDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The plugin copies launch templates and `desktop:*` scripts into the project, edits `package.json` and ad-hoc signs the built app
- The built app starts a dev server and opens a port on the local machine
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
app-it is a plugin and skill for Claude Code and Codex. It inspects a local web project folder or takes the address of a hosted app and builds a macOS `.app` from it: its own window, Dock icon, name and a clean launch. No Electron, Tauri or rewrite is involved. First the plugin reads the project from disk and detects the type: Vite with React, SvelteKit, Astro, Next or a static site, plus its start scripts and ports. Then it picks a launch strategy. The default is a small Swift shell around `WKWebView`, so the Dock icon stays yours, and Chrome in `--app` mode comes in only where a project needs APIs that Chromium alone has. Proven templates are copied into the project, the build is ad-hoc signed and an `.icns` icon is generated. Closing the window keeps the dev server warm for a quick reopen, while quitting stops the app and frees the port. At the end the plugin writes a report of what changed and how to undo it. The companion app-it-static serves finished builds from `dist/` or `build/` and costs about 15 MB instead of a 300–700 MB dev server.
Who it is for. macOS developers with a dozen local web projects and internal tools who want to open each one from the Dock like an ordinary program.
Good fit when
- A Vite dashboard starts from a terminal command and you want to open it with a double click
- A published artifact or internal service needs its own window with a dedicated icon
- The port stays busy after the window closes and quitting the app should free it
- The Dock is full of browser windows for local projects and a Stack from `~/Applications/App It/` can gather them
- A finished app should not keep a dev server in memory: app-it-static fits
Not a fit when
- You need a cross-platform installer with notarization, auto-update and App Store distribution
- The project is not a web app and has no page for WebKit to show
- You are on Windows and not ready to test the beta app-it-windows plugin
- You want a shared cloud service: app-it hosts nothing and has no online demo
Example request
Turn this Vite project into a macOS app with a Dock icon and put the build in the App It folderLimitations
- The main plugin runs on macOS only. A sibling beta plugin exists for Windows, and the author owns no Windows machine and tests it with volunteers.
- It needs Claude Code or Codex, `swiftc` from the Xcode Command Line Tools and `python3` for `app-it-static` mode.
- Builds are ad-hoc signed: no notarization, App Store or auto-update, and the recipient of an archive must trust the package.
- The WebKit shell does not suit every project, and for those needing Chromium-only APIs the plugin switches to a Chrome launch.
How to disable. Built apps live in `~/Applications/App It/` and can be deleted like ordinary files. The build report lists the project changes and how to undo them. The plugin itself is removed with `claude plugin uninstall app-it@app-it` or its Codex equivalent.
FAQ
How do I install app-it in Claude Code?
Run `claude plugin marketplace add Christian-Katzmann/app-it`, then `claude plugin install app-it@app-it`. For Codex use `codex plugin marketplace add` and `codex plugin add`.
How does app-it differ from Electron or Tauri?
It adds no dependencies to the project and leaves business code alone: a small native WebKit shell is built around your existing launch. The app starts the same server as usual.
What happens to the server when I close the window?
⌘W or the red button leaves the dev server running, so reopening takes about 250 ms. Quitting with ⌘Q stops the app and frees the port.
Can I wrap an already published web app?
Yes, set its address in the `external_url` option. The user signs in inside the app window, so no shared secrets end up in the build.
What is app-it-static?
A light companion for finished apps: it serves already built `dist/`, `build/` or `out/` and costs about 15 MB. Install it with `claude plugin install app-it-static@app-it` and run it through `/app-it-static`.
Discussion
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README in short
The README opens with a note that the project is independent and not affiliated with Anthropic or OpenAI, and with an animation of a real build. It then gives the workflow diagram, requirements, installation for Claude Code, Codex and Windows, build verification rules and a list of contributors.