ReaCut
An independently implemented, open-source video editor informed by REA-assisted research into Jianying / CapCut.
macOS first. Research is limited to authorized scope, without copying proprietary Jianying / CapCut code or assets.
All releases / ZIP / checksums · Installation guide
Apple Silicon (M-series) only · Preview · Ad-hoc signed, not notarized. ASR requires separate local Python/MLX and model setup.
Building a complete video editor is a substantial undertaking, and this project is still in its early stages.
Contributors are welcome to help with features, usability, cross-platform support, tests and documentation. Get involved →
English / 简体中文
Getting started · User guide · Weekly feature plan (in Chinese) · Changelog · Contributing
ReaCut brings media management, multitrack editing, subtitles and video export into a familiar desktop workspace. Core editing runs locally, without an account or cloud service.
The project uses [REA](https://github.com/morluto/rea) to study Jianying's interface behavior and local project formats, then independently implements an editor with Electron, React, TypeScript and FFmpeg. REA supports development research; REA, Ghidra and Jianying are not runtime dependencies.
> **v0.6.0 preview** includes local speech, timeline editing, reverse/freeze frames and the lazy plugin startup fix. The Apple Silicon DMG is verified separately from source builds; see [release validation](docs/RELEASE_0.6.0.md). Windows/Linux binaries are not provided, and the existing Windows test failures remain.
## Features
| Area | What you can do |
| --- | --- |
| **Media and source preview** | Import video, audio and images, view thumbnails and waveforms, and mark source in/out points with I/O to add a selected range to the timeline. |
| **Multitrack editing** | Insert, overwrite or overlay source ranges; select, move and trim linked video/audio clips; drag, split, duplicate, select multiple clips, snap, lock tracks, undo and redo. See [workflow and limits (in Chinese)](docs/TIMELINE_EDITING.md). |
| **Reverse and freeze** | Locally reverse a selected video range with reversed or removed audio; insert an adjustable freeze frame at the playhead. [Workflow and limits](docs/REVERSE_FREEZE.md). |
| **Keyframe curves (source only)** | Drag and precisely edit points, copy/paste curves, and choose linear, ease-in, ease-out or smooth easing for motion, opacity and volume. [Workflow and validation](docs/KEYFRAME_CURVES.md); not yet in the v0.6.0 DMG. |
| **Picture and sound** | Transform, crop, apply basic color adjustments, chroma key, rectangle / ellipse masks, keyframes, volume, fades and constant speed changes. |
| **Text and subtitles** | Import SRT / basic WebVTT, edit cues, batch-replace text, shift timing and export SRT. New in source: caret/playhead split, consecutive merge, editable batch styles and entrance/hold/exit animation. [Workflow and validation](docs/SUBTITLE_WORKFLOW.md); not yet in the v0.6.0 DMG. |
| **Local speech** | Offline transcription on Apple Silicon with separately installed MLX Whisper/model; macOS system TTS. [Setup, downloads and platform limits](docs/LOCAL_SPEECH.md). |
| **Local projects** | Save `.reacut` projects, automatically recover edits, relink media and collect project media into a portable folder. |
| **Video export** | Render the full timeline, a selection or a custom range to MP4 / MOV with H.264 and AAC. |
| **Text & effect libraries** | 16 editable text templates, 16 color / motion presets, and 8 transitions with animated previews and one-step undo. |
| **Offline assets** | Use 64 original stickers, backgrounds, title plates and synthesized sounds, plus the bundled Noto Sans SC font. |
| **Codex plugin** | Use the full editor in the Codex side panel; read projects, import media, apply batch edits and undo them. |
| **Optional editing assistant** | Connect an installed, authenticated Codex CLI / Claude Code; review edit proposals before applying them and undo in one step. |
See the [feature matrix](docs/FEATURE_MATRIX.md) for detailed support and limitations.
## Getting started
### Option 1: standalone DMG
Download the [ReaCut 0.6.0 DMG for macOS Apple Silicon](https://github.com/Xiangyu-CAS/rea-capcut/releases/download/v0.6.0/ReaCut-0.6.0-arm64.dmg), open it, drag the app into Applications, and launch it. FFmpeg and FFprobe are bundled. This preview is ad-hoc signed and is not Apple-notarized.
### Option 2: inside the Codex side panel
Install **ReaCut 0.5.0+**, Codex desktop, its `codex` CLI, and Python 3. Download the [Codex plugin ZIP](https://github.com/Xiangyu-CAS/rea-capcut/releases/download/v0.6.0/ReaCut-plugin-0.6.0.zip), then run from its extracted directory or this repository:
```sh
sh scripts/install-plugin.sh
```
Reconnect or open a new Codex chat and ask: **“Open ReaCut in the side panel.”** Click, drag, type, save and export directly in the side panel, or ask Codex to make reversible batch edits to the current project. If the app is outside Applications, pass `--app /absolute/path/ReaCut.app`.
