Spatia — Think in space.

What is Spatia?

Spatia is a local-first visual infinite canvas for organizing ideas, connecting concepts, and turning thoughts into something you can see. Instead of pages and scrolling documents, you get one unbounded space where notes, text, shapes, frames, files and links live side by side.

Local-first. Your projects are saved as real files on your machine (or in your browser on the Web app). No account, no cloud, no lock-in — everything works offline.
Infinite canvas. Arrange anything anywhere. Zoom from a bird's-eye view of your whole workspace down to a single note.
Everything connects. Lines and arrows follow objects as you move them, so diagrams stay tidy without manual redrawing.
Fast and lean. A dependency-free canvas engine renders smoothly even on very large workspaces.
One format. Projects use a versioned JSON format that keeps working when Spatia evolves.

Spatia is available as a Windows 10 / 11 (x64) desktop app and as a Web app / installable PWA for any modern browser, including mobile devices. Current version: 0.4.9.

Getting started

On Windows (desktop)

Download the installer from the Spatia website (Spatia-0.4.9-x64.msi).
Run the .msi and follow the setup wizard.
Launch Spatia. It opens a fresh blank canvas with the tools panel on the left.

In the browser (Web app)

Open the Spatia website and choose Try Web (or the Web link).
No sign-up needed. Your work is stored locally in your browser and stays private.
From the browser you can install Spatia as a PWA for an app-like, offline experience.

Your first canvas — 60 seconds

Add a note: in the left panel, add a Note (its text editor opens right away — start typing).
Add another note and connect the two: hold Ctrl, drag from the first note to the second, and release. An arrow connects them.
Zoom and pan: scroll the mouse wheel to zoom at the cursor, and hold the middle button (or Space + left-drag) to pan.
Save: use Save As to store your project, or start from a template next time via Templates….

Canvases & projects

Every Spatia workspace is a project with one infinite canvas. A project stores all of your objects (notes, text, shapes, frames, connections, images, files and links) plus metadata like the project name.

Creating a project

New — an empty canvas.
Templates… — start from a structured starter (see Templates).
New project in the mobile menu works the same way.

Managing projects

The left panel's File section holds New, Open, Import, Save, Save As, Templates…, Export… and Plugins….
Recent projects appear at the top of the panel and in the Web app's menu — click one to reopen it.
Objects on the canvas can be organized with frames and groups, layered with bring-to-front/send-to-back, and locked to prevent accidental edits.

Tip: there is no fixed page size — your canvas is as large as you need it to be.

Saving & opening projects

Desktop

Save writes the current project to its existing file location.
Save As lets you pick a folder and name. The project is stored as a versioned JSON file (.spatia.json) or as a portable folder (.spatia) that keeps files and images alongside the project data.
Open loads a .spatia.json or .spatia file. Import does the same while keeping your current session.
Recently opened projects are always one click away in the Recent list.

Web app

Save stores the project in your browser's local database (IndexedDB) — private to you and ready offline.
Save As also downloads a .spatia.json copy you can keep anywhere.
Open lets you pick a saved .spatia.json or .spatia file from your device.

Tip: keep a downloaded copy of important canvases — it is your portable, shareable version of the project.

Import & export

Use Export… to share or archive your work. You can choose:

Format	What you get	Best for
`.spatia`	A portable folder: project data plus included files and images	Backups and re-opening later
`.spatia.json`	Single JSON file with the whole project	Emailing, sharing, safe keeping
PNG	An image of the whole visible canvas	Screenshots, docs, quick sharing
PDF	A PDF document of the canvas area	Handouts, printing, presentations
Markdown (`.md`)	A readable text outline of notes and text on the canvas	Notes, drafts, plain-text workflows

Import works in the opposite direction: open any .spatia.json or .spatia project from disk (desktop) or from your device (Web app).

Tip: on the desktop, images and files are copied into the project when you drop them onto the canvas, so an exported .spatia folder travels with everything it needs.

Templates

Rather than starting from a blank canvas, choose Templates… to begin from a ready-made starter. Everything in a template is a normal object, fully editable and undoable.

Template	What it sets up
Blank canvas	Start empty and build your own workspace
Brainstorming	A central idea with a ring of related thoughts
Project planning	Phases across a timeline with tasks under each phase
Mind map	A central topic branching into sub-topics
Study	Flashcards for questions and answers
Notes	A focused set of meeting or scratch notes
Product planning	A now / next / later roadmap with feature cards
Personal	Goals, a habit grid and a simple daily planner

Applying a template asks you to confirm, then creates a fresh project pre-filled with objects. Use Undo to remove them, or edit them like any other object.

