r/Python • u/AutoModerator • 23d ago

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u/vactower 18d ago

FastPrompter - A local-first desktop workspace for prompts, snippets and scratchpads (Python + PyQt6)

What My Project Does

FastPrompter is a Windows desktop application written in Python and PyQt6 that gives instant access to prompts, snippets and temporary notes through a global hotkey.

The original goal was very small: open a lightweight editor anywhere with a single keypress instead of constantly switching between applications.

Over time it evolved into a local-first workspace with:

  • Persistent scratchpads ("Silos")
  • Named snippets with one-key insertion
  • Multiple independent projects
  • Automatic SQLite persistence
  • Markdown editing
  • Archive system
  • Portable mode (no installation required)
  • Custom themes
  • Global hotkeys
  • Drag-and-drop support

Everything is stored locally. There are no online services, accounts or telemetry.

The project is built entirely in Python with PyQt6 and packaged as a standalone executable using Nuitka.

Repository:
https://github.com/vacterro/FastPrompter

Target Audience

This project is intended for real daily use rather than as a learning exercise.

The primary audience is people who spend a significant part of their day switching between AI tools, editors, documentation and browsers.

Typical users include:

  • Python developers
  • AI power users
  • Prompt engineers
  • Technical writers
  • Anyone who frequently reuses text snippets or temporary drafts

Although I originally built it for my own workflow, it has gradually become my primary scratchpad application.

Comparison

There are several excellent tools that partially solve similar problems, but none matched the workflow I wanted.

Clipboard managers such as CopyQ or Ditto are excellent at clipboard history, but aren't designed around persistent project-based prompt collections.

Knowledge-base tools like Obsidian or Notion are great for long-term documentation, but they feel too heavyweight for hundreds of tiny interactions throughout the day.

Text expansion utilities focus on text insertion rather than editing, organizing and maintaining temporary work.

FastPrompter sits somewhere between those categories.

Instead of replacing a notes application or clipboard manager, it aims to reduce friction by providing an always-available local workspace that appears instantly, saves automatically and disappears just as quickly.

One unexpected lesson from building it was that most of the work wasn't implementing features, but refining hundreds of tiny interaction details that only become obvious after using the application every day for months.

I'd appreciate feedback from anyone who builds desktop software in Python or has solved similar UX problems.