Captain's Log

An 80s-inspired voice note dictation and transcription application that provides a unique, efficient, and enjoyable user experience for capturing and managing spoken thoughts, ideas, and notes.

Features

• 🎙️ Voice Recording

  • High-quality audio recording with intuitive controls
  • Visual feedback with retro-style VU meter
  • Background recording support
  • Adjustable input levels

• 📝 Smart Transcription

  • Automatic voice-to-text conversion
  • Support for multiple languages
  • Offline transcription capabilities

• 🕹️ Retro UI/UX

  • Authentic 80s computer aesthetic
  • Monochrome/limited color schemes
  • Classic terminal-style interface
  • Period-appropriate sound effects
  • Command-line interface for power users

• 🔒 Security & Privacy

  • Local-first storage
  • Optional encrypted cloud sync
  • GDPR and CCPA compliant
  • Clear privacy controls

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/technicalmonk/captains-log.git
cd captains-log

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Start the development server:

npm start

The application will open in your default browser at http://localhost:3000.

Available Scripts

• npm start - Runs the app in development mode
• npm test - Launches the test runner
• npm run build - Builds the app for production
• npm run eject - Ejects from Create React App (one-way operation)

Technology Stack

• Frontend: React
• Speech Recognition: Web Speech API
• Styling: CSS Modules
• State Management: React Hooks

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please read our contributing guidelines before submitting pull requests.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• Inspired by 1980s computer systems
• Built with modern web technologies
• Designed for privacy and efficiency

Support

For support, please open an issue in the GitHub repository or contact our support team.

Deployment

Building for Production

1. Create a production build:

npm run build

2. The build folder will contain production-ready files that can be served by any static hosting service.

Deployment Options

1. Static Hosting (Recommended)

   • Netlify
   • Vercel
   • GitHub Pages
   • AWS S3 + CloudFront

2. Traditional Hosting

   • Apache
   • Nginx
   • IIS

Environment Setup

1. Copy .env.example to .env
2. Update the environment variables as needed
3. Rebuild the application

Browser Compatibility

Tested and supported in:

• Chrome (latest 3 versions)
• Firefox (latest 3 versions)
• Safari (latest 2 versions)
• Edge (latest 3 versions)

Note: Speech recognition features may vary by browser.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Microphone Access

   • Ensure browser has microphone permissions
   • Check system microphone settings
   • Verify SSL if running in production

2. Transcription Issues

   • Confirm language settings
   • Check internet connection for cloud features
   • Verify Web Speech API browser support

3. Build Problems

   • Clear npm cache: npm cache clean --force
   • Delete node_modules and reinstall
   • Verify Node.js version

For more issues, please check our Issues page.