update files

backend/.python-version

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.11.15

electron/python-bridge.js

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class PythonBackend {
       ? path.join(__dirname, '..', 'backend')
       : path.join(process.resourcesPath, 'backend');
 
-    const pythonCmd = process.platform === 'win32' ? 'python' : 'python3';
+    const pythonCmd = process.platform === 'win32' ? 'python' : '/home/dillon/.pyenv/versions/3.11.15/bin/python';
 
     this.process = spawn(pythonCmd, [
       '-m', 'uvicorn', 'main:app',

frontend/package-lock.json

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 {
-  "name": "ai-video-editor-frontend",
+  "name": "cutscript-frontend",
   "version": "0.1.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
-      "name": "ai-video-editor-frontend",
+      "name": "cutscript-frontend",
       "version": "0.1.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "lucide-react": "^0.468.0",

idea summary.md

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+Here's a clear, actionable **summary** of what you (as a solo developer using AI tools heavily) should do to build and monetize this product, based on current market demand in 2026.
+
+### What You Should Do (Step-by-Step Plan)
+1. **Fork an existing open-source base** (don't start from scratch)  
+   - Best choice: **CutScript** (newest, explicitly built as "offline Descript alternative" with text-based editing) or **Audapolis** (more mature, ~1.8k stars, wordprocessor-like experience for spoken-word video/audio).  
+   - Reason: The hard parts (local Whisper transcription with word-level timestamps, syncing text deletions to video cuts, FFmpeg handling) are already solved. You save 4–8 weeks and focus on polish.
+
+2. **Migrate/refactor to Tauri 2.0** (Rust backend + React/Vite + Tailwind + shadcn-ui frontend)  
+   - This gives tiny installers (~5–15 MB), excellent performance, full cross-platform (Windows/macOS/Linux), and a modern, native feel. AI can help you do the migration quickly.
+
+3. **Keep scope minimal** — ship a delightful MVP in **6–10 weeks**.  
+   - Open-source the core engine on GitHub for trust, feedback, and virality.  
+   - Sell a polished "Pro" version via Gumroad/Stripe (one-time license preferred).
+
+4. **Monetization model** (low-risk, high-margin):  
+   - **Free forever** for core local use (unlimited processing, no uploads).  
+   - **One-time Pro license** ($49–$69): unlocks batch processing, extra polish presets, custom filler lists, and priority support/updates.  
+   - Optional later: cheap cloud credits for very long videos or faster transcription.  
+   - Launch on Product Hunt, Reddit (r/podcasting, r/videoediting, r/selfhosted), and X.
+
+5. **Launch & marketing**  
+   - Position it as: **"Offline Descript alternative — edit video like a Google Doc, fully local, no subscriptions, no uploads."**  
+   - Target: Indie podcasters, YouTubers, and creators doing talking-head/interview content who hate cloud costs/privacy issues.  
+   - Goal: Get 500–2,000 users in the first month, with 15–25% converting to Pro.
+
+This approach minimizes your risk and burn rate while hitting the exact gap: polished, local text-based editing that existing open-source tools lack.
+
+### Recommended Minimal but Useful Features (MVP)
+Focus only on what creators repeatedly say they want for spoken-word content (text-based editing + quick cleanup). Nothing more.
+
+1. **Drag-and-drop video import** (auto-extracts audio).
+2. **One-click local transcription** (using faster-whisper or whisper.cpp — accurate word-level timestamps, runs offline on most laptops).
+3. **Text-based editing** (scrollable, Google-Doc-style transcript):  
+   - Click any word → video jumps to that spot.  
+   - Highlight + Delete (or cut) text → corresponding video + audio is automatically removed with smart 150–250 ms crossfades (no jarring jumps).
+4. **One magic "Clean it" button** (your original idea):  
+   - Auto-removes long pauses/silences (>0.8s).  
+   - Auto-removes common fillers ("um", "uh", "like", "you know", etc.).  
+   - Optional simple local check for more accuracy.
+5. **One-click audio polish** (FFmpeg chain):  
+   - Volume normalization + light compression.  
+   - Basic noise reduction.  
+   - Makes dialogue sound professional instantly.
+6. **Simple synced preview + undo stack + project save/load**.
+7. **Export** clean MP4 (with optional SRT subtitles or burned-in captions).
+
+That's it. No multi-track timelines, no voice cloning, no collaboration, no fancy effects. This already cuts editing time dramatically for 80% of podcast/YouTube talking-head work and directly addresses the biggest complaints about Descript (cost, privacy, complexity).
+
+### Why This Will Work
+- **Market demand is real**: Creators love text-based editing because it feels revolutionary for dialogue-heavy videos. They want it faster, cheaper, and private/offline. Existing alternatives are either cloud-based with subscriptions or clunky open-source tools.
+- **Competition gap**: CutScript and Audapolis prove interest but lack slick UX and the "one magic button" polish. You can own the "delightful local Descript killer" niche.
+- **Solo-dev friendly**: Forking + AI code generation makes this realistic without a team.
+
+Once you ship the MVP and get initial users, you can add nice-to-haves (e.g., custom filler lists, better subtitle export, optional cloud boost) based on real feedback.
+
+**Next immediate actions**:
+- Clone CutScript or Audapolis today and run it locally to see the current state.
+- Set up a new Tauri project and start refactoring the UI/transcript editor.
+
+If you want, I can give you the exact Git commands, first AI prompts for refactoring, folder structure, or even sample code for the "Clean it" button + FFmpeg polish chain. 

