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Flicker

Professional cross-platform desktop application for fast screenshot capture and file uploads to Emberly cloud storage.

Flicker is a modern, feature-rich desktop uploader for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Designed as the native companion to Emberly, it provides instant screenshot capture, system-wide hotkeys, and seamless uploads with a beautiful, customizable interface.

Getting Flicker

Build from source and get started.

User Guide

Learn all features and settings.

Hotkey Reference

All default hotkeys and how to customize them.

For Developers

Build Flicker from source or contribute.

Flicker is currently in alpha (v0.1.0-alpha). No pre-built binaries or release packages are available yet. To use Flicker, you must build it from source. See the Getting Flicker section below and the full Flicker Development Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Getting Flicker

Flicker is in active alpha development. Pre-built releases will be available in a future version. For now, build from source:

Prerequisites:

  • Node.js 18+ and Rust 1.70+
  • bun (recommended) or npm

Quick Setup:

git clone https://github.com/EmberlyOSS/Flicker.git
cd Flicker
bun install          # or: npm install
bun run dev          # launches Flicker in development mode

For full build instructions, toolchain setup, and platform-specific requirements, see the Flicker Development Guide.

User Guide

Getting Started

1. Installation

Flicker must be built from source. See the Flicker Development Guide for full setup instructions.

git clone https://github.com/EmberlyOSS/Flicker.git
cd Flicker
bun install
bun run dev

2. First Login

  1. Launch Flicker
  2. Click "Login" button
  3. Enter your Emberly email/username and password
  4. If 2FA is enabled, enter your 6-digit code
  5. Click "Authenticate"
  6. You're all set.

Alternative: Use Upload Token

  1. Go to Emberly Dashboard → Settings → Profile
  2. Copy your Upload Token
  3. In Flicker, go to Settings → Account → Enter Token
  4. Paste the token and save

Core Features

Screenshot Capture

Fullscreen Screenshot — Entire primary monitor

Default hotkey: Ctrl+Shift+S (Windows/Linux)
                 Cmd+Shift+S (macOS)

All Monitors — Stitch all displayed monitors into single image

Default hotkey: Ctrl+Shift+A (Windows/Linux)
                 Cmd+Shift+A (macOS)

Region screenshot features coming in v0.2.0.

How Uploads Work:

  1. Hotkey triggers screenshot capture
  2. Image automatically saved (temporary)
  3. File uploaded to Emberly in background
  4. URL copied to your clipboard
  5. Success notification shows
  6. You can paste the URL anywhere

File Format & Quality:

  • Default Format: PNG (lossless, high quality)
  • Alternative: JPG with quality slider (Settings → Capture)
  • Filename Pattern: Screenshot_YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS.png
    • Customize in Settings with: %Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S

Upload Management

Automatic Upload:

  • Enabled by default
  • Screenshot automatically uploads after capture
  • No additional steps needed
  • Can be toggled in Settings → Behavior

Manual Upload:

  1. Go to Upload tab (main view)
  2. Click "Select File" or drag-and-drop
  3. Configure options:
    • Filename (auto-populated)
    • Visibility (Public / Private)
    • Password (optional)
  4. Click "Upload"
  5. URL copied to clipboard

Upload History:

  • All uploads stored locally in app
  • View in History tab
  • Click any file to:
    • Copy URL to clipboard
    • Open in browser
    • Delete from history
    • View file details
  • Delete individual entries or clear all

Upload Details:

{
  "filename": "Screenshot_2026-01-15_14-30-45.png",
  "url": "https://files.emberly.ca/abc123xyz",
  "uploadedAt": "2026-01-15 14:30:47",
  "size": "245.3 KB",
  "visibility": "public",
  "protected": false
}

History & Management

Upload Listing:

  • Shows last 100 uploads (most recent first)
  • Thumbnail preview of images
  • File size and upload date
  • Direct URL in each entry
  • Search by filename (coming v0.2.0)

Quick Actions:

Click entry →                  Copy URL to clipboard
Right-click entry →            Context menu (copy, delete, open)
Hover for info →              Full filename and size tooltip

