chalkboard

cursor for video editing

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Chalkboard - AI-Powered Video Editor

Inspiration

Video editing requires expensive software and technical expertise. We wanted to democratize video creation by making it as simple as having a conversation. Our inspiration came from watching creators struggle with complex interfaces when they just wanted to "make the video brighter" or "trim the first 5 seconds."

What it does

Chalkboard is the first video editor with real-time AI autocomplete. Type what you want to do, and AI helps you complete your thoughts instantly.

Key Features:

  • Natural language editing: "Make it brighter", "Trim first 5 seconds"
  • Real-time AI autocomplete powered by Groq (150ms responses)
  • Multi-AI architecture: Groq for speed, Claude 4 for complex reasoning
  • Professional video controls with keyboard shortcuts
  • Desktop app built with Electron

How we built it

  • Frontend: React + TypeScript with WebSocket integration for real-time feedback
  • Backend: Electron + Node.js with Claude 4 and Groq AI integration
  • Video Processing: FFmpeg with automated command generation
  • AI Architecture: Groq for instant autocomplete, Claude 4 for complex video editing reasoning

Challenges we ran into

  1. Multi-AI Integration: Different AI providers with different response formats
  2. Real-time Processing: Smooth video playback while processing edits
  3. FFmpeg Commands: Getting Claude to generate reliable video processing commands
  4. Professional UX: Balancing simplicity with advanced features
  5. Cross-platform Compatibility: Electron configuration and file handling

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • First real-time AI autocomplete in video editing (150ms responses)
  • Multi-AI architecture successfully integrating Claude 4 and Groq
  • Professional video player with keyboard shortcuts and smooth interactions
  • Natural language interface that understands complex video editing requests
  • Production-ready desktop application with robust error handling

What we learned

  • AI Integration: Different models excel at different tasks - use them accordingly
  • Real-time Apps: WebSocket management with exponential backoff is essential
  • Desktop Development: Proper Electron configuration and cross-platform considerations
  • Video Processing: FFmpeg integration with automated command generation
  • Prompt Engineering: Detailed prompts with examples are crucial for reliable AI responses

What's next for chalkboard

Short-term: Voice control integration, video upload functionality, export options Medium-term: Unify multimodal AI for advanced video analysis, collaboration features Long-term: Cloud platform, mobile apps, enterprise features, API platform

Chalkboard represents the future of video editing - where AI makes professional video creation accessible to everyone.

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