PearPass Desktop — Open-Source Peer-to-Peer Password Manager Built on Pear Runtime

Source: Dev.to

Why This Project Is Cool (and Why Devs Should Care)

PearPass Desktop is interesting for more than just end‑user security:

• Peer‑to‑peer / distributed sync mindset (no classic “one cloud to breach” architecture)
• Open‑source by default (easier to audit and extend)
• Modern desktop stack (Pear Runtime + React ecosystem)

Great real‑world reference for:

• crypto + security UX
• local‑first apps
• end‑to‑end encryption product design
• multi‑device sync without centralized infra

SEO keywords naturally covered: open‑source password manager, peer‑to‑peer password vault, local‑first security app, end‑to‑end encrypted vault, Pear Runtime desktop app

Features (What You Get)

• Secure storage for passwords, identities, credit cards, notes, and custom fields
• Cross‑device and cross‑platform synchronization
• Offline access (local‑first usage)
• Encryption for vault security
• Password strength analysis
• Random password generator
• Simple, clean UI

High‑Level Architecture

UI (React)
  ↓
Vault / state management
  ↓
Local encrypted storage
  ↓
Peer‑to‑peer distribution (Pear Runtime)

This means your “source of truth” is your devices, not a centralized web account.

Getting Started (Installation & Dev Setup)

0) Requirements

• Node.js (match the version in .nvmrc)
• npm
• Pear Runtime installed

Check Node version:

node --version

1) Clone the Repo

git clone https://github.com/tetherto/pearpass-app-desktop.git
cd pearpass-app-desktop

2) Update Submodules

PearPass uses submodules. Update them with the provided script:

npm run update-submodules

If you need a specific remote:

npm run update-submodules -- [remote-name]

3) Install Dependencies

npm install

4) Generate i18n (Translations)

PearPass uses Lingui. Generate and compile message catalogs:

npm run lingui:extract
npm run lingui:compile

5) Run the Desktop App (Dev Mode)

pear run --dev .

If everything is set correctly, the app should launch.

Testing

PearPass uses Jest for unit testing.

npm test

Usage: What to Try First

Once the app runs, a good “first session” checklist:

• Create a vault and set a strong master password
• Add sample entries: login, note, identity
• Try the password generator + strength checks
• Explore sync / distribution options (if you have multiple devices)

Tech Stack

• Pear Runtime
• React
• Styled Components
• Redux
• Lingui (i18n)
• Jest (tests)

This is a great repo to learn how a security‑focused desktop app structures:

• state
• encryption boundaries
• UX flows for sensitive data

Who Should Fork This?

This repo is perfect if you want to build:

• a local‑first password manager fork
• a secure “vault” module for another app
• P2P sync experiments
• privacy‑first productivity tools

Ideas:

• add hardware key / OS keychain integrations
• add vault export formats
• add threat‑model docs + security tooling
• build a plugin system for record types

Related Projects in the Ecosystem

PearPass also has:

• browser extension
• mobile app
• vault core libraries

If you want full‑stack parity (desktop + browser autofill), look at the extension repo too.

Final Notes

PearPass Desktop is one of those repos that’s both:

• immediately useful
• very teachable for local‑first security apps

If you’re exploring modern, open‑source security software — this is absolutely worth starring and reading.