package.json

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
-  "name": "cutscript",
+  "name": "talkedit",
   "version": "0.1.0",
   "private": true,
-  "description": "CutScript — Open-source AI-powered text-based video editor",
+  "description": "TalkEdit — Open-source AI-powered text-based video editor",
   "main": "electron/main.js",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "concurrently \"npm run dev:backend\" \"npm run dev:frontend\" \"wait-on http://localhost:5173 && npm run dev:electron\"",

plan.md

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# Plan for Building TalkEdit (Whisper.cpp + Tauri)
+
+Based on your original idea summary and our discussions, here's a detailed plan to build a standalone, local audio/video editor app. We'll modify CutScript as the base, migrate to **Tauri 2.0** (Rust backend + React frontend) for tiny, dependency-free installers, and use **Whisper.cpp** for fast, accurate transcription. This keeps the scope minimal, focuses on text-based editing for spoken content, and targets podcasters/YouTubers.
+
+## 1. Overview
+- **Goal**: Create an offline Descript alternative with word-level editing, transcription, and export. Users download one file (~10–20MB), install, and run—no Python, FFmpeg, or external deps.
+- **Why This Stack**: Tauri bundles everything into a native app; Whisper.cpp (C++ lib) integrates seamlessly with Rust for CPU-efficient transcription. Faster than rebuilding from scratch.
+- **Target Users**: Creators editing podcasts/videos; free core + Pro upgrades.
+- **Key Differentiators**: Fully local, text-based editing like Google Docs, smart cuts with fades.
+
+## 2. Tech Stack
+- **Frontend**: React + Vite + Tailwind CSS + shadcn/ui (from CutScript; minimal changes).
+- **Backend**: Tauri 2.0 (Rust) – handles file I/O, FFmpeg calls, Whisper.cpp integration.
+- **Transcription**: Whisper.cpp (via Rust bindings like `whisper-cpp-sys` or `whisper-rs`).
+- **Audio/Video Processing**: FFmpeg (bundled or called via Rust wrappers like `ffmpeg-next`).
+- **State Management**: Zustand (from CutScript).
+- **Packaging**: Tauri's `tauri build` for cross-platform installers.
+- **AI Features**: Local models only (no APIs); optional Ollama for fillers.
+
+## 3. Step-by-Step Development Plan
+1. **Set Up Tauri in CutScript** (1–2 weeks):
+   - Install `tauri-cli` globally.
+   - In CutScript root: `npx tauri init` (choose Rust backend, link to existing React frontend).
+   - Migrate Electron main.js to Tauri's `src/main.rs` (handle window, file dialogs).
+   - Update `tauri.conf.json` for app metadata, bundle settings.
+
+2. **Integrate Whisper.cpp in Rust** (2–3 weeks):
+   - Add `whisper-cpp` as a dependency in `Cargo.toml`.
+   - Create a Rust module for transcription: Load models, process audio, return word-level timestamps.
+   - Replace Python backend calls with Tauri commands (e.g., `invoke` from frontend to Rust for transcription).
+   - Handle model downloads on first run (store in app data dir).
+
+3. **Migrate Audio/Video Logic** (2 weeks):
+   - Port FFmpeg calls to Rust (use `ffmpeg-next` for cutting/export).
+   - Implement segment calculation: From edited transcript, build keep_segments with padding/fades.
+   - Add audio cleaning (noise reduction via bundled tools or Rust libs).
+
+4. **Frontend Polish** (1–2 weeks):
+   - Update UI for Tauri (file dialogs via `tauri-plugin-dialog`).
+   - Refine transcript editor: Better timestamp syncing, manual adjustments.
+   - Add export options (MP4 with subs, audio-only).
+
+5. **Testing & Packaging** (1 week):
+   - Test on Windows/macOS/Linux; ensure Whisper runs offline.
+   - Bundle with `tauri build`; verify no external deps.
+   - Add auto-updater for Pro features.
+
+6. **Launch & Iterate** (Ongoing):
+   - Open-source core on GitHub.
+   - Market on Product Hunt, Reddit; gather feedback.
+
+## 4. MVP Features (Minimal but Useful)
+Focus on what creators need for spoken content:
+- **Drag-and-drop import**: Audio/video files; auto-extract audio.
+- **One-click transcription**: Whisper.cpp with model choice (Fast - less accurate: tiny/base; Slow - more accurate: small/medium/large).
+- **Text-based editing**: Scrollable transcript; click word → jump to video; select/delete words → auto-cut audio with 150ms fades.
+- **Smart cleanup**: Remove fillers ("um", pauses >0.8s) via local AI.
+- **Preview & Export**: Synced preview; export MP4/audio with optional SRT subs.
+- **Undo/Redo**: Full edit history.
+
+No multi-track, voice cloning, or collaboration—keep it simple.
+
+## 5. Monetization Model
+- **Free Forever**: Core editing/transcription (unlimited local use).
+- **Pro License** ($29–49 one-time): Batch processing, high-quality voices (if adding TTS), custom presets, priority support.
+- **Optional Add-Ons**: Cloud credits for long videos (rarely needed).
+
+## 6. Timeline & Milestones
+- **Weeks 1–4**: Tauri setup + Whisper integration.
+- **Weeks 5–6**: Audio logic migration + frontend tweaks.
+- **Weeks 7–8**: Testing, packaging, launch prep.
+- **Total**: 6–10 weeks to MVP (solo dev + AI).
+
+## 7. Risks & Tips
+- **Risks**: Whisper.cpp compilation issues; Rust learning curve if new to it.
+- **Tips**: Start with small models (base ~70MB); test timestamp accuracy early. Use Tauri's docs for migration. If stuck, fall back to bundling Python for Whisper (but avoid for true standalone).
+- **Resources**: Tauri docs, Whisper.cpp GitHub, Rust audio crates.</content>
+<parameter name="filePath">/home/dillon/_code/audio_editor/plan.md

