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OpenPencil

OpenPencil is an open-source desktop design editor and Figma alternative that natively opens .fig and .pen files, includes built-in AI, and provides a…

  • AI
  • Productivity
  • Tools & Utilities
OpenPencil is an open-source desktop design editor and Figma alternative that natively opens .fig and .pen files, includes built-in AI, and provides a headless Vue SDK for building custom editors.

Platform availability

Available on 3 of 9 platforms

  • Unraid (not listed)
  • TrueNAS (not listed)
  • Umbrel (not listed)
  • ZimaOS (not listed)
  • Proxmox (not listed)
  • Helm (not listed)
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux

Health score?A 0-100 score computed nightly from four factors: maintained (40%: recent commits and steady activity), popular (25%: GitHub stars, log scale), easy to install (20%: platforms, install notes, setup guides, Docker image) and light to run (15%: minimum RAM, ARM support). When the source code has been checked, a fifth factor, security check (20%: automated scan for committed secrets, unsafe desktop-app settings, known-vulnerable dependencies and project hygiene; any serious finding caps it at 20), is added. Factors without data are left out and the rest are rescaled.

80/100 Excellent

Maintained
100last commit 0 days ago
Popular
798,874 GitHub stars
Easy to install
453 install platforms, install notes
Light to run
No data
Security check
76no serious findings, 4 minor, CI, tests

Based on 4 of 5 factors.

GitHub stars
8,874
Open issues
63
Last commit
2026-10-12
Latest release
v0.15.1
License
MIT
Activity
steady

Checked today - source: GitHub (open-pencil/open-pencil)

Resources & Compatibility

Requirements not published yet.

First-install notes

  • macOS: install the signed app with Homebrew If you use Homebrew, the Mac package installer, run brew install open-pencil/tap/open-pencil to get the latest signed desktop release. This avoids building from source and helps the app run normally on Mac. source
  • Linux: add the required desktop libraries On Debian or Ubuntu, use apt, the system package manager, to install the listed WebKit and Tauri desktop libraries. These are system pieces the desktop window needs, and missing them can stop the app from opening. source
  • Optional: install the CLI for terminal tools If you want to inspect or import OpenPencil files from a terminal, install the CLI using npm or Homebrew, which are common package installers. It is optional, so you can skip it until you need command-line tools. source

Fetched today - each note links to its source

Alternatives (4)

  • Figma - Web-based vector graphics editor with desktop apps, focusing on real-time collaboration and version control for UI/UX design.
  • Open Pencil - Open-source editor for vector and interface designs with AI-powered creation, Figma file support, real-time peer-to-peer collaboration, cod…
  • Penpot - Penpot is a pioneering open-source platform for design and prototyping, tailored specifically for product teams.
  • Wireflow - Free, real-time collaborative online tool for creating intricate, precise user flow prototypes for design teams.

Checked today - source: AlternativeTo

Common questions

Can I self-host OpenPencil with Docker?

OpenPencil has an official Docker image. A self-hosted deployment can be done with the community docker-compose configuration.

Can OpenPencil open and save Figma .fig files?

It opens .fig and .pen files, reads and writes native Figma files, and supports copying and pasting nodes between apps.

Which AI providers can I connect to OpenPencil?

You can connect OpenRouter, Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google AI for the built-in AI design tools.

Can AI agents edit OpenPencil designs without a GUI?

It includes a built-in MCP server so AI agents can edit designs without a graphical interface.

Are OpenPencil designs compatible with Git version control?

OpenPencil uses a Design-as-Code JSON format that supports version control and Git diffs.

Do I need the CLI to use OpenPencil?

The CLI is optional and is only needed if you want to inspect or import OpenPencil files from a terminal. It can be installed with npm or Homebrew.

Answers sourced from github.com, news.ycombinator.com, openpencil.dev, runthisai.com

Community

Collected today - public community threads