GitHub - Hugo-Dz/exe: Pack your web app as a single executable binary with zero runtime dependencies

EXE

A build tool to distribute your full-stack web app as a single executable binary with zero runtime dependencies.

Unlike static builds that strip away server capabilities, EXE preserves all server-side features of your full stack framework: SSR, API endpoints, server middleware, server-side authentication, etc.

Why ?

Traditional standalone software approaches lose functionality:

SPA builds + Rust / Go → Lose frontend framework's server features (SSR, API routes, etc.).
Desktop apps → Can't be deployed to the web.
Docker → Need to install Docker and spin up a container locally.

With EXE:

✅ Full-stack framework capabilities preserved, build as you would for the web.
✅ Single binary, no runtime dependencies.
✅ Cross-platform executable.
✅ Runs anywhere: locally, or on a small cloud machine.

Perfect for

Open-source tools users can run without Docker/Node.
Commercial software sold as one-time purchase for self-hosting vs SaaS.
Privacy-focused apps prioritizing local data ownership.
Demos for users to try before buying.

Examples: AI chat apps, project management tools, image editors, web analytics...

A full-stack SvelteKit web app tilemap engine compiled with EXE. Running locally.

Quick Start with SvelteKit

Nuxt and TanStack are also supported but experimental.

Requires Bun installed on your machine to build the executable (not to run).

npm install @jesterkit/exe-sveltekit

// svelte.config.js
import adapter from "@jesterkit/exe-sveltekit";

export default {
	kit: {
		adapter: adapter({
			binaryName: "my-app",
		}),
	},
};

npm run build
./dist/my-app

Your app runs at http://localhost:3000 with full server capabilities of SvelteKit. Check the README of the SvelteKit adapter for more details.

🎁 Bonus: If you select the linux-x64 target, a Dockerfile is automatically generated so you can self-host your software in one command using the Fly.io CLI:

License

MIT License Hugo Duprez