I got tired of ugly code screenshots, so I built a free Visual Studio for devs
Every time I shipped something, a small React hook, a bug fix, a weekend project, I'd want to post about it on X or LinkedIn.
And then I'd stare at my screen.
Plain code block. Boring screenshot. Or I'd open Figma for what should've been a 30-second job.
I kept doing this across project after project. Same UI patterns. Same "make this look nice before I share it" loop. Felt like I was solving a problem that was already solved — just not in one place, and not the way I wanted.
So I built KromaStudio.
What it does (simply):
Paste your code → pick a syntax theme (Dracula, Catppuccin, Tokyo Night, etc.) → add a gradient background → export an HD PNG.
Or drop a screenshot → wrap it in a macOS/Windows browser frame → add a headline overlay.
Or compose a social post card (Tweet, LinkedIn, metrics card, etc.) — all from one editor.
You can also export animated .webm loops (float, 3D tilt, auto-scroll) for Reels or Twitter. That part took longer than I expected to get right in the browser.
A few things I cared about from day one:
100% client-side — your code never leaves your browser. No uploads, no account.
Actually free — no watermark paywall, no "sign up to export."
Fast — paste → export in seconds, not minutes
I built it with Next.js 16, React 19, Shiki for syntax highlighting, and a lot of canvas/export edge cases (Safari OOM on mobile was… fun).
Why not just use Carbon or Ray.so?
They're great. I used them. But I kept needing mockups and code shots and social templates and short video loops — and I didn't want four different tabs open every time I wanted to share a build log update.
KromaStudio is my attempt to put all of that in one place.
Where I'm at honestly:
Live at kromastudio.in
Open source (MIT): github.com/Ritesh0888/kroma-studio
Solo builder — I'm the only one merging PRs right now
Still early on distribution. SEO + dev Twitter is the bet. No subscription model yet; figuring out sustainable monetization without ruining the "just paste and export" experience.
What I'm working on next:
More syntax themes (30+)
VS Code extension so you can export without leaving your editor
SVG export
I'd genuinely love feedback from this community:
Would you use something like this for build-in-public posts?
What's missing — Figma integration? Team presets? API?
Anyone else annoyed by the "open design tool for a screenshot" workflow?
If you try it, tell me what broke. That's the most useful feedback I can get right now.