Delete Options:

  • Delete individual entries
  • "Clear History" button to remove all (with confirmation)
  • Deletion is local only (files stay on Emberly)

Settings & Customization

Hotkeys

Default Hotkeys:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOS
Fullscreen screenshotCtrl+Shift+SCmd+Shift+S
All monitorsCtrl+Shift+ACmd+Shift+A
Alternative fullscreenCtrl+Alt+PrintScreenCmd+Ctrl+F5

Customize Hotkeys:

  1. Go to Settings → Hotkeys
  2. Click on any hotkey field
  3. Press your desired key combination
  4. Hotkey validates in real-time
  5. Changes apply immediately

Hotkey Rules:

  • Must include at least one modifier (Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Cmd)
  • Cannot conflict with system hotkeys
  • Works even when Flicker is minimized
  • Global system-wide registration (not just in-app)

Appearance

Themes:

1. Stranger Things (default)     - Purple red neon cyberpunk
2. Emberly Classic              - Midnight blue professional
3. Cyberpunk Neon               - Pink and cyan dark
4. Ocean Depths                 - Cool blue tones
5. Forest Twilight              - Green nature vibes
6. Sunset Glow                  - Orange and warm
7. Midnight Purple              - Deep purple elegance
8. Arctic Frost                 - Cool crisp whites/blues
9. Rose Gold                    - Elegant pink tones
10. Dracula                     - Vampire dark theme
11. Tokyo Night                 - Modern Japanese aesthetic
12. Nord                        - Polar blue
13. Rose Pine                   - Warm earth tones
14. Catppuccin Mocha            - Modern soft colors
15. Christmas (seasonal)        - Red/Green/Gold

Customizations:

  • Theme: Select from 15+ built-in themes
  • Background Opacity: 50% to 100% (control window transparency)
  • Font Scale: Small, Medium, Large
  • Font Family: System, Inter, Roboto, Monospace, Poppins
  • Border Radius: None, Small, Medium, Large
  • Sidebar Position: Left or Right
  • Compact Mode: Reduce whitespace for minimal UI
  • Animations: Enable/disable visual effects
  • Glass Effect: Apply glassmorphism styling

Behavior Settings

Post-Upload Action:

After screenshot uploads, automatically:
- Copy URL               (recommended, default)
- Open in browser       (opens emberly.ca link)
- Do nothing            (silent upload)

Clipboard Format:

When copying URL, format as:
- Plain URL             https://files.emberly.ca/abc123
- Raw URL               (same as above)
- Markdown              [Screenshot](https://files.emberly.ca/abc123)
- HTML                  <a href="...">Screenshot</a>

Audio & System:

  • Play sound on upload (toggle)
  • Start at login / auto-launch (Windows/macOS)

Capture Settings

Image Format:

  • Format: PNG (recommended) or JPG
  • JPG Quality: 1-100 slider
  • Always include timestamp in filename

Capture Options:

  • Include cursor: Yes/No (default: Yes)
  • Delay before capture: 0-10 seconds (for setup time)
  • Filename pattern: Customize with variables
    • %Y = 4-digit year (2026)
    • %m = 2-digit month (01-12)
    • %d = 2-digit day (01-31)
    • %H = Hour (00-23)
    • %M = Minute (00-59)
    • %S = Second (00-59)

Example Patterns:

Screenshot_%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S.png     → Screenshot_2026-01-15_14-30-47.png
screen_%d_%m_%Y.png                   → screen_15_01_2026.png
%Y%m%d_%H%M%S.png                     → 20260115_143047.png
capture_%Y%m%d.jpg                    → capture_20260115.jpg

Save Locally:

  • Optional: Keep a local copy of screenshots
  • Enables offline viewing of capture history
  • Storage location shown in Settings

Account Settings

Logged In User:

  • Display name
  • Email address
  • Account tier/plan
  • Avatar (if set)

Actions:

  • View full profile link
  • Copy upload token
  • Enable/setup 2FA (TOTP)
  • Change password (opens web)
  • Logout (ends session)