Notes & text

Notes

Notes are colorful sticky-style cards with a title and body. They are the fastest way to capture an idea. When you add a note, its editor opens immediately so you can type right away.

Edit: double-click a note to open its inline editor.
Color: notes come in a palette — pick one that fits (the inspector shows note properties when a note is selected).
Resize: drag the selection handles on the note's corners or edges.

Text

Text objects are lighter than notes — great for headings, labels and titles. Select a text object to adjust size, bold, italic and alignment from the inspector. Double-click to edit the text itself.

Tip: move, resize, rotate and connect notes and text exactly like any other object.

Connections

Connections draw lines (optionally with arrowheads) between objects. Because they reference the objects they join, they follow automatically when you move or resize either end — no manual redrawing.

Creating a connection

Drag: hold Ctrl and drag from an object to a target, then release. Release on empty space to leave a free endpoint.
Selected pair: select exactly two objects and press Ctrl+Shift+C (or use Connect selection in the right-click menu).
Mobile: use the Connect tool — tap a source object, then tap the target (or drag from source to target).

Managing connections

Select a connection to change its color or toggle its arrowhead in the inspector.
Delete a connection with Delete — the objects it connected stay put.
Connections always attach to the facing edge of an object and travel with it.

Frames

Frames are named, colored containers that give your workspace structure — like zones on a giant whiteboard. Use them for projects, phases, departments, or any grouping of ideas.

Add a frame: right-click the canvas and choose Add frame (or use the Add sheet on mobile and pick Frame).
Name and color: select a frame and edit its name and color in the inspector.
Isolate: select a frame and press Shift+I to isolate its content and focus on just that area; press Escape to exit.
Size it: drag the frame's handles to fit the content inside.

Frames are visual containers, not pages — nothing is clipped, and objects can overlap them freely.

Images, files & links

Images

Add: use Image in the Add section, drag an image file from your computer onto the canvas, or paste an image from the clipboard.
Images become objects you can move, resize and rotate like anything else.
When an image is imported, Spatia captures a small thumbnail automatically, so galleries load instantly without decoding the full file.

Files

Add: use File in the Add section, or drop any file onto the canvas.
Files are stored with the project (desktop) or in the browser (Web app) and can be opened later — right-click a file object and choose Open file.
If a file goes missing (for example after moving a project folder), right-click and choose Relink file… to point Spatia at the new location.

The Assets panel

Open it: use Assets in the Media sidebar section (or the mobile menu). It lists every image, video, audio, PDF and file imported into the project.
Thumbnail chips: each asset shows a thumbnail for images, a file icon otherwise, plus its name, size and how many objects use it.
Find on canvas: click a chip to jump to and select the first object that uses that asset.
Open / Relink / Remove: each chip offers these actions. Relink swaps in a replacement file; Remove deletes the stored file permanently (objects still using it then show a missing-file notice so you can relink).

Links (URLs)

Add: use Link in the Add section and enter the address, or drop a link from your browser onto the canvas.
Link cards show a title (editable) and open the page when you choose Open link.

Drawing & shapes

Shapes

The Shapes section adds ready-made diagram primitives: rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, diamond, triangle, line and arrow. Everything you do with other objects works here too — move, resize, rotate, snap and connect.

Style: select a shape and use the inspector to change its fill color, stroke color and stroke width.
Lines and arrows are drawn horizontally from the box's left center to its right center; resize to change their length and direction.

The Pen tool

The Pen tool (in the Tools section or the HUD) lets you draw freehand strokes directly on the canvas — underline, circle, scribble, annotate. Pen strokes are decorative: they render with your drawings but aren't selectable objects.

Combine shapes, freehand strokes and connections to sketch flow charts, wireframes, diagrams and more.

Selection & editing

Select tool (default) drives almost everything:

Select: click an object. Shift+click (or Ctrl+click) toggles an object on/off the selection.
Marquee: drag on empty canvas to select everything inside the rectangle.
Move: drag any selected object (or the marquee selection) to move everything.
Resize: drag the handles on the selection box's corners and edges.
Rotate: use the rotation handle above the selection.
Multiple: select two or more objects to move them together, group them, or connect them.

Editing actions

Action	How
Duplicate	`Ctrl+D` or right-click → Duplicate
Delete	`Delete`/`Backspace` or right-click → Delete
Copy / paste	`Ctrl+C` / `Ctrl+V`
Select all	`Ctrl+A`
Group	Select ≥ 2 objects and press `Ctrl+G`
Ungroup	Select a group and press `Ctrl+Shift+G`
Bring to front / send to back	`]` and `[`, or the right-click menu
Focus selection	`F` — zoom to the selection
Isolate container	`Shift+I` on a frame or group; `Escape` to exit
Right-click menu	Open/edit, duplicate, delete, connect, group, layer and add actions

Zoom, pan & navigation

Zoom

Mouse wheel zooms in and out centered on the cursor.
The HUD (+ / – / Reset) in the bottom center zooms around the view center.
Focus (F) jumps to your selection; Fit all (mobile) fits everything on screen.

