Run Map Blueprint locally

Get the app running on your own computer in a few minutes — perfect for a single user or a team on the same network. Two ways to do it: Docker (easiest) or Node.js.

Before you start: unzip the download you received after purchase anywhere you like. All commands below run from inside that unzipped folder. Looking to make it reachable by remote teammates over the internet? See the cloud hosting guide instead.

Option A — Docker (recommended)

Docker bundles everything the app needs, so there's nothing else to install. First, install Docker if you don't already have it.

1. Set a team password

Copy the example settings file and open it in any text editor:

cp .env.example .env

In .env, set APP_PASSWORD to a password your team will share, and set a SESSION_SECRET so logins survive restarts. You can generate a strong secret with:

node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('hex'))"

No Node.js installed? Any long random string works for SESSION_SECRET.

2. Start it

docker compose up -d

That's it — the app is now running in the background.

3. Open it

Go to http://localhost:8080 in your browser, sign in with the password from your .env, and you'll land on your Maps dashboard.

To stop it later:

docker compose down

Your maps stay safe in the data/ folder between restarts.

Option B — Node.js (no Docker)

You need Node.js 16 or newer.

1. Install dependencies

npm install

2. Start it with a password

Pick the command for your operating system:

macOS / Linux:

APP_PASSWORD=changeme SESSION_SECRET=$(node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('hex'))") npm start

Windows (PowerShell):

$env:APP_PASSWORD="changeme"; $env:SESSION_SECRET="paste-a-long-random-string"; npm start

3. Open it

Go to http://localhost:8080.

Leaving APP_PASSWORD unset runs an open instance with no login. Only do that on a trusted private network you control.

Your data & backups

Every map is a single JSON file in the data/ folder.
Back up by copying the whole data/ folder somewhere safe.
Export / import individual maps as .json from the dashboard — handy for moving maps between machines.

Share it on your local network

Teammates on the same Wi-Fi or office network can reach your instance at http://YOUR-COMPUTER-IP:8080 (find your machine's local IP in your network settings). For teammates working remotely over the internet, follow the cloud hosting guide — it covers an always-on server, a custom domain, and HTTPS.