PackVault

Cache npm packages once. Install forever — even offline.

PackVault is an offline-first package caching and distribution CLI for JavaScript developers.

Download package tarballs while online, install them later without internet access, share them across your LAN, and bootstrap entire projects from a local package vault.

# Cache packages while online
packvault sync react vite tailwindcss

# Later... no internet required
packvault install react

⭐ Offline-first 🌐 LAN package sharing 📦 Project templates 🔒 Integrity verification ⚡ Peer-to-peer package sync

Why PackVault?

Modern JavaScript development assumes a reliable internet connection.

But many developers work:

• On unreliable networks
• While traveling
• In classrooms and workshops
• Behind restricted firewalls
• On multiple machines

Downloading the same dependencies repeatedly wastes bandwidth and time.

PackVault creates a reusable local package vault that works online and offline.

How It Works

npm Registry
      │
      ▼
  PackVault Sync
      │
      ▼
   Local Vault
      │
 ┌────┴────┐
 ▼         ▼
Offline   LAN
Install   Sharing
           │
           ▼
      Peer Sync

Comparison

| Feature | npm Cache | Verdaccio | PackVault | | ----------------- | --------- | --------- | --------- | | Offline installs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Lockfile sync | Partial | Partial | ✓ | | Peer-to-peer sync | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | | Offline templates | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | | Offline audit | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | | Portable exports | ✗ | Partial | ✓ | | Classroom mode | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |

Features

Offline Package Management

• Sync npm metadata and tarballs into a durable local vault
• Lockfile-aware sync for npm, Yarn, and pnpm
• SemVer-aware installs from cached packages
• Runtime dependency caching
• Incremental sync with skipped duplicates
• SHA-512 and shasum integrity verification

Networking & Distribution

• LAN package sharing
• Transparent proxy registry
• Offline fallback support
• mDNS peer discovery
• Peer authentication tokens
• Bidirectional peer synchronization

Project Bootstrapping

• Offline starter project templates
• Framework bundles
• Automatic dependency installation
• Project snapshots and restore
• Per-project configuration

Security

• Integrity verification
• Offline vulnerability auditing
• Allowlist/blocklist policies
• Audit logging
• Trusted peer authentication

Productivity

• Bundle management
• Vault search
• Auto-sync scheduling
• Portable export/import
• Shell completion
• Project readiness diagnostics

Pricing & Tiers

PackVault uses a simple, transparent pricing model to keep basic offline development accessible for everyone while providing powerful networking and collaboration tools for professionals and teams.

Community (Free)

Ideal for individual developers and basic offline coding.

• Local Sync & Install
• Integrity Verification
• Lockfile Aware
• Project Templates
• Offline Security Audit

Pro ($12/mo)

Perfect for teams, classrooms, and enterprise environments. Includes everything in Community, plus:

• LAN Package Sharing (mDNS)
• Peer-to-Peer Sync
• Local Registry Proxy (packvault serve)
• Bidirectional Node Connect

To activate your Pro license, run:

packvault activate <your-license-key>

Installation

npm

npm install -g packvault

GitHub

npm install -g github:Demon-Die/PackVault

Local Development

git clone https://github.com/Demon-Die/PackVault
cd PackVault

npm install
npm run build
npm link

Quick Start

Cache Packages While Online

packvault sync react vite tailwindcss

Or sync directly from a lockfile:

packvault sync --from-lockfile

Go Offline

Disconnect from the internet.

Install From Cache

packvault install react
packvault install vite

No registry required.

Create Projects Offline

Interactive wizard:

packvault create

Create directly:

packvault create react my-app
packvault create vue dashboard
packvault create svelte app
packvault create nextjs web-app
packvault create astro docs-site
packvault create fastify api-server

Install dependencies automatically:

packvault create react my-app --install

Bundles

Pre-cache common ecosystems:

packvault bundle frontend
packvault bundle backend
packvault bundle fullstack
packvault bundle frameworks

Create custom bundles:

packvault bundle save my-stack react vite tailwindcss

LAN Sharing

Share your vault:

packvault share

Discover peers:

packvault discover

Connect:

packvault connect 192.168.1.25

Bidirectional synchronization:

packvault connect 192.168.1.25 --bidirectional

Common Workflow

1. Sync Dependencies

packvault sync react vite tailwindcss

2. Verify Vault Health

packvault doctor

3. Disconnect Internet

Continue working offline.

4. Install Packages

packvault install react

5. Share With Other Machines

packvault share

Commands

Sync

packvault sync react vite tailwindcss
packvault sync --from-lockfile
packvault sync --from-lockfile ./package-lock.json
packvault sync --concurrency 10
packvault sync my-private-pkg --registry https://npm.mycompany.com --token TOKEN

Install

packvault install react
packvault install vite
packvault install --from-package-json

Bundle

packvault bundle save my-stack react vite tailwindcss
packvault bundle list
packvault bundle delete my-stack
packvault bundle frontend

Doctor

packvault doctor
packvault doctor --project ./my-app
packvault doctor --fix

Search

packvault search react
packvault search vite --versions

Audit

packvault audit
packvault audit --project ./my-app
packvault audit --fix

Export / Import

packvault export -o my-vault.tar.gz
packvault import my-vault.tar.gz

Policy

packvault policy allow react vite
packvault policy block lodash
packvault policy list

Snapshot

packvault snapshot --project ./my-app -o my-app.vault
packvault snapshot restore my-app.vault

Classroom Mode

packvault classroom --host
packvault classroom --join

Use Cases

Remote Development

Prepare dependencies before traveling and continue building without internet access.

Workshops & Classrooms

Share one prepared vault with dozens of students and eliminate repeated downloads.

Team Development

Reduce bandwidth usage across multiple machines and local networks.

Air-Gapped Systems

Prepare dependency vaults in advance and build applications without external network access.

Vault Layout

~/.packvault/
├── cache/
├── templates/
├── bundles/
├── database/
├── exports/
└── config.json

Security

PackVault prioritizes reproducibility and security.

• SHA-512 integrity verification
• shasum verification support
• Offline vulnerability auditing
• Package allowlist/blocklist enforcement
• Authenticated peer synchronization
• Audit logging

Database Schema

CREATE TABLE packages (
  name TEXT NOT NULL,
  version TEXT NOT NULL,
  size INTEGER NOT NULL,
  cache_path TEXT NOT NULL,
  dependencies TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}',
  dist_tarball TEXT,
  integrity TEXT,
  shasum TEXT,
  accessed_at TEXT,
  created_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
  PRIMARY KEY (name, version)
);

Additional tables store bundles, peers, logs, advisories, and schema versions.

Documentation

• docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
• docs/ROADMAP.md

Roadmap

• Differential peer synchronization
• Enhanced registry mirroring
• Smarter dependency graph analysis
• Multi-user vault support
• Improved web UI

License

MIT

Built for developers who don't want internet availability to determine whether they can build software.