src-tauri/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Generated by Cargo
+# will have compiled files and executables
+/target/
+/gen/schemas

src-tauri/Cargo.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+[package]
+name = "app"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "A Tauri App"
+authors = ["you"]
+license = ""
+repository = ""
+edition = "2021"
+rust-version = "1.77.2"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[lib]
+name = "app_lib"
+crate-type = ["staticlib", "cdylib", "rlib"]
+
+[build-dependencies]
+tauri-build = { version = "2.5.6" }
+
+[dependencies]
+serde_json = "1.0"
+serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
+log = "0.4"
+tauri = { version = "2.10.3" }
+tauri-plugin-log = "2"

src-tauri/build.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fn main() {
+  tauri_build::build()
+}

src-tauri/capabilities/default.json

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "../gen/schemas/desktop-schema.json",
+  "identifier": "default",
+  "description": "enables the default permissions",
+  "windows": [
+    "main"
+  ],
+  "permissions": [
+    "core:default"
+  ]
+}

src-tauri/src/lib.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#[cfg_attr(mobile, tauri::mobile_entry_point)]
+pub fn run() {
+  tauri::Builder::default()
+    .setup(|app| {
+      if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
+        app.handle().plugin(
+          tauri_plugin_log::Builder::default()
+            .level(log::LevelFilter::Info)
+            .build(),
+        )?;
+      }
+      Ok(())
+    })
+    .run(tauri::generate_context!())
+    .expect("error while running tauri application");
+}

src-tauri/src/main.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Prevents additional console window on Windows in release, DO NOT REMOVE!!
+#![cfg_attr(not(debug_assertions), windows_subsystem = "windows")]
+
+fn main() {
+  app_lib::run();
+}