Apps
Use built-in apps and ask Matrix to create new apps for your work and life.
Matrix OS apps are tools inside your workspace. Some are built in. Others can be created by Matrix when you describe what you need.
You do not need to write code to get a useful app. Ask for the outcome, review what Matrix builds, and keep using or improving it.
Apps are real tools
First-party and polished Matrix apps are Vite + React apps. They can have multiple screens, forms, tables, charts, saved state, and data stored in your Matrix database.
What You Can Build
Personal Trackers
Habits, budgets, subscriptions, workouts, medications, books, recipes, home inventory, travel plans, and routines.
Work Tools
Lightweight CRMs, task boards, invoice trackers, meeting follow-ups, project dashboards, checklists, and internal request forms.
Creative Tools
Content calendars, script planners, moodboards, portfolio managers, campaign trackers, idea libraries, and publishing checklists.
Learning Tools
Flashcards, study planners, reading notes, spaced repetition helpers, class dashboards, and quiz apps.
Family And Life Admin
Chore boards, shared plans, event lists, meal planning, school reminders, moving checklists, and emergency info.
Games And Fun
Simple games, puzzles, party tools, scorekeepers, interactive stories, and custom dashboards for hobbies.
Built-In Apps
Matrix ships with a growing set of default apps, including:
- Notes and writing tools.
- Task and board-style planning.
- Profile and social surfaces.
- Calculator, clock, weather, Pomodoro, and utility apps.
- Games such as Solitaire, Chess, Backgammon, Snake, 2048, Minesweeper, and Tetris.
- Whiteboard and visual workspace tools.
These default apps are bundled into the Matrix host bundle so every user starts with a useful workspace.
Asking Matrix To Build An App
Good app requests include:
- what the app is for;
- what information it should track;
- what views you want;
- whether it should be simple or polished;
- any style preferences;
- whether it should use connected services.
Examples:
"Build me a budget tracker with monthly totals, categories, recurring expenses, and a simple chart."
"Create a CRM for my wedding photography leads. Track client name, event date, budget, status, notes, and next follow-up."
"Make a study planner for my biology exam with flashcards, topics, confidence ratings, and a review schedule."
"Build a family chore board with recurring tasks, assignees, points, and a weekly summary."
App Data
Apps can save structured data in your Matrix database. You do not need to manage the database yourself.
When an app needs tables, Matrix records them in the app manifest and the gateway creates schema-per-app tables in the Postgres database inside your Matrix environment. Apps access that database through Matrix's bridge API, not by handling database passwords directly.
This means:
- app data persists across reloads;
- apps can have real lists, records, filters, and charts;
- recovery can restore app data from snapshots;
- app permissions and access can be enforced by Matrix.
Improving An App
You can keep iterating in plain language:
- "Add a dark mode."
- "Make the mobile layout cleaner."
- "Add a status filter."
- "Import this CSV."
- "Add charts by month."
- "Make it easier for my team to use."
- "Change the labels to match my business."
Matrix can inspect the app it created, update the files, rebuild it, and keep the app in your workspace.
Sharing And Installing
Matrix apps are meant to be shareable. You can:
- install apps from the app store;
- fork an app and customize it;
- share an app with another person;
- publish your own app when it is ready;
- keep your own app data separate from the original creator's data.
For Developers
Developers can still inspect and edit app files directly. First-party apps live under the Matrix home as Vite + React projects with matrix.json, index.html, src/main.tsx, and vite.config.ts. For most users, Matrix handles those details automatically.
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