OpenCut-app · Varich22 · Sep 25, 2025
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,183 +1,176 @@
+
 <table width="100%">
   <tr>
     <td align="left" width="120">
       <img src="apps/web/public/logo.png" alt="OpenCut Logo" width="100" />
     </td>
     <td align="right">
-      <h1>OpenCut</span></h1>
+      <h1>🎬 OpenCut</h1>
       <h3 style="margin-top: -10px;">A free, open-source video editor for web, desktop, and mobile.</h3>
     </td>
   </tr>
 </table>
 
-## Why?
+---
+
+## ✨ Why OpenCut?
+
+- 🔒 **Privacy first**: Your videos stay on your device  
+- 🆓 **Truly free**: No subscriptions, no watermarks, no paywalls  
+- 🎯 **Simple**: Easy-to-use timeline editor, inspired by CapCut  
+- 📊 **Analytics**: Powered by [Databuddy](https://www.databuddy.cc?utm_source=opencut), 100% anonymized & non-invasive  
+- 📰 **Blog**: Managed via [Marble](https://marblecms.com?utm_source=opencut), a headless CMS  
+
+---
 
-- **Privacy**: Your videos stay on your device
-- **Free features**: Every basic feature of CapCut is paywalled now
-- **Simple**: People want editors that are easy to use - CapCut proved that
+## 🚀 Features
 
-## Features
+- Timeline-based editing  
+- Multi-track support  
+- Real-time preview  
+- No subscriptions or hidden fees  
+- Works across **Web**, **Desktop**, and **Mobile**  
 
-- Timeline-based editing
-- Multi-track support
-- Real-time preview
-- No watermarks or subscriptions
-- Analytics provided by [Databuddy](https://www.databuddy.cc?utm_source=opencut), 100% Anonymized & Non-invasive.
-- Blog powered by [Marble](https://marblecms.com?utm_source=opencut), Headless CMS.
+---
 
-## Project Structure
+## 🛠️ Project Structure
 
-- `apps/web/` – Main Next.js web application
-- `src/components/` – UI and editor components
-- `src/hooks/` – Custom React hooks
-- `src/lib/` – Utility and API logic
-- `src/stores/` – State management (Zustand, etc.)
-- `src/types/` – TypeScript types
+- `apps/web/` – Main Next.js web application  
+- `src/components/` – UI and editor components  
+- `src/hooks/` – Custom React hooks  
+- `src/lib/` – Utility and API logic  
+- `src/stores/` – State management (Zustand, etc.)  
+- `src/types/` – TypeScript types  
 
-## Getting Started
+---
 
-### Prerequisites
+## ⚡ Getting Started
 
-Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed on your system:
+### ✅ Prerequisites
 
-- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) (v18 or later)
-- [Bun](https://bun.sh/docs/installation)
-  (for `npm` alternative)
-- [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) and [Docker Compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/)
+Make sure you have the following installed:
 
-> **Note:** Docker is optional, but it's essential for running the local database and Redis services. If you're planning to run the frontend or want to contribute to frontend features, you can skip the Docker setup. If you have followed the steps below in [Setup](#setup), you're all set to go!
+- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) (v18 or later)  
+- [Bun](https://bun.sh/docs/installation) (faster alternative to npm)  
+- [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) + [Docker Compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/) *(optional for DB & Redis)*  
+
+---
 
-### Setup
+### 🔧 Setup
 
-1. Fork the repository
-2. Clone your fork locally
-3. Navigate to the web app directory: `cd apps/web`
-4. Copy `.env.example` to `.env.local`:
+1. Fork the repository  
+2. Clone your fork locally  
+3. Go to the web app directory:  
 
    ```bash
-   # Unix/Linux/Mac
-   cp .env.example .env.local
+   cd apps/web
 
-   # Windows Command Prompt
-   copy .env.example .env.local
+4. Copy .env.example → .env.local
 
-   # Windows PowerShell
-   Copy-Item .env.example .env.local
-   ```
+# Linux/Mac
+cp .env.example .env.local
 
-5. Install dependencies: `bun install`
-6. Start the development server: `bun dev`
+# Windows CMD
+copy .env.example .env.local
 
-## Development Setup
+# PowerShell
+Copy-Item .env.example .env.local
 
-### Local Development
 
-1. Start the database and Redis services:
+5. Install dependencies:
 
-   ```bash
-   # From project root
-   docker-compose up -d
-   ```
+bun install
 
-2. Navigate to the web app directory:
 
-   ```bash
-   cd apps/web
-   ```
+6. Start the dev server:
 
-3. Copy `.env.example` to `.env.local`:
+bun dev
 
-   ```bash
-   # Unix/Linux/Mac
-   cp .env.example .env.local
 
-   # Windows Command Prompt
-   copy .env.example .env.local
 
-   # Windows PowerShell
-   Copy-Item .env.example .env.local
-   ```
 
-4. Configure required environment variables in `.env.local`:
+---
 
-   **Required Variables:**
+🖥️ Development Setup (with Docker)
 