Upload Token Management:

  • Copy your private token for API use
  • Useful for scripts and automation
  • Keep this secret (don't share in code)
  • Can be regenerated anytime

System Tray Integration

Tray Icon:

  • Flicker appears in your system taskbar/menu bar
  • Single icon click restores/minimizes window
  • Right-click for menu options

Tray Menu:

Flicker
├─ Show Flicker              → Restore window
├─ Take Screenshot           → Quick fullscreen capture
├─ Upload File               → Open file picker
├─ Settings                  → Open settings window
└─ Quit                      → Close app completely

Always Running:

  • When you click the X button, app minimizes to tray
  • It continues running in background
  • System hotkeys still work
  • Click tray icon to restore

Notifications

In-App Notifications:

Upload Complete
   "Screenshot uploaded - URL copied to clipboard"
   Auto-dismisses after 5 seconds

Upload Failed
   "Network error: Please check your connection"
   Shows error details

New Version Available
   "Flicker v0.2.0 is available - Restart to update"
   Click to update or dismiss

Desktop Notifications (optional):

  • System-level notifications (Windows/macOS/Linux)
  • Shows upload status
  • Can click to interact
  • Toggle in Settings → Behavior

Splash Screen

When Flicker launches, a 2-second splash screen displays with:

  • Animated logo with glowing rings
  • Rotating loading bar with shimmer effect
  • Fun facts, tips, and easter eggs
  • 50+ messages including Stranger Things references

Pro tip: Check back daily for new messages!

Hotkey Reference

Complete Hotkey List

Screenshot Actions:

Ctrl+Shift+S         Capture primary monitor fullscreen
Ctrl+Shift+A         Capture all monitors and stitch
Ctrl+Alt+PrintScreen Alternative fullscreen capture (Windows)
Cmd+Shift+S          macOS fullscreen
Cmd+Shift+A          macOS all monitors

Planned (Coming v0.2.0):

Ctrl+Shift+R         Start region selection
Ctrl+Alt+U           Upload from clipboard
Ctrl+Alt+E           Toggle app window visibility

Customizing Hotkeys

  1. Open Settings (in app or Ctrl+,)
  2. Go to Hotkeys tab
  3. Click on any hotkey field
  4. Press your desired key combination (e.g., Alt+S)
  5. Real-time validation shows if hotkey is valid
  6. Click elsewhere or press Enter to save
  7. Hotkey active immediately

Hotkey Requirements:

  • Must have a modifier: Ctrl, Shift, Alt, or Cmd (macOS)
  • One additional non-modifier key
  • Examples: Ctrl+1, Shift+F12, Alt+E
  • Cannot be single key like S or F1
  • Cannot conflict with system hotkeys
  • Cannot use reserved Windows/macOS hotkeys

If You Get "Conflict" Error:

  • That hotkey is used by your OS or another app
  • Try a different combination
  • Examples of conflicts:
    • Ctrl+Alt+Delete (Windows system hotkey)
    • Cmd+Tab (macOS app switcher)
    • Ctrl+C (terminal commands)

Troubleshooting

Screenshots Aren't Capturing

Windows:

  1. Ensure Flicker is running in admin mode
    • Right-click Flicker in Start Menu
    • Select "Run as administrator"
    • Re-test hotkey
  2. Check that hotkeys aren't conflicting with other apps
  3. Restart Flicker and try again
  4. Check Settings → Behavior → "Hotkeys enabled" is ON

macOS:

  1. Grant screen recording permissions:
    • System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Screen Recording
    • Check "Flicker" is allowed
  2. Restart Flicker after granting permissions
  3. Try screenshot hotkey again

Linux:

  1. Ensure GTK 3.0+ is installed: sudo apt install libgtk-3-0
  2. May require GStreamer plugins for screenshots
  3. Try running from terminal: flicker
    • Check for error messages

Upload Failing with Network Error

  1. Check internet connection:

    Windows: Open Command Prompt → `ping emberly.ca`
macOS/Linux: `ping emberly.ca`

    Should show responses, not "unreachable"

