Desktop

Overview

allternit-desktop is the Electron shell that wraps allternit-platform into a native macOS (and eventually Windows/Linux) desktop application. It is the only packaged app — all other surfaces either run in the browser or serve as libraries.

What it does

Launches and manages the allternit-platform Next.js server in the background
Provides a native window loading http://localhost:3013
Manages local VM provisioning via Apple Virtualization.framework (macOS)
Handles system tray, global shortcuts, and native menus
Distributes as a .dmg installer via electron-builder

Quick Chat (Global Hotkey)

A floating mini-window can be toggled from anywhere on the system:

Action	Shortcut
Toggle Quick Chat window	`Cmd+Shift+A`
Hide mini-window	`Esc` or click outside

The mini-window loads the platform at http://localhost:3013/?mini=1 — frameless, always-on-top, centered on screen.

Local Development

cd surfaces/allternit-desktop

# First: start the platform server
cd ../allternit-platform && pnpm dev

# Then: launch Electron (in a separate terminal)
cd ../allternit-desktop && pnpm dev

Build & Package

pnpm build:electron      # builds and packages as .app/.dmg
pnpm build:electron:dmg  # DMG only

Architecture

allternit-desktop/
├── src/
│   ├── main/
│   │   └── unified-main.ts   # Entry point — window, tray, hotkeys, VM manager
│   └── preload/
│       └── index.ts          # Context bridge for renderer → main IPC
├── native/
│   └── vm-manager/           # Swift CLI for Apple Virtualization.framework
└── resources/
    └── bin/                  # Compiled Swift binaries

IPC Channels

Channel	Direction	Purpose
`mini-window:hide`	Renderer → Main	Hide the Quick Chat window
`mini-window:toggle`	Renderer → Main	Show/hide Quick Chat window

Get Started

Core Concepts

Gizzi Code CLI

Tools & ACI

Security & Enterprise

Admin API

BYOC Runtime

Surfaces

CI CD

Guides

Cookbooks

Release Notes

Overview

What it does

Quick Chat (Global Hotkey)

Local Development

Build & Package

Architecture

IPC Channels

​Overview

​What it does

​Quick Chat (Global Hotkey)

​Local Development

​Build & Package

​Architecture

​IPC Channels

Overview

What it does

Quick Chat (Global Hotkey)

Local Development

Build & Package

Architecture

IPC Channels