explaingit

lightningpixel/modly

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

3,541TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 4/5Setup · hard

TLDR

A self-hosted desktop app that turns photos into 3D models using local GPU-based AI models, with no cloud upload.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Modly))
    What it does
      Photo to 3D model
      Runs locally on GPU
      No cloud upload
    Tech stack
      TypeScript desktop app
      Python backend
      Installable model extensions
    Use cases
      Game asset generation
      3D printing
      Digital art
    Audience
      Game developers
      Hobbyists

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Generate a 3D game asset from a single reference photo

USE CASE 2

Create a printable 3D model from a picture of an object

USE CASE 3

Turn concept art into an explorable 3D scene without uploading images to the cloud

What is it built with?

TypeScriptPython

How does it compare?

lightningpixel/modlysofn-xyz/mailingfern-api/fern
Stars3,5413,6103,611
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyhardeasyeasy
Complexity4/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperpm founder

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires a capable local GPU, macOS support is not yet available.

Open source and self-hosted, check the repository license file for exact terms.

In plain English

Modly is a desktop application that turns photos into 3D models using artificial intelligence, all processed locally on your own GPU, with no cloud service required. If you have an image of an object, a character, or a scene, you can drop it into Modly and get back a 3D mesh you can use in other projects. The way it works is through an extension system. Modly itself is the shell, a TypeScript desktop app with a Python backend that handles the AI processing. The actual AI models are installed as extensions, each one a separate GitHub repository containing a model file and a configuration. Official extensions are available for several named models, and you install them by pasting a GitHub URL into the app's Models page. Once installed, you download the specific model variant you want and start generating. The app is open source and self-hosted, meaning everything runs on your own machine, your images never leave your computer. It is available for Windows and Linux, with macOS noted as coming soon in the README. You would use Modly if you want to generate 3D assets for game development, 3D printing, digital art, or any creative project that starts from a photo. Because it runs locally, it is useful if you have privacy concerns about uploading images to a service, or if you simply want a free, offline tool. The tech stack is TypeScript for the desktop interface and Python for the AI backend.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through installing Modly on Windows
Prompt 2
How do I add a new AI model extension to Modly by pasting a GitHub URL
Prompt 3
Explain how Modly converts a 2D image into a 3D mesh
Prompt 4
What GPU do I need to run Modly locally

Frequently asked questions

What is modly?

A self-hosted desktop app that turns photos into 3D models using local GPU-based AI models, with no cloud upload.

What language is modly written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript, Python.

What license does modly use?

Open source and self-hosted, check the repository license file for exact terms.

How hard is modly to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is modly for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Verify against the repo before relying on details.