  2. Check if Emberly is down:

  3. Verify authentication:

    • Go to Settings → Account
    • Check "Logged in as: [your email]"
    • If not logged in, click "Login"

  4. Check upload token:

    • Go to Settings → Account → Show Token
    • Verify it's a long random string (not blank)
    • If empty, re-login

  5. Firewall/VPN Issue:

    • If behind corporate firewall, may need VPN
    • Try temporarily disabling VPN and retrying
    • Check network settings allow HTTPS (port 443)

  6. Invalid token:

    • Log out completely: Settings → Account → Logout
    • Log back in: Settings → Account → Login
    • Try upload again

"Permission Denied" on Startup (Windows)

Solution:

  1. Right-click Flicker in Start Menu
  2. Select "Run as Administrator"
  3. Answer "Yes" to UAC prompt
  4. Check "Always run as administrator"
  5. Restart Flicker

This is required for system-wide hotkey capture.

Can't Find Flicker in Applications (macOS)

Try:

  1. Press Cmd+Space to open Spotlight
  2. Type "Flicker"
  3. Press Enter to launch
  4. Optionally drag to Dock for quick access

Or:

  1. Open Finder
  2. Go to Applications folder
  3. Look for "Flicker" application
  4. Double-click to launch

Hotkey Not Working

  1. Check if hotkey conflicts with system hotkey

    • Settings → Hotkeys → check for yellow warning indicator
    • Try a different hotkey

  2. Confirm Flicker is running

    • Look for Flicker icon in system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS)
    • If not running, restart the app

  3. Re-register hotkeys:

    • Settings → Hotkeys → disable all → enable all
    • Wait 2 seconds for registration
    • Try hotkey again

  4. Check if hotkey is globally enabled:

    • Windows: Settings → Behavior → "Global hotkeys" toggle ON
    • If disabled, enable and restart app

App Crashes or Won't Start

First, try:

1. Restart your computer
2. Launch Flicker again

If still crashing:

  1. Clean your build directory and rebuild from source
  2. Contact [email protected] with the error message

Check crash logs:

Windows: %APPDATA%\Flicker\logs\
macOS: ~/Library/Logs/Flicker/
Linux: ~/.local/share/Flicker/logs/

Copy the latest log file and include in support request.

Screenshots Look Blurry

Windows:

  1. Settings → Capture → Format: PNG (for quality)
  2. If using JPG, increase Quality slider to 90+
  3. For high-DPI monitors:
    • Settings → Display Settings → check DPI scaling
    • Flicker should auto-detect, but restart to be sure

macOS:

  1. Retina displays use 2x resolution automatically
  2. Screenshots should be sharp by default
  3. If not, try updating to latest Flicker version

Linux:

  1. Settings → Capture → Format: PNG
  2. High-res monitors: GTK DPI settings may affect
  3. Try: GDK_SCALE=1 flicker from terminal

Advanced Usage

Command Line Usage

Launch from terminal after building from source:

# Windows PowerShell
.\src-tauri\target\release\flicker.exe
 
# macOS
open ./src-tauri/target/release/Flicker.app
 
# Linux
./src-tauri/target/release/flicker

Planned CLI features (v0.3.0):

flicker screenshot --all-monitors      # Capture all monitors
flicker upload --file path/to/file.png # Upload specific file
flicker screenshot --delay 5            # Delay before capture

Upload via Clipboard

Planned for v0.2.0:

  • Hotkey to upload whatever is in clipboard
  • Works with images, text, files
  • Default: Ctrl+Alt+U

Current workaround:

  1. Copy file/image to clipboard
  2. Open Flicker → Upload tab
  3. Click Paste
  4. Click Upload

Database Cleanup

If upload history gets too large:

Windows: Delete %APPDATA%\Flicker\history.json
macOS: Delete ~/Library/Application Support/Flicker/history.json
Linux: Delete ~/.local/share/Flicker/history.json

Warning: This deletes all upload history (URLs will still work on server, just lost locally)