-   ```bash
-   # Database (matches docker-compose.yaml)
-   DATABASE_URL="postgresql://opencut:opencutthegoat@localhost:5432/opencut"
+1. Start DB & Redis
 
-   # Generate a secure secret for Better Auth
-   BETTER_AUTH_SECRET="your-generated-secret-here"
-   BETTER_AUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
+docker-compose up -d
 
-   # Redis (matches docker-compose.yaml)
-   UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL="http://localhost:8079"
-   UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN="example_token"
 
-   # Marble Blog
-   MARBLE_WORKSPACE_KEY=cm6ytuq9x0000i803v0isidst # example organization key
-   NEXT_PUBLIC_MARBLE_API_URL=https://api.marblecms.com
+2. Navigate into apps/web
 
-   # Development
-   NODE_ENV="development"
-   ```
 
-   **Generate BETTER_AUTH_SECRET:**
+3. Configure .env.local
 
-   ```bash
-   # Unix/Linux/Mac
-   openssl rand -base64 32
+DATABASE_URL="postgresql://opencut:opencutthegoat@localhost:5432/opencut"
+BETTER_AUTH_SECRET="your-secret"
+BETTER_AUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
 
-   # Windows PowerShell (simple method)
-   [System.Web.Security.Membership]::GeneratePassword(32, 0)
+UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL="http://localhost:8079"
+UPSTASH_REST_TOKEN="example_token"
 
-   # Cross-platform (using Node.js)
-   node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('base64'))"
+MARBLE_WORKSPACE_KEY="your-key"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_MARBLE_API_URL="https://api.marblecms.com"
 
-   # Or use an online generator: https://generate-secret.vercel.app/32
-   ```
+NODE_ENV="development"
 
-5. Run database migrations: `bun run db:migrate` from (inside apps/web)
-6. Start the development server: `bun run dev` from (inside apps/web)
 
-The application will be available at [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000).
+4. Run migrations
 
-## Contributing
+bun run db:migrate
 
-We welcome contributions! While we're actively developing and refactoring certain areas, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute effectively.
 
-**🎯 Focus areas:** Timeline functionality, project management, performance, bug fixes, and UI improvements outside the preview panel.
+5. Start the app
 
-**⚠️ Avoid for now:** Preview panel enhancements (fonts, stickers, effects) and export functionality - we're refactoring these with a new binary rendering approach.
+bun run dev
 
-See our [Contributing Guide](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md) for detailed setup instructions, development guidelines, and complete focus area guidance.
 
-**Quick start for contributors:**
 
-- Fork the repo and clone locally
-- Follow the setup instructions in CONTRIBUTING.md
-- Create a feature branch and submit a PR
+👉 App runs at: http://localhost:3000
 
-## Sponsors
 
-Thanks to [Vercel](https://vercel.com?utm_source=github-opencut&utm_campaign=oss) and [fal.ai](https://fal.ai?utm_source=github-opencut&utm_campaign=oss) for their support of open-source software.
+---
 
-<a href="https://vercel.com/oss">
-  <img alt="Vercel OSS Program" src="https://vercel.com/oss/program-badge.svg" />
-</a>
+🤝 Contributing
+
+We welcome all contributions!
+
+Focus areas:
+
+Timeline functionality
+
+Project management improvements
+
+Performance optimizations
+
+UI/UX outside preview panel
+
+
+⚠️ Avoid for now: preview panel (fonts, stickers, effects, export). These are being refactored.
+
+➡️ See Contributing Guide for details.
 
-<a href="https://fal.ai">
-  <img alt="Powered by fal.ai" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Powered%20by-fal.ai-000000?style=flat&logo=data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjQiIGhlaWdodD0iMjQiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyNCAyNCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTEyIDJMMTMuMDkgOC4yNkwyMCAxMEwxMy4wOSAxNS43NEwxMiAyMkwxMC45MSAxNS43NEw0IDEwTDEwLjkxIDguMjZMMTIgMloiIGZpbGw9IndoaXRlIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgo=" />
-</a>
 
 ---
 
-[![Deploy with Vercel](https://vercel.com/button)](https://vercel.com/new/clone?repository-url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FOpenCut-app%2FOpenCut&project-name=opencut&repository-name=opencut)
+💎 Sponsors
+
+Thanks to our amazing sponsors:
 
-## License
+Vercel
 
-[MIT LICENSE](LICENSE)
+fal.ai
 
+
+<a href="https://vercel.com/oss">
+  <img alt="Vercel OSS Program" src="https://vercel.com/oss/program-badge.svg" />
+</a><a href="https://fal.ai">
+  <img alt="Powered by fal.ai" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Powered%20by-fal.ai-000000?style=flat" />
+</a>
 ---
 
-![Star History Chart](https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=opencut-app/opencut&type=Date)
+📜 License
+
+MIT LICENSE
+