Snapify is a self-hostable screen recording and video sharing platform designed for individuals and teams who want full control over their recordings without relying on third-party SaaS services. Built with TypeScript and Next.js, it allows users to record their screen, browser tab, or any application, upload existing videos, and share them via public links—all while maintaining privacy through self-hosted infrastructure. Unlike cloud-based alternatives like Loom, Snapify empowers users to manage storage, access, and retention policies on their own infrastructure using AWS S3 for file storage and MySQL via Railway for data persistence. It’s ideal for developers, remote teams, and privacy-conscious organizations seeking an open-source alternative to proprietary screen recording tools.
What You Get
- Unlimited screen and tab recordings - Record your desktop, browser tabs, or any application without usage limits, with full control over where the recordings are stored.
- Public link sharing - Generate shareable public URLs for your recordings, enabling easy collaboration without requiring recipients to create accounts.
- Time-based deletion and un-listing - Configure recordings to automatically delete or be hidden from public view after a specified timeframe for compliance and privacy.
- Existing video uploads - Upload pre-recorded videos to the platform and share them using the same public link system as recorded content.
- Self-hosted deployment with AWS S3 and MySQL - Store recordings securely in private S3 buckets using Backblaze B2 or compatible services, with database management via Prisma and MySQL on Railway.
- GitHub authentication - Securely authenticate users via GitHub OAuth, allowing seamless access control for teams already using GitHub.
Common Use Cases
- Building a private knowledge base for remote teams - Teams record Loom-style walkthroughs of internal tools or processes and share them internally without exposing data to external vendors.
- Creating documentation with video demos - Developers record bug reproductions or feature demonstrations and link them directly in issue trackers, keeping sensitive context within their own infrastructure.
- Privacy-focused video sharing → Eliminate third-party tracking - Organizations avoid cloud-based screen recorders that track user behavior; Snapify ensures all data stays on their own servers with encrypted storage.
- DevOps teams managing compliance-sensitive recordings - Teams in regulated industries (healthcare, finance) use Snapify to ensure screen recordings comply with data residency and retention policies by controlling storage location and auto-deletion rules.
Under The Hood
Snapify is a full-stack video communication platform built with Next.js, leveraging modern web technologies to deliver a seamless user experience. It combines a well-structured frontend with server-side logic and integrates various third-party services for core functionality.
Architecture
This project adopts a monolithic architecture with clear frontend-backend separation, utilizing Next.js as the primary framework. The codebase demonstrates organized module boundaries and follows atomic design principles for UI components.
- Modular component structure with distinct atoms and molecules
- State management implemented through Jotai atoms for scalable UI updates
- Server-side API routes integrated within the Next.js framework
- Separation of concerns between UI, logic, and data layers
Tech Stack
Built with TypeScript and Next.js, Snapify integrates a range of modern tools to support its functionality and user experience.
- TypeScript ensures type safety across the codebase
- tRPC enables type-safe API communication between frontend and backend
- Prisma handles database operations with schema management
- AWS SDK integrates video storage and processing capabilities
- Next-Auth manages authentication flows effectively
Code Quality
The codebase reflects a moderate level of quality with consistent patterns and some areas of technical debt.
- Comprehensive linting and formatting configurations in place
- Standard error handling practices applied across modules
- Reasonable test coverage with Playwright for end-to-end validation
- Code consistency maintained through structured directory organization
What Makes It Unique
Snapify distinguishes itself through its thoughtful integration of modern frontend patterns and tooling for real-time video interactions.
- Innovative use of Jotai for granular state management in UI components
- Seamless combination of atomic design principles with server-side rendering
- Extensive use of tRPC to bridge frontend and backend with strong typing
- Flexible architecture that supports scalable video communication workflows