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General

tinykit is an AI-powered development platform that lets you build, edit, and host web apps from a single deployment. Chat with AI to generate code, edit in a VS Code-like editor, and see changes live instantly.
The key difference: your builder and your app run on the same server.With other tools, you build locally then deploy separately. With tinykit, there’s no deploy step—your app is already live the moment you generate it.Plus: open source, bring your own AI key, works on mobile, multi-app support, and costs ~$10/month total.
tinykit is in early beta. Great for:
  • Personal utilities and side projects
  • Internal tools and admin dashboards
  • MVPs and prototypes
Keep in mind:
  • No guarantees against data loss—back up anything important
  • Auth requires manual wiring (no built-in user auth for generated apps)
  • Best suited for internal use or tools where you control access
Not recommended (yet) for public-facing apps with sensitive user data.
Yes! MIT licensed. Fork it, customize it, self-host it, sell services with it. View on GitHub

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Deployment & Hosting

No. Railway is the easiest option (one-click deploy), but you can host anywhere that runs Node.js:
  • Fly.io
  • DigitalOcean
  • AWS
  • Any VPS
  • Docker
See Architecture for deployment guides.
Yes! tinykit supports domain-based routing. Point multiple domains to your server and each serves a different app:
recipes.yourserver.com → Recipe app
blog.yourserver.com    → Blog app
crm.yourserver.com     → CRM app
Run hundreds of apps from a single tinykit instance.
For static apps (no database): Yes, export the built HTML and deploy anywhere.For apps using the database: No - these require tinykit’s backend APIs (/_tk/data, /_tk/realtime). Keep them hosted on your tinykit instance, or use domain-based routing to serve multiple apps from one server.
Yes. Configure your custom domain in Railway (or your hosting platform) and point your DNS there. tinykit automatically serves the right app based on the domain.
Railway and most modern platforms provide automatic HTTPS. No configuration needed.

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AI & API Keys

  • OpenAI - GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-3.5
  • Anthropic - Claude Sonnet 4, Claude 3.5 Sonnet
  • Google Gemini - Gemini Pro, Gemini Flash
This keeps costs transparent and in your control. You pay your AI provider directly for what you use—no markup, no hidden fees, no subscription.
Typical casual usage: $3-5/month with GPT-4 or Claude.Heavy usage (building apps daily): $10-20/month.You can monitor and set limits in your provider’s dashboard.
Yes! If you already pay for Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus, or another LLM subscription, you can generate apps in those interfaces and import them into tinykit.See No API Key Required for the snapshot format and prompt templates.

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Builder Interface

TabPurposeShortcut
AgentChat with AI to build your appCmd+1
CodeEdit code directlyCmd+2
ContentCMS fields for non-developersCmd+3
DesignCSS variables (colors, fonts, spacing)Cmd+4
DataBrowse and edit database recordsCmd+5
HistorySnapshots for undo/time travelCmd+6
Design fields are CSS variables that control your app’s appearance. The AI creates these as it builds, and non-technical users can customize them without code:
  • Colors (primary, secondary, background)
  • Fonts (family, sizes)
  • Spacing (padding, margins)
  • Borders (radius, shadows)
Content fields are CMS-like editable values—headlines, descriptions, button text. Perfect for letting clients update copy without accessing the code editor.
Yes! The editor and AI work on tablets. Perfect for quick edits on the go.

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Features & Usage

tinykit generates Svelte 5 apps using the runes API ($state, $derived, $effect). Apps compile to standalone HTML with CSS-in-style blocks.The AI is specifically tuned for this stack with detailed system prompts.
Yes! Snapshots are built in. Every AI change creates a snapshot. Click any snapshot in the History tab to restore your code, design fields, and content to that point. Database records are not affected.
tinykit includes PocketBase—an embedded SQLite database with:
  • Built-in authentication
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI at /_pb/_
  • REST API
The AI creates collections automatically when you ask for data storage.
14 starter templates across categories:
CategoryTemplates
ProductivityKanban, Notes, Canvas, Timer
FinanceExpense tracker, Invoice generator
ContentBookmarks, Recipes
SocialLinktree, Poll, Event RSVP
BusinessClient CRM
NewsHN reader, RSS reader

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Troubleshooting

Check:
  1. Your API key is correct in .env
  2. You have credits/quota with your AI provider
  3. The model name is correct (e.g., gpt-4o, not gpt4)
Check your provider’s dashboard for usage and errors.
Try:
  1. Hard refresh the preview (Cmd+Shift+R)
  2. Check the browser console for errors
  3. Ensure files are saving (check for save indicator)
Check:
  1. File size is under 5MB
  2. File extension isn’t blocked (no .exe, .sh, etc.)
  3. Path doesn’t contain ../
Check browser console for specific error messages.
Check:
  1. Your domain’s DNS is pointing to your tinykit server
  2. The domain is associated with a project in the dashboard
  3. SSL/HTTPS is properly configured
Visit /tinykit/dashboard to see all projects and their domains.

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