Playstead is an open-source, self-hostable personal game-library and continuity system. Its first proof is a polished Mac client connected to a private Phoenix server: import user-supplied game files without changing the originals, browse without mirroring the full library, selectively cache and play offline, preserve compatible persistent saves, and export everything as ordinary verifiable files.
This repository is the Playstead workspace and planning root. The first implementation boundaries are tracked as directories in one repository:
playstead-server/— Phoenix server, versioned HTTPS API, LiveView console, custody, import/export, durable jobs, transfers, saves, and operations.playstead-mac/— SwiftUI/AppKit reference client, offline catalogue and cache, controller and emulator adapters, launch preflight, and save continuity.
This is intentionally not a collection of nested Git repositories. A playstead-protocol package, independent web client, or supporting libraries may be extracted later only after a stable boundary and more than one consumer prove the need.
- Data safety and recoverability
- Reliable local play and save continuity
- Clarity, accessibility, and low-administration operation
- Performance and resource efficiency
- Integrated delight
- Feature breadth
The canonical project definition, requirements, and roadmap live in .planning/. Start with .planning/PROJECT.md and .planning/ROADMAP.md.
Playstead handles private, user-supplied content. It does not distribute, locate, or facilitate acquisition of copyrighted ROMs or proprietary BIOS files. Supported open BIOS replacements may be integrated where licensing permits; user-supplied BIOS files must remain explicit, validated, and portable.