💿 mixapps

mixapps are like mixtapes or mix CDs, but packaged as Progressive Web Apps that you can install for offline use.

demo

worn grooves ↗
(public domain recordings)

key features

• installable mixes that work offline on iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux
• support for mp3, m4a, ogg, flac, and wav audio formats
• highly customizable interface (just add CSS!)

own something and be happy

modern playlists are platform-locked, often require a paid subscription, and decay as licenses expire.

these days, we mostly point to things that we don't control.

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mixapps are digital artifacts. immutable objects that can persist on-device, independent of platforms, contracts, and corporate whim.

once you install one, it's yours.

[!IMPORTANT] mixapps make it easy to host audio on the public internet. hosting content you don't have the right to distribute is copyright infringement, even when shared privately with a friend or framed as a gift. fair use and backup exceptions cover personal copies, not public hosting.

before uploading, ensure you have the right to distribute the files you include in /mix. this can include your own recordings, public-domain works, creative commons releases, or material you've licensed from the rights holder.

quickstart

1. serve it

   • run ./serve.py to start a development server. while the server is running, you can:
     • add new tracks by moving audio files into the /mix directory, dragging them into the browser window, running ./rip.py to rip tracks from a physical CD, or running ./buy.py to buy tracks on iTunes (both are fine to use locally; check distribution rights before hosting publicly)
     • reorder tracks by dragging them up or down in the list
     • delete tracks with shift + click

2. build it

   • once you're happy with your mix, run ./build.py and follow the interactive prompts to generate manifest.json and service-worker.js, which enable PWA installation and offline functionality.

3. ship it

   • upload the entire project directory to any static web host with HTTPS support (GitHub Pages, Neocities, AWS S3, etc.)

4. share it

   • once it's hosted, anyone can install your mixapp by opening the URL and following their browser's PWA installation steps:
     • iOS (Safari): tap ··· → Share → View More → scroll down to reveal and tap Add to Home Screen → Add
     • Android:
       • Firefox: tap ⋮ → ··· More → Add to Home screen → Add to home screen
       • Chrome: tap ⋮ → Add to Home screen → Install
     • for detailed PWA installation steps for your browser/OS, click here.
   • after the initial download and cache, mixapps work completely offline and behave like native applications ⤵
     
     
     (pictured: integration with iOS lockscreen controls)

customization

add your own custom.css, custom.js, and/or album_art.jpg to /mix to customize your mixapp's appearance and behavior.

licenses

this project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

the Basteleur font by Keussel (distributed by Velvetyne) is licensed under the SIL Open Font License, version 1.1.