OpenCut is a free and open-source video editor designed to provide a CapCut alternative across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. Written primarily in TypeScript, the project is currently undergoing a complete architectural rewrite from the ground up, with the previous version maintained separately in the opencut-classic repository. The main OpenCut website at opencut.app continues to run the classic version, while the rewritten version is being developed at new.opencut.app.
The rewrite introduces several significant architectural improvements and new capabilities. The project is implementing an Editor API that will enable first-class third-party plugins through a plugin-first architecture. A core component of the new version will be built in Rust to enable a unified codebase that powers desktop, mobile, and browser versions simultaneously. Additional planned features include an MCP server for AI agent integration, headless mode for automation and batch rendering workflows, and a scripting tab directly within the editor interface.
Documentation has received minimal attention with only 1 tracked item, suggesting this may be an area for improvement as the project matures.
The core development team consists of three primary contributors tracked by GitGenius. These contributors have maintained consistent engagement with the project's development cycle.
The project is currently not accepting outside contributions while the core architecture is being designed and finalized. However, the team actively encourages community engagement through alternative channels, inviting interested parties to join the project's Discord server or open issues to follow development progress and participate in discussions. This approach allows the maintainers to focus on architectural decisions while still building community awareness and interest.
OpenCut is supported by sponsors who believe in open-source creator tools, with fal.ai listed as a primary supporter providing generative image, video, and audio models. The project is distributed under the MIT license, making it freely available for both use and modification. The development setup utilizes proto as a dependency management tool, streamlining the installation and configuration process for contributors and developers.