The plugin runs the local editor in a separate session. Its interactive stream is about 6 fps; file selection uses native dialogs, and audio plays locally. Codex receives requested project summaries, text, and explicit screenshots. See the [plugin guide](docs/CODEX_PLUGIN.md) for setup, data boundaries, and limitations.
### Run from source
Clone or download this repository, then run the following commands in its directory. Requirements:
- **Node.js 26**, or **Node.js 24.x starting at 24.11**, and npm.
- **FFmpeg and FFprobe**, with `libx264` and AAC encoding enabled in FFmpeg.
```sh
npm ci
npm run dev
```
This launches the Electron editor and the local Vite development server. Put the media tools on `PATH` or select their paths in application settings; see [media tools](docs/MEDIA_TOOLS.md).
To try a complete example project:
```sh
npm run demo
```
Open `.demo/demo.reacut` in ReaCut. It includes programmatically generated original footage, music, subtitles and keyframes. See the [demo guide](docs/DEMO.md).
### Build a macOS installer
Install Xcode command line tools on a native macOS host, then run:
```sh
npm run dist:mac:installer
```
DMG and ZIP files are written to `release/`. The first build downloads and compiles bundled FFmpeg / FFprobe; installer users do not need to install media tools separately. Open the DMG and drag ReaCut into Applications.
Current builds use local ad-hoc signing and are not Apple-notarized. See [validation](docs/VALIDATION.md) and [media tools](docs/MEDIA_TOOLS.md) for platform coverage and build details.
## Projects and data
- **Local editing:** media processing, preview, project storage and export run on your machine. Ordinary projects reference local media; collect project media or relink files when moving between machines.
- **Codex plugin:** media processing runs locally. Codex can receive project summaries, text and explicitly requested screenshots read through its tools. The live side-panel frames are only used by the interface. See the [plugin guide](docs/CODEX_PLUGIN.md).
- **Optional assistant:** when you send a message, text and a limited timeline summary are sent to the selected CLI service. Media files are not attached. See the [assistant guide](docs/ASSISTANT.md).
- **Experimental Jianying import:** converts basic clips from verified formats. Complex text styles, effects and keyframes may be lost; writing back to Jianying format is unsupported. See [interoperability](docs/CAPCUT_INTEROP.md) for version coverage.
Cloud sync, SaaS, direct AI API integration and AI portrait cutout are not implemented. ReaCut is an independent project and is not affiliated with Jianying / CapCut.
## Development
```sh
npm run check # Type checks, unit tests and production build
npm run test:desktop # Build and test the basic desktop workflow
npm run check:desktop # Full desktop regression suite
```
See [validation](docs/VALIDATION.md) for specialized tests, prerequisites and recorded results.
```text
src/components/ Editor interface
src/editor/ State, undo/redo and preview
src/core/ Project model, timeline, subtitles and visual processing
electron/ Local file bridge, media processing and export
scripts/ Asset, icon and package build tools
tests/ Core logic, media and desktop workflow tests
docs/ User guides, architecture and research notes
```
## Contributing
Bug reports, documentation improvements and pull requests are welcome. Useful areas include Windows / Linux testing, large-project performance, editing interactions and accessibility.
1. Include your OS, ReaCut version, reproduction steps and expected behavior in bug reports. For media issues, use a minimal sample that can be shared publicly.
2. Discuss substantial feature changes in an issue before starting a large implementation.
3. Run `npm run check` for code changes. For desktop interactions or export changes, run the relevant workflow checks and describe the results in your PR.
Use media you own or can redistribute. Keep private projects, caches, credentials and raw `.research/` data out of contributions.
## Documentation
Most detailed guides are currently in Chinese.
| Audience | Guides |
| --- | --- |
| Users | [User guide](docs/USER_GUIDE.md) · [Demo project](docs/DEMO.md) · [Editing assistant](docs/ASSISTANT.md) |
| Capabilities and progress | [Feature matrix](docs/FEATURE_MATRIX.md) · [Changelog](CHANGELOG.md) · [Validation](docs/VALIDATION.md) |
| Developers | [Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) · [Media tools](docs/MEDIA_TOOLS.md) · [Offline assets](docs/ORIGINAL_ASSETS.md) |
| REA research and interoperability | [REA findings](docs/research/REA_FINDINGS.md) · [Interface comparison](docs/UI_PARITY.md) · [Draft interoperability](docs/CAPCUT_INTEROP.md) |
## License and acknowledgments
ReaCut's own source code is licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE). Third-party components retain their respective licenses: bundled FFmpeg / x264 use GPL, and Noto Sans SC uses SIL OFL 1.1. Notices, licenses and corresponding media-tool sources accompany the package; see [third-party notices](THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md).
Thanks to [REA](https://github.com/morluto/rea) and the Electron, React, FFmpeg, Zustand, Lucide and Noto communities.