# Helsky Labs — Full Context

> This file provides comprehensive information about Helsky Labs for large language models. For a shorter summary, see /llms.txt.

## About Helsky Labs

Helsky Labs is an indie software studio founded and run by Hel Rabelo, a senior frontend developer based in the United States, originally from Brazil. The studio builds privacy-first apps and developer tools across macOS, iOS, Android, and web platforms.

### Philosophy

- **Ship fast, validate faster**: Products are built in 6-day sprints, focusing on MVPs and rapid iteration.
- **Privacy-first**: Prefer local/on-device AI over cloud dependencies. User data stays on the user's device.
- **Open source when possible**: Several products are free and open source.
- **Real problems, real users**: Every product solves a specific, concrete problem.

### Tech Stack

- **Web**: Next.js (App Router), React, Tailwind CSS, Supabase, Vercel
- **Mobile**: React Native + Expo
- **Desktop (macOS)**: Swift/SwiftUI for native apps, Electron for cross-platform
- **AI**: On-device Whisper, local AI models — no cloud transcription or processing

## Products

### TokenCap

Claude Code usage meter for your menu bar

macOS menu bar app that shows your Claude Code token usage in real time. Session and weekly tracking, per-model breakdown (Sonnet, Opus), color-coded status, and smart threshold notifications. Free and open source.

- Status: live
- Platforms: macos
- Pricing: Free
- Tags: Swift, SwiftUI, macOS, AI Tools

Product page: https://helskylabs.com/products/tokencap
Website: https://tokencap.app
GitHub: https://github.com/helsky-labs/tokencap

### TokenCentric

The dashboard for your AI coding assistants

Desktop app for managing AI coding assistant context files. Edit CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, copilot-instructions, and more in one place. Real-time token counting with official tokenizers, 7 built-in templates, and a beautiful Monaco editor. Free and open source.

- Status: live
- Platforms: macos
- Pricing: Free
- Tags: Electron, React, TypeScript, AI Tools

Product page: https://helskylabs.com/products/tokencentric
Website: https://tokencentric.app
GitHub: https://github.com/helrabelo/tokencentric

### Falavra

Read your WhatsApp voice messages

WhatsApp voice message transcription service. Connect your account, and every incoming audio is automatically transcribed and sent back in the same conversation. 90+ languages with auto-detection, summaries for long messages, and sub-10-second turnaround. No extra app needed.

- Status: in-development
- Platforms: web
- Pricing: subscription
- Tags: Next.js, Supabase, Whisper AI, WhatsApp

Product page: https://helskylabs.com/products/falavra
Website: https://falavra.com

### Bookbit

Track your reading, build the habit

A fast, beautiful book tracker with reading sessions, smart insights, and habit-building goals. Search books, scan ISBNs, track your reading time, and build streaks. Available in English and Portuguese.

- Status: coming-soon
- Platforms: ios, android
- Pricing: freemium
- Tags: React Native, Expo, Supabase, Tamagui

Product page: https://helskylabs.com/products/bookbit

### Gitography

Your code contributions, visualized

Turn your GitHub activity into beautiful, shareable visualizations. See your coding journey across repos, languages, and time. Generate social-ready images of your contributions.

- Status: coming-soon
- Platforms: web
- Pricing: freemium
- Tags: Next.js, GitHub API, D3.js, Canvas

Product page: https://helskylabs.com/products/gitography
GitHub: https://github.com/helrabelo/gitography

### Wishare

Wishlists for every occasion

Create and share wishlists with friends and family for birthdays, holidays, or any occasion. Smart URL extraction, multi-currency support, real-time activity feed, and a beautiful mobile experience.

