- Client
- Pasteable
- Role
- Product Design & Full-Stack Development
- Timeline
- Ongoing product
- Year
- 2026
- Category
- Desktop App
Overview
Pasteable is a universal clipboard: Electron desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux/Raspberry Pi), Expo mobile, Next.js landing site. Firebase `pasteable-377e5`, SQLite FTS5, optional E2EE, Stripe in the monorepo. Overlay shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+V.
Why
The OS clipboard is one slot with no history, no search, and no cross-device continuity. Pasteable is a premium clipboard for macOS, Windows, and Linux (including Raspberry Pi) that captures what you copy and makes it searchable, organized, and reusable — with iOS and Android companions.
Relevant to any “invisible daily tool.” It has to feel native, stay offline-first, and stay out of the way. Overlay shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+V is the product’s handshake.
The challenge
The clipboard is the most-used, least-respected OS feature: one slot, no history, no search, no cross-device continuity. The product had to feel native on Mac, Windows, and Linux — including Pi — and stay out of the way.
What made it hard
- Every OS clipboard is one slot with no history or search.
- Cross-device copy had to feel native on three desktop families plus phone.
- A file:// Electron origin plus Firebase auth and native sqlite on ARM64 are unforgiving details.
Approach
Monorepo: Electron+Vite desktop, Expo mobile, Next marketing. Local SQLite for offline search; Firestore sync with hash dedup. Glassmorphic overlay, collections, favorites, pinning, source-app attribution.
Process
- Capture: OS clipboard listeners and overlay UX.
- Sync: SQLite local + Firebase, conflict-free enough for daily use.
- Surfaces: Desktop, mobile, landing site.
What we built
- Desktop overlay: Frameless, always-on-top shelf on the active display — click to paste.
- Offline search: better-sqlite3 / FTS5 so history is instant without a round trip.
- Cross-device sync: Firebase mirror with hash dedup; mobile companion in the same product family.
- Collections: Favorites, pins, smart collections, source-app color coding.
How it was built
Monorepo: Electron + Vite desktop, Expo mobile, Next.js landing site. Firebase `pasteable-377e5`. Local SQLite (better-sqlite3 / FTS5) for offline search. Firestore sync with hash dedup. Optional E2EE. Stripe in the monorepo.
Universal capture: text, rich text, HTML, images, files, URLs, code. Collections with drag-and-drop, favorites, pinning, source-app attribution. Glassmorphic overlay, dark/light themes. Linux auto-paste and source attribution need `xdotool`/`wtype` and `wl-copy`/`xclip`. Packaging: macOS DMG (arm64 + x64), Windows NSIS, Linux AppImage. Hard-won details: ARM64 native sqlite, file:// Electron origin with Firebase auth, multi-display overlay placement.
Stack
- Electron + Vite: macOS, Windows, Linux, Pi
- SQLite FTS5: Local search
- Firebase: Auth, Firestore, Storage
- Expo: Mobile companion
- Next.js: Landing site
Outcomes
- 4: Desktop targets + mobile
- Overlay: Global shortcut shelf
- FTS5: Offline search
- SQLite: Offline-first search
Wins
- Desktop on macOS, Windows, and Linux (x64/arm64, including Pi) plus Expo mobile.
- SQLite FTS5 offline search and Firestore sync with hash dedup.
- Global overlay (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+V) with collections, pins, and source-app color.
- Next.js marketing website; installers for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Hard parts
- Native on three families: Mac, Windows, Linux/Pi is not “Electron and hope.” ARM64 sqlite, auto-paste, and clipboard APIs are unforgiving.
- file:// plus Firebase: Auth from an Electron origin is a known class of bugs. The desktop host had to stay signed-in without a normal web origin.
- Stay out of the way: Overlay placement on the active display, keyboard-first navigation, and offline-first search are the difference between a utility and a toy.
Services
- Electron + electron-vite (macOS, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi)
- Firebase Auth, Firestore & Storage Sync
- better-sqlite3 Offline-First Local Store
- Glassmorphic Overlay UI (React + TypeScript)
- Global Shortcut + Multi-Display Positioning
- electron-builder Packaging (DMG, NSIS, AppImage)