Pan

Middle mouse button drag pans from anywhere.
Hold Space and left-drag to pan.
The minimap (bottom-left) shows an overview — click or drag it to jump around the workspace.

Finding your way around

Zoom out for the big picture, zoom in to a note for detail — the canvas never ends.
Use frames as landmarks and groups to keep related objects together.
Isolation (Shift+I) hides everything outside the selected frame or group so you can focus.

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z` / `Ctrl`+`Y`	Redo
`Ctrl`+`C` / `Ctrl`+`V`	Copy / paste objects
`Ctrl`+`D`	Duplicate selection
`Ctrl`+`A`	Select all objects
`Delete` / `Backspace`	Delete selection
`Ctrl`+`G` / `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	Group / ungroup
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Connect the two selected objects
`]` / `[`	Bring to front / send to back
`F`	Focus (zoom to) selection
`Shift`+`I`	Isolate container / exit isolation
`Escape`	Clear selection, close pop-ups, exit isolation
`Space` + drag	Pan the canvas
`Ctrl` + drag from an object	Start a connection

Shortcuts work in the desktop app and the Web app. While you're typing in a text editor, keys go to the text, not the canvas.

Mobile & gestures

Spatia's Web app is touch-optimized and installable from your phone or tablet browser. Install it (your browser's "Add to Home screen" / "Install app" option) for an app-like, offline experience.

Gestures

Pan & zoom: move or pinch with two fingers.
Select: tap an object to select it.
Resize: drag the selection handles (corners and edges) to resize.
Edit text: double-tap a note or text object.
Connect: use the Connect tool — tap a source object, then tap the target (or hold and drag from source to target).
More actions: the bottom Menu holds edit, duplicate, delete, connect, group, layer and view actions for the current selection.

Bottom bar

The bottom navigation gives you Select, Pen, Add (text, note, link, image, file, frame and all shapes), Connect and a Menu with File (New, Open, Import, Save, Save As, Export, Templates), Plugins, View (zoom, fit, exit isolation) and Recent projects.

Search & organization

Your canvas is the search and organization surface — and it is built to stay clear as it grows:

Zoom out to see everything at once, the way a map shows a whole city.
Frames divide the space into named regions (phases, topics, areas).
Groups keep related objects moving and layering together.
The minimap is your always-on overview: click anywhere to jump there.
Focus (F) snaps the view to whatever you're working on; isolation hides the rest.

Note: a full text-search box inside the canvas is planned for a future version. Today, keeping things in named frames plus zoom-to-focus covers most canvases.

Plugins

Plugins are small add-ons that extend Spatia with extra commands from inside a secure, sandboxed environment. A plugin declares its identity in a manifest and can read from and write to your canvas through a small, audited API.

Installing a plugin

Open Plugins… from the File section (desktop, Web app and mobile all have it).
Install… picks a local plugin folder that contains a manifest.json and the plugin code (desktop).
Install URL installs from a hosted manifest.json address.
Plugins appear in the list with an enable/disable toggle, and can be removed.

Using a plugin

Enabled plugins add their commands to Spatia's menus. A small Example Plugin is built in (an "Add example note" command and a live selection listener); the official hosted Counter Plugin provides a "Count objects by type" command that demonstrates the public Plugin API from a manifest.json URL — a plugin reads the canvas, computes the result and shows it, all inside the sandboxed plugin environment.

Commands run only when you invoke them, and the plugin only reaches the canvas through the documented API.

The official hosted Browser Frame plugin adds an "Add Browser Frame" command that places a real, interactive web page on the canvas — with an address bar, search, back/forward/reload, move and resize. Only the current URL is stored on the object. On the desktop app it uses a full Chromium frame so any site loads including video; on the web build it falls back to an <iframe>, which many sites block by refusing to be embedded — that limitation is shown honestly in the frame rather than faked.

