A cross-platform desktop launcher for managing and running your personal web applications — built with Tauri, React, and Rust.
Lucas' PhD Toolbox lets you install locally hosted web apps from GitHub Releases from a single clean interface.
- 📦 Storefront — Browse and install production apps directly from GitHub Releases. The launcher automatically detects your OS and architecture and downloads the correct binary.
- 📚 Library — Launch, stop, restart, and open your installed apps. Drag and drop to reorder widgets. Displays the current installed version of each app.
- 🔄 Auto-updates — Each app displays its installed version. Click "Check for Update" to compare against the latest GitHub Release and update with one click.
- 💾 Backup System — Automatically syncs app backups to a configurable master backup directory (e.g. Dropbox), keeping it in sync as older backups are rotated out.
- ⚙️ Settings — Configure your master backup directory and check for new launcher releases from within the app.
- 🔒 Privacy-first — The app is running entirely locally, nothing is sent to the cloud.
The launcher comes pre-configured with a catalog of the following productivity and research applications:
- Job Application Tracker — A localized database to track job applications, companies, and interview statuses.
- Literature Map — A visual node-graph tool for academic literature review and exploring connections between research papers.
- Portfolio Analytics — Financial tracking and analytics dashboard for personal investment portfolios.
- Core Planner — An all-in-one productivity suite, daily planner, and task manager.
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Desktop shell | Tauri 2 |
| Frontend | React 19 + TypeScript + Vite |
| Backend | Rust |
| Styling | Vanilla CSS |
Go to the Releases page and download the installer for your platform:
| Platform | File |
|---|---|
| macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel) | .dmg (universal binary) |
| Windows | .exe (installer) |
| Linux | .AppImage |
app-windows.exe— Windows