Product story - An anime library that remembers where you left off
Organize local anime files, keep track of episodes, and pick up where you left off. Kioku brings your library and playback into one desktop app.
Designed and built by Marko Mirić.
- Product
- Kioku
- Status
- Public beta · Apple Silicon macOS 15+
- Year
- Focus
- Product design and desktop app development
Screenshot of Kioku with fictional titles and sample watch progress.
Status: Public beta for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 15 or later.
Get the Kioku beta · Visit Kioku
The problem
Keeping anime files locally gives viewers control over their collection, but it also leaves them managing the gaps between tools. Which episode was next? Where is the right file? Has the watch list caught up?
I am building Kioku around that routine, from recognizing a file to resuming playback and recording progress.
From your files to the next episode
Kioku scans the folders a viewer chooses and matches episode filenames to a library. Home brings saved playback positions together, so a viewer can resume an episode without finding the file again. The app also supports:
- status, episode progress, favorites, labels, notes, and viewing history
- connections to AniList, Kitsu, and MyAnimeList
- release discovery through RSS feeds and user-configured search sources
- optional downloads through built-in WebTorrent or a connected qBittorrent instance
- local playback with an embedded MPV player on macOS
One chosen tracking service handles two-way sync. Other connected services stay available for search and list previews. That gives viewers a clear place to manage progress when they use more than one service.
Local-first by design
Library records, watch progress, settings, and automatic backups stay on the computer. Viewers can export a backup and restore it through the app. Connected tracking and release services are optional, and their credentials use the operating system’s secure storage.
Beta usage sharing is off by default. If enabled, it sends limited aggregate counts without anime titles, file paths, account data, or a persistent device identifier. Feedback and diagnostics have separate review steps before sharing.
Where it is now
The public beta is available for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 15 or later. I am continuing to refine the library, playback, and release workflows during the beta. Windows and Linux remain development targets, with no public builds offered.
Kioku’s download page has the current beta, system requirements, and installation guidance.
- Product and UX design
- Electron
- React and TypeScript
- Local SQLite data
- Desktop security
- Tracking-service sync
- Release discovery
- MPV playback
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