API v2: permissions and events

A plugin declares the API it wants in its manifest via apiVersion: 2 and an optional permissions list, e.g. ["notify", "commands", "view", "documents", "selection", "navigation"].
Every API method is gated by one of those permissions (view = reading objects, the project and the viewport; documents = create/update/delete objects, selection = reading and changing the selection, navigation = zoom, undo/redo, focus; commands = registering menu actions; notify = toasts). A permission a plugin did not ask for is refused at runtime.
Plugins built before API v2 (no apiVersion/permissions field) keep full v1-compatible access, so nothing existing breaks.
Plugins can subscribe to app events with api.on("selection" | "document" | "viewport", handler) — the handler is called with the current selection ids, the object count, or the viewport position, and the manifest's permission list is what decides which API calls the handler may perform.

Security: plugins run sandboxed with no direct access to your files, and every API call is validated against the plugin's declared permissions. Install plugins only from sources you trust.

Collaboration

Spatia is a local-first tool — your projects stay under your control — and it also supports real-time collaboration for nearby or online teammates.

Start the bundled collaboration server (npm run server, default ws://localhost:8787), click Share… and connect.
The first person to join a room becomes its owner and can promote others from viewer to editor inside the share dialog.
Everyone sees live cursors and each other's selections; the owner and editors share the document and see each other's changes in real time.
Share the room ID (or an invite link) with teammates; they join the same room — desktop and Web apps interoperate.

Rooms are stored on the server (one file per room under server-data/), so a session survives server restarts and reconnects automatically.

Prefer to stay entirely local? Export the canvas as .spatia.json or a .spatia folder and share it — recipients open or import it directly.

Version history & data safety

In version 0.4.9, version history means what a versioned, save-based workflow gives you:

Undo / Redo for everything you do in the current session.
Manual save to your chosen location (desktop files, or IndexedDB in the browser).
Portable copies: every .spatia.json or .spatia export is a snapshot you can store, rename or put in your own backup system.
Recent projects keep your last few canvases one tap away.

Tip: for sensitive work, export a .spatia folder after a big session and let your OS backup handle version snapshots — it's a plain file you control.

Automatic multi-version history and crash-safe autosave are planned for future releases.

Frequently asked questions

Is Spatia really free and offline?

Yes. The desktop app works entirely offline, and the Web app keeps your work in your own browser. There's no account and no cloud dependency.

What's the difference between the desktop app and the Web app?

The desktop app saves files directly on your machine and can store large images and files with the project. The Web app is a lightweight version that runs in any modern browser (and as an installable PWA), storing projects locally in the browser.

Where do my projects live?

Desktop: wherever you saved them (you choose with Save As). Web app: in your browser's local storage (IndexedDB). Nothing is uploaded anywhere.

Can I open a Web-app project in the desktop app and back again?

Yes — save or export the project as .spatia.json in one place and open or import it in the other. The project format is shared.

What can I put on a canvas?

Notes, text, images, files, links, frames, all the built-in shapes, freehand pen strokes, groups and connections.

Can I undo a mistake?

Yes — Ctrl+Z undoes, Ctrl+Shift+Z (or Ctrl+Y) redoes. Undo covers adds, moves, resizes, rotates, deletes, grouping and more.

Are there templates I can start from?

Yes — eight starters covering brainstorming, planning, study, notes and personal use. See Templates.

Does Spatia support collaboration?

Yes, plus it stays local-first. Start the bundled server (npm run server, default ws://localhost:8787), then click Share… to open a room — the first joiner is the owner and can invite editors. Teammates see live cursors and share changes in real time; rooms survive server restarts and reconnect automatically. You can also share portable .spatia exports and edit them together as a fully offline alternative.

Troubleshooting

The Web app won't boot

Try a hard refresh and use an up-to-date browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari).
If a cached copy misbehaves after an update, reload once — the service worker refreshes its shell.

An image or file shows as missing / can't be opened

Right-click the object and choose Relink file… to point at the moved file.
Keep the .spatia folder together with its files so assets travel with the project.

I can't type on the canvas

Double-click a note or text object to open its inline editor.
Make sure a pop-up dialog (like the link box) isn't holding focus.

A plugin isn't working

Check it's enabled in Plugins…, then try disabling and re-enabling it.
Reinstall it from its manifest.json URL or folder to pick up a fix.
Only install plugins you trust.

Something else is wrong

If you hit a genuine bug, we want to know. Click Report a problem to open the in-page reporting form, describe what happened, and send it — no email client needed.

Report a problem

Found a bug or something that isn't working the way it should? Let us know — we read every report.

Clicking Report a problem opens a small form right on the page. Type what happened and press Send report — the report goes in the background, and the page stays where you are. You'll see a confirmation when it's sent, or an error you can retry.

The form is specifically for reporting problems and bugs, not general support questions. It helps us if you include:

What you were doing when it happened
Whether you were in the desktop app or the Web app
Any error message you saw

The version, page and browser details are attached to the report automatically — you only need to write the description.