Design beautiful game cards with the power and familiarity of HTML, CSS, and Handlebars. Oatear Cider is a modern IDE for card game creation, bridging the gap between simple editors and complex professional software.
| Platform / Action | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🌐 Web App | Try it Now in Your Browser | The full experience, running directly in your browser. No installation needed. |
| 💻 Desktop Apps | Free Download (Win, Mac, Linux) | Get the installable desktop version for offline use and local file system projects. |
| Mac App Store |  |
A convenient, sandboxed version for Mac users. Purchase to support the project! |
| ❤️ Support Us |  |
If you find Cider useful, consider a small donation to support its development! |
Cider was created for designers who want the ultimate creative freedom without a steep learning curve. Instead of a restrictive graphical editor, Cider uses the tools you already know:
- Structure with HTML: Define the layout of your cards with standard HTML.
- Style with CSS: Apply rich styling, from fonts and colors to complex layouts like CSS Grid.
- Add Logic with Handlebars: Use data from a spreadsheet to dynamically change names, stats, and abilities.
- See a Sample Project: Check out the Cosmic Apple sample project to see how it all comes together.
| Feature | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Powerful Templates | Create reusable card templates with HTML & CSS. The Template Wizard helps you quickly set up standard card sizes and layouts. |  |
| 2. Data-Driven Design | Separate your design from your content. Manage all card attributes in a simple, spreadsheet-like interface. Change data in one place, and update hundreds of cards instantly. |  |
| 3. Live Preview | See your cards update in real-time as you edit your templates or data. No more guessing how your changes will look. |  |
| 4. Built-in Simulator | Instantly playtest your game in the Game Simulator—shuffle, draw, and discard without printing a thing. The Asset Generator helps you create placeholder art and symbols. |  |
| 5. Pro-Grade Exports | Export cards as PNGs or print-ready PDF sheets with crop marks and low-ink modes. You can also export for virtual tabletops like Tabletop Simulator. |  |
| 6. Your Project, Your Files | The desktop app saves your project as a clean folder of .html, .css, and .csv files. Use Git, VS Code, or any other tool in your existing workflow. |
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Simply visit oatear.github.io/cider to start. Your projects are stored locally in your browser's IndexedDB. You can import/export your entire project as a single database.json file.
- Go to the Releases Page.
- Download the appropriate file for your operating system (
.msifor Windows,.dmgfor macOS,.debfor Debian/Ubuntu). - For macOS Users: For a seamless, signed, and auto-updating experience, please consider purchasing the app from the Mac App Store.
Anything you create with Oatear Cider is your intellectual property. The app collects no data and all your work remains on your local device.
The application source code is protected by the AGPL-3.0 License to ensure it remains open-source forever.
We welcome contributions from the community! Whether it's reporting a bug, suggesting a feature, or writing code, your help is appreciated.
Another great way to contribute is by supporting the project financially. Donations help cover costs like the Apple Developer Program fee and allow us to dedicate more time to development.
- Bug Reports & Feature Requests: Please open an issue on the GitHub Issues page.
- Development: Fork the repository, create a new branch, and submit a pull request. To run the project locally, you'll need Node.js and Angular CLI installed.
# Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/oatear/cider.git cd cider/cider-app # Install dependencies npm install # Run the app in development mode npm start
Apple, the Apple Logo, and Mac App Store are trademarks of Apple Inc.
