Open Releases
What it is
Open Releases is a searchable directory of open-source apps with real release downloads. Built with Next.js, PostgreSQL and the GitHub API, it matches every app to the right installer for your platform.
I built Open Releases to make it easy to discover open-source applications and get the correct installer for your platform, without digging through GitHub release pages.
Result
Open Releases saves people time with a focused, up-to-date directory of installable open-source software tailored to their device.
The problem
Great open-source apps are hard to find, and their GitHub release pages list dozens of assets with little guidance on which file fits your device. People give up before they install anything.
What it does
- A searchable, curated catalog of open-source apps, filtered by platform and sorted by activity or popularity
- App pages with release notes, screenshots and platform-specific download buttons
- Favorites for signed-in users, and a form to submit new repositories for review
- An admin dashboard to manage submissions, users and featured apps
How it's built
- Next.js and TypeScript on Vercel, with PostgreSQL for the catalog and users
- The GitHub API for release data and assets
- Scheduled GitHub Actions that automatically discover and update projects, so the catalog stays fresh without manual work
