Learn the craft · see the logic · own the story
Stop losing the storybetween the notes, drafts and visuals.
PlotPickle is a self-learning visual story studio. Build one connected story graph, preserve it in a portable PPF, test the logic, write visually, shape the pitch and invite feedback without surrendering canon.
127.0.0.1Learn it. Map it. Write it. Show it.
Afterglow demonstrates the complete path, while every module, visual and decision stays connected to the same PPF storyworld.
From interest to proof
Learn the craft inside the story you are building.
PlotPickle connects learning, structure, writing, visualization, pitch and feedback so each step strengthens the same storyworld.Learn while you build
Use 81 self-paced modules, local guides and the open Afterglow example to move from story fundamentals into a working project.
See the whole story graph
Map characters, locations, beats, scenes, arcs and dependencies as one connected storyworld instead of scattered documents.
Keep one portable PPF
Carry canon, story logic, screenplay material, visuals, feedback, approvals and provenance in one open, portable project.
Test story logic visually
Use 24 Blocks and 96 mini-blocks to expose hooks, turning points, causality, continuity and unresolved story decisions.
Write and pitch visually
Move from structure to screenplay, Graphic Novel, Storyboard, Production Shots, Pitch and Reports without rebuilding the story each time.
Invite feedback without losing canon
Add Buzz community discussion or GitHub proposals when needed while every official change remains human-approved.
One connected application
The complete current workspace model.
Projects, collaboration and storage
Study the craft, introduction and terminology
Simple Start and story planning
See and preserve the film
Outline and write
Generate and review the visual package
Arrange 24 Blocks and 96 mini-blocks
Review notes, proposals and decisions
Refine the story
Understand the screenplay
Approvals, meetings and connected collaborators
Connect to a hosted Buzz community
Product-authentic capabilities
Available features and optional connections are clearly separated.
See the real current project
Review the loaded story, Storyworld Overview, writing progress, GitHub state, local storage and unresolved canon decisions without fictional collaborators.
Human-controlled · local-first · inspectableDevelop one approved visual language
Carry canonical characters, locations and visual locks through panels, frames, production shots and animatic evidence.
Human-controlled · local-first · inspectableReview meaning, not just files
Keep structured feedback and resolution history permanent while Reports measure screenplay, continuity and production readiness.
Human-controlled · local-first · inspectablePropose and approve selectively
Use GitHub Story Proposals, owner-controlled review, meetings and calendar coordination only when a repository is deliberately connected.
Human-controlled · local-first · inspectableAdd community discussion beside Collab
Buzz provides rooms, media discussion and development activity. It remains dormant until configured under Settings → Integrations → Buzz.
Human-controlled · local-first · inspectableStay productive while disconnected
Open, develop, visualize, review and export a PPF project without an AI key, Google account, Buzz connection or required PlotPickle cloud service.
Human-controlled · local-first · inspectableOne project · three ways to work
Start privately. Add people only when the story needs them.
PlotPickle remains installed locally in every mode. Afterglow, the Learn workspace and the PPF story model flow through all three.Local Story Mode
Private creation on this computer
- User experience
- PlotPickle Playhouse · local compute
- Storyline
- Afterglow or your own local story
- Learning
- Learn workspace · 81 modules · local guides
- Data & storage
- PPF · canonical JSON · assets · rolling backups
- Collaboration
- Not required
- Cost profile
- Lowest ongoing cost · minimal paid-token use
Writers’ Room Mode
Community discussion through Buzz
- User experience
- PlotPickle Playhouse · Buzz Community
- Storyline
- Afterglow or your story shared through Buzz context
- Learning
- Learn workspace · 81 modules · local guides
- Data & storage
- Local PPF plus community discussion references
- Collaboration
- Rooms · messages · huddles · canon-safe proposals
- Cost profile
- Local core first · collaboration added only when needed
Repository Collaboration Mode
Reviewed history across machines
- User experience
- PlotPickle Playhouse · GitHub · optional cloud compute
- Storyline
- Afterglow or your story through a GitHub repository
- Learning
- Learn workspace · 81 modules · local guides
- Data & storage
- Local PPF plus GitHub repository history
- Collaboration
- Branches · Story Proposals · revision history
- Cost profile
- Local work by default · remote compute only by choice
Windows · macOS · Linux
One application. Three desktop packages.
Each release candidate is built on its target operating system and published with a SHA-256 checksum. There is no required PlotPickle cloud account, administrator installation or background Windows service.
- One installer experience
- Projects separated from program files
- Reusable local runtime and recovery tools
- Optional connections remain disconnected by default
Windows
Guided local launcher with repair and update tools.
- Archive
- PlotPickle-Windows.zip
- Launcher
- Start-PlotPickle.bat
macOS
A complete local-server package for Apple computers.
- Archive
- PlotPickle-macOS.zip
- Launcher
- Start-PlotPickle.command
Linux
A portable local-server package with a shell launcher.
- Archive
- PlotPickle-Linux.zip
- Launcher
- start-plotpickle.sh
Optional assistance with visible human control
Choose the helper. Keep the decision.
AI, GitHub, Google and Buzz remain disconnected until deliberately configured. Credentials stay outside PPF projects, and nothing becomes canonical until a person approves it.
Collab and Community have different jobs
Approve formally. Discuss freely. Preserve canon.
Collab owns GitHub Story Proposals, approvals, meetings and calendars. Community adds optional Buzz rooms, media discussion and development activity. Feedback remains the permanent review record.
- Only a human GitHub merge changes shared canonical material
- Buzz messages and suggestions never become PPF canon automatically
- Every writer can keep local work private until it is proposed
- Settings owns connection setup, lifecycle, recovery and removal
main / stories / project.ppfOnly an approved merge changes the canonical PPF.
Open source with clear boundaries
Open software. Open method. Your story.
PlotPickle separates software rights, educational material and each creator's original work.GNU AGPLv3 or later
Study, modify, share and self-host the PlotPickle software while preserving the licence and source-code obligations.
Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0
The 24 Blocks method and reusable learning material remain open with attribution to Bryan Elgin Harris and share-alike terms.
Your story remains yours
Using PlotPickle does not transfer ownership of your screenplay, characters, images, notes or exported project files.
Portable projects, plugins and SDK
Human-readable project data, portable .ppf exchange packages and permission-controlled extensions reduce lock-in.
Open Afterglow. See the graph. Then build your own.
Use the complete local core, learn through the example, and add Buzz, GitHub or AI only when the project truly needs them.