Can AI replace Loom?
KINDA · weekend projectLocal screen recording is easy, but instant hosting, permissions, viewer analytics, comments, trimming, and team libraries push it beyond one sitting.
Build me a screen-record-and-share tool to replace Loom on macOS. Requirements: - Two parts: a local recording CLI and a share server on my own VPS. - Recording: `rec start` / `rec stop` wrapping ffmpeg's avfoundation capture, screen plus mic, saved to ~/Recordings/YYYY-MM-DD-HHMM.mp4. No camera bubble. - On stop: transcode to web-friendly H.264, transcribe with whisper.cpp, then upload video and transcript to the server with rsync over SSH. - The server (Node + Express + better-sqlite3 behind my existing reverse proxy) serves each recording at an unguessable /v/<random-id> URL: player, title, date, and the transcript below it, searchable in-page. - `rec stop` ends by printing the share URL and copying it to my clipboard. Target: under a minute from stop to link for a 2-minute video. - The index page listing all recordings stays private (localhost or VPN only); the share pages are link-only, no listing anywhere. No accounts, no telemetry. - Out of scope: viewer analytics, comments, trimming, and team libraries. The unlisted URL is the entire permission model. - README: macOS screen-recording and mic permissions, finding the right ffmpeg device index, and the server deploy steps.
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They pay because a Loom link works everywhere and preserves context for the team.
xinstant reliable hosting
xpermissions
xcomments
xanalytics
xworkspace libraries
xbrowser extensions
Can AI replace Loom?
Kinda. The core of Loom is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: instant reliable hosting, permissions. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Loom cost?
Loom costs about $18/month (Business, checked 2026-07-30), which is $216 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Loom?
Honestly: instant reliable hosting; permissions; comments; analytics; workspace libraries; browser extensions. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Loom?
Yes — OBS Studio (Excellent open-source recording engine; hosting/sharing remains the DIY gap.). Using prior art is also a valid exit; the prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.