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NexaDeck
commercialCross-platform desktop karaoke DJ application built with Tauri 2.0 and a Rust audio engine. Frame-accurate CDG sync, offline-first, and a React control surface.
Tech Stack
RustTauri 2.0ReactTypeScriptSQLite
Timeline
Active since 2024
Problem
Professional karaoke DJs were stuck choosing between bloated Electron apps with audio timing drift and aging native tools lacking modern UX. Frame-accurate CDG graphics synchronization in live venues is harder than it sounds — even small drift between audio and lyrics breaks the performance.
My Role
Sole developer. Designed and built the Rust audio engine (authoritative clock, playback, CDG timing), the React/TypeScript control surface, the cross-platform build and release pipeline, and the cloud licensing integration with Abydonian.
Constraints
Must run offline in venues with unreliable Wi-Fi. Frame-accurate CDG sync on commodity hardware. Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux). Small install footprint compared to Electron equivalents. Responsive UI even while the audio engine is under load.
Architecture Decisions
Tauri 2.0 over Electron — roughly 10x smaller bundle, better memory profile, and tighter OS integration. The Rust engine crate owns the audio clock and CDG pipeline; the React UI is a thin control surface that subscribes to engine events via Tauris Emitter trait. SQLite for the local song library. Disk-first config storage via ProjectDirs. Cloud modules are optional and layered on top — the app is fully functional without them.
Outcomes
Shipping multi-platform desktop app (Windows NSIS, Linux AppImage and deb, macOS). Auto-updater integrated with Abydonian licensing. Comprehensive CI/CD with automated Windows and Linux builds. Frame-accurate CDG rendering validated in real karaoke shows.