Development

Building from Source

Prerequisites:

  • Node.js 18+
  • Rust 1.70+
  • Tauri CLI

Setup:

git clone https://github.com/EmberlyOSS/Flicker.git
cd Flicker
npm install  # or bun install (faster)
cargo build  # Compile Rust backend

Development Server:

npm run dev
# Opens Flicker in dev mode with hot reload

Building Release:

npm run build
# Creates installers for your current platform
# Outputs to src-tauri/target/release/bundle/

Platform-Specific Builds:

npm run build -- --target x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu    # Linux
npm run build -- --target x86_64-apple-darwin          # Intel Mac
npm run build -- --target aarch64-apple-darwin         # Apple Silicon
npm run build -- --target x86_64-pc-windows-msvc       # Windows

See Contributing Guide for full development setup.

Architecture

Frontend:

  • React 19 + TypeScript
  • Tailwind CSS for styling
  • Context API for state management
  • Tauri JS API for communication with backend

Backend:

  • Rust with Tauri 2.0
  • Tokio async runtime
  • Reqwest HTTP client
  • Native screenshot library

Communication:

  • Tauri IPC (serialized JSON over bridge)
  • Frontend calls invoke() for Rust functions
  • Async/await patterns throughout

Contributing

We welcome contributions! See Contributing Guide for:

  • Code standards
  • PR process
  • Setting up development environment
  • Adding new features

Quick Start:

git clone https://github.com/EmberlyOSS/Flicker.git
git checkout -b feature/your-feature
npm run dev
# Make changes...
git commit -m "feat: add your feature"
git push origin feature/your-feature
# Open Pull Request on GitHub

FAQ

Q: Is Flicker free? A: Yes! Flicker is completely free and open source (MIT license). You only pay for Emberly cloud storage if you exceed the free tier.

Q: Can I use Flicker without Emberly? A: Not currently—Flicker is specifically designed for Emberly uploads. In the future we may add local storage support.

Q: Does Flicker send my data to anyone? A: No. Flicker only communicates with Emberly (to upload files) and GitHub (to check for updates). All upload history is stored locally on your computer.

Q: Can I customize what happens after upload? A: Yes! Settings → Behavior → "Post-upload action" lets you choose:

  • Copy URL (default)
  • Open in browser
  • Do nothing

Q: How do I switch accounts? A: Settings → Account → Logout → Login with different email

Q: Will there be a mobile version? A: Mobile support is planned for v1.0.0+. Follow releases for announcements.

Q: Can I use Flicker on multiple computers? A: Yes! Flicker works independently on each computer. Your upload history is per-computer though.

Q: What image formats are supported? A: PNG (recommended) and JPG. PNG by default for maximum quality.

Q: Is there a team/organization version? A: Yes! Flicker integrates with Emberly Teams for shared uploads. See Teams docs.

Getting Help

License

Flicker is open source software licensed under the MIT License.

Changelog

v0.1.0-alpha (January 2, 2026)

Initial Release:

  • Screenshot capture (fullscreen, all monitors)
  • Automatic upload to Emberly
  • Global hotkey support
  • System tray integration
  • Upload history with management
  • Customizable settings (hotkeys, appearance, capture)
  • 15+ built-in themes
  • Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • 2FA authentication support
  • Auto-update mechanism

Planned v0.2.0:

  • Region screenshot selection
  • Clipboard upload hotkey
  • Search in upload history
  • Screenshot preview before upload
  • Batch file uploads
  • Network error retry logic

Planned v0.3.0:

  • CLI interface
  • Direct Emberly account linking
  • Screen recording features
  • Usage analytics
  • Local encryption of stored tokens

Planned v1.0.0:

  • Mobile apps (iOS/Android)
  • Team collaboration features
  • Local backup support
  • Additional cloud storage providers (AWS S3, Google Drive, etc.)
  • Plugin system for extensibility

Screenshots

[Coming soon: UI screenshots of main interface, settings, upload flow]

For more information, visit the Flicker GitHub repository.

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