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wulkano/kap

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

★ 19,219TypeScriptAudience · vibe coderComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

Free, lightweight screen recorder for Mac that captures your screen with a single click, built with web technology and installable via Homebrew.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Kap))
    What it does
      Screen recording
      Quick sharing
      Bug capture
    How to use
      Click menu bar
      Select area
      Hit record
    Tech stack
      TypeScript
      Electron
      Web tech
    Features
      Plugin system
      Apple Silicon support
      Intel Mac support
    Installation
      Homebrew
      Direct download
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Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Record a bug or error on your Mac to share with developers or support teams.

USE CASE 2

Create quick tutorial videos or demos to send to colleagues without using expensive software.

USE CASE 3

Capture gameplay, presentations, or screen activity for sharing on social media or messaging apps.

What is it built with?

TypeScriptElectronmacOS

How does it compare?

wulkano/kapshadcn-ui/taxonomykilo-org/kilocode
Stars19,21919,22219,257
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyeasymoderatemoderate
Complexity2/54/53/5
Audiencevibe coderdeveloperdeveloper

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

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min
Use freely for any purpose including commercial, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

In plain English

Kap is a free, open-source screen recorder for Mac built with web technology (TypeScript and Electron, which lets web-based code run as a desktop app). It solves the simple but common need of capturing what is happening on your screen, whether that is a bug you want to report, a tutorial you are recording, or a quick demo to share with a colleague. Using it is straightforward: click the Kap icon in your Mac menu bar, select which part of the screen you want to capture, hit record, and click the icon again when you are done. It supports both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and can be installed directly via Homebrew, a popular Mac package manager. The app also has a plugin system for extending its capabilities. You would use Kap any time you want a clean, no-cost screen recording tool on your Mac without the complexity of professional video software. It is aimed at everyday users who need to capture and share screen content quickly.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I install Kap on my Mac using Homebrew and start recording my screen?
Prompt 2
Show me how to use Kap's plugin system to add custom features to my screen recordings.
Prompt 3
What are the keyboard shortcuts in Kap for starting, pausing, and stopping a screen recording?

Frequently asked questions

What is kap?

Free, lightweight screen recorder for Mac that captures your screen with a single click, built with web technology and installable via Homebrew.

What language is kap written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript, Electron, macOS.

What license does kap use?

Use freely for any purpose including commercial, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

How hard is kap to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is kap for?

Mainly vibe coder.

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