An early alpha launchpad for the TechBackCTRL ecosystem — a hub for navigating AI and blockchain-based tools designed to help people reclaim their own agency through technology.
TechBackCTRL App is the entry point to the TechBackCTRL ecosystem. In its current alpha form it serves as a launchpad: a single interface that introduces the key concepts of the project and lets users navigate to multiple connected applications and the AI Playground.
The interface is built around a cyberpunk-brutalist aesthetic — a live animated network globe as the backdrop, an OS-style launcher, and a CLI terminal — all expressing the project's core belief that technology should work for the individual, not against them.
TechBackCTRL App is the beginning of a broader platform where users can discover, access, and use a growing suite of AI and blockchain-based tooling. The long-term goal is to give people practical, accessible ways to take back their own agency using technology — covering areas like digital sovereignty, decentralised tools, privacy, and self-directed knowledge.
The current launchpad is the first step: establishing the interface language and connecting the initial set of applications before the wider ecosystem is built out.
Early Alpha. The app is live and functional, but is under active development. Core surfaces are available; some linked applications are external or in progress.
| Application | Description |
|---|---|
| Network Atlas | Full-planet animated mesh visualization — the app's home screen |
| Operator Terminal | CLI-style interface for navigating files, nodes, and dispatches |
| AI Playground | Experimentation space for interactive AI builds (playground.techbackctrl.app) |
| Knowledge Store | Browse mission, protocol, and docs in a visual explorer |
| Stats | Analytics dashboard across operators, content, and surfaces |
| Social Feed | Live dispatches and updates on X |
| YouTube | Tech Back Control channel videos and shorts |
| Podcast | Tech Back Control podcast on Spotify |
| CTRL Android App | Android .apk download |
| System Settings | Theme, motion, privacy, and identity controls |
- Node.js LTS
- npm
- A Supabase project (for auth and data features)
npm install
cp .env.example .env.local # fill in the required variables
npm run devOpen http://localhost:3000 — the Network Atlas is the home screen. Navigate to /os for the launcher or /cli for the terminal.
Create .env.local with the following:
Public (safe for client):
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
NEXT_PUBLIC_SITE_URL |
e.g. http://localhost:3000 |
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL |
Your Supabase project URL |
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY |
Your Supabase anon key |
NEXT_PUBLIC_UMAMI_WEBSITE_ID |
Umami analytics site ID (optional) |
NEXT_PUBLIC_UMAMI_HOST |
Umami analytics host URL (optional) |
NEXT_PUBLIC_BG_VARIANT |
cyber (default) · canvas (legacy) · new (next-gen) |
Server-only (never expose to client):
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY |
Supabase service role key |
SUPABASE_JWT_SECRET |
Custom JWT secret (optional) |
GLITCHTIP_DSN |
GlitchTip error tracking DSN (optional) |
OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT |
OpenTelemetry collector endpoint (optional) |
On Vercel, set these under Project → Settings → Environment Variables.
npm run dev # start dev server
npm run build # production build
npm run start # start production server
npm run lint # ESLint
npm run typecheck # TypeScript type check
npm run test # run tests (Vitest)| Layer | Tech |
|---|---|
| Frontend | Next.js (App Router) · React 18 · TypeScript · Tailwind CSS · shadcn/ui |
| Backend | Supabase (Postgres · Auth · Storage) |
| Hosting | Vercel |
| Analytics | Umami (self-hosted, FOSS) |
| Error tracking | GlitchTip (FOSS) |
| Tracing | OpenTelemetry |
/app # Next.js App Router routes and layouts
/components # Reusable UI components (network, terminal, window, ui)
/lib # Utilities — Supabase clients, progression, registry, logging
/public # Static assets and content
/scripts # One-off scripts (DB seed, rate limiting)
- Connect the GitHub repo; set framework preset to Next.js.
- Set build command to
npm run build, install command tonpm install. - Add all environment variables under Project Settings.
- Assign your production domain.
- Set Auth redirect URLs to
${SITE_URL}/auth/callbackplus any preview domains. - Run migrations:
supabase link --project-ref <ref>
supabase db pushSee LICENSE.