Design
Free · On your own computer

Run Design
yourself.

The complete workspace on your computer. No account, no sign-in, nothing sent anywhere.

Download Design
01 / PYTHON

Check that you have Python 3.9 or newer.

macOS / Linux
python3 --version
Windows
py --version

No Python? Get it from python.org. On a Mac, the Xcode Command Line Tools include it too. python.org ↗

02 / DOWNLOAD

Download and unzip.

Unzipping the download gives you a folder called design-local. The commands below assume it is in your Downloads folder.

Get the latest version ↗
03 / START

Start Design in a terminal.

macOS / Linux
cd ~/Downloads/design-local
python3 start.py
Windows
cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\design-local
py start.py

Your browser opens Design at http://localhost:3001. If that port is taken, Design picks the next free one and prints the address.

Press Ctrl+C in the terminal to stop it. Start it the same way next time; your work is still there.

OR / DOCKER

Prefer Docker?

If you use Docker Desktop, run this in the design-local folder, then open http://localhost:3001.

docker compose up -d

docker compose down stops it and keeps your work in a Docker volume; docker compose down -v deletes it as well. Another port: DESIGN_PORT=3005 docker compose up -d.

04 / GOOD TO KNOW

Your work stays with you.

Only your computer can open it: Design listens on localhost, not on your network. Your work is saved in the data folder inside design-local.

Use another folder with python3 start.py --data ~/Documents/design-data, or another port with --port 3005.

Settings → Export JSON saves tasks, documents and images in one file. Settings → Restore backup brings it back.

Agents and scripts can use Design's REST API. With Design running, the guide is at http://localhost:3001/design-api.md.

05 / LATER

Updating and uninstalling.

Updating: export a backup, download the new version and copy your data folder into the new design-local folder. With Docker, run docker compose up -d --build in the new folder; the volume is reused.

Uninstalling: stop Design and delete the design-local folder. With Docker, run docker compose down -v first.

Checking the download: the checksum of the file you downloaded should match the SHA-256 on the download page.

macOS / Linux
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/design-local-v0.1.2.zip
Windows
certutil -hashfile %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\design-local-v0.1.2.zip SHA256