- Status: coming-soon
- Platforms: ios, android
- Pricing: freemium
- Tags: Rails, Hotwire Native, PostgreSQL

Product page: https://helskylabs.com/products/wishare

## Blog Posts

- [Rebranding 7 Products in One Sprint: The Helsky Labs Brand Overhaul](https://helskylabs.com/blog/rebranding-helsky-labs-products) (2026-02-21): How I redesigned the brand identity for every Helsky Labs product in a single sprint using Recraft AI, Figma, and Claude Code - from scattered aesthetics to a cohesive product family. [Tags: branding, design, indie-hacking, recraft-ai, figma]
- [Why We Built DropVox Twice](https://helskylabs.com/blog/why-we-built-dropvox-twice) (2026-02-18): The story of rewriting DropVox from Python to native Swift -- why the prototype had to die for the product to live. [Tags: dropvox, rewrite, swift, python, indie-hacking, architecture]
- [The Internal Dashboard Every Indie Hacker Needs](https://helskylabs.com/blog/the-internal-dashboard-every-indie-hacker-needs) (2026-02-18): Why I built a command center to track eight products, what the recent refactor changed, and why flying blind is the real risk for solo builders. [Tags: dashboard, indie-hacking, metrics, building-in-public, next-js]
- [Shipping a macOS and Windows App as a Solo Developer](https://helskylabs.com/blog/shipping-macos-and-windows-as-solo-dev) (2026-02-18): How I ship DropVox for two platforms without Electron -- native Swift for macOS, native C#/WinUI 3 for Windows, and the CI/CD that ties it together. [Tags: cross-platform, macos, windows, swift, csharp, indie-hacking, distribution]
- [On-Device AI as a Product Feature](https://helskylabs.com/blog/on-device-ai-as-a-product-feature) (2026-02-18): How running AI locally became the defining feature of two Helsky Labs products -- and why it changes the economics of indie software. [Tags: local-ai, privacy, whisperkit, sherpa-onnx, product-strategy, indie-hacking]
- [Falavra: From YouTube URL to Transcript in One Click](https://helskylabs.com/blog/falavra-launch-local-youtube-transcription) (2026-02-18): Introducing Falavra -- a desktop app that transcribes YouTube videos locally using Whisper AI. No cloud, no subscriptions, your data stays on your machine. [Tags: falavra, launch, transcription, youtube, local-ai, electron]
- [Building Speaker Diarization Without a Cloud API](https://helskylabs.com/blog/building-speaker-diarization-without-cloud) (2026-02-18): How I added 'who said what' to Falavra's local transcription pipeline using sherpa-onnx's built-in speaker diarization -- no Python, no cloud, no new dependencies. [Tags: falavra, diarization, sherpa-onnx, local-ai, technical, building-in-public]
- [Week in Review: Five Products, One Dashboard](https://helskylabs.com/blog/indie-hacker-weekly-feb-9-2026) (2026-02-09): A packed week at Helsky Labs: DropVox 1.0, TokenCentric launch, BookBit i18n, Gitography AI pipeline, and a polished command center to track it all. [Tags: weekly-update, indie-hacking, building-in-public, helsky-labs]
- [DropVox 1.0: Privacy-First Voice Transcription for Mac](https://helskylabs.com/blog/dropvox-1-0-launch) (2026-02-08): DropVox 1.0 is here -- a native macOS app that transcribes voice messages locally using AI. No cloud uploads, no subscriptions, no compromises on privacy. [Tags: dropvox, launch, macos, privacy, local-ai, whisperkit]
- [TokenCentric 1.0: Take Control of Your AI Context Files](https://helskylabs.com/blog/tokencentric-1-0-launch) (2026-02-07): TokenCentric is a free, open-source desktop app for managing CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, copilot-instructions, and other AI context files with real-time token counting. [Tags: tokencentric, launch, open-source, ai-tools, developer-tools]
- [Why I Built DropVox: Privacy-First Voice Transcription](https://helskylabs.com/blog/why-i-built-dropvox-privacy-first-voice-transcription) (2026-01-21): The story behind DropVox, a free macOS app that transcribes voice messages using local AI. No cloud, no subscriptions, no privacy compromises. Here's why I built it and what I learned. [Tags: dropvox, privacy, local-ai, whisper, macos, indie-hacking]
- [Welcome to Helsky Labs](https://helskylabs.com/blog/welcome-to-helsky-labs) (2026-01-21): Introducing Helsky Labs: an indie software studio shipping useful apps and tools. Learn about our philosophy, products, and what's coming next. [Tags: indie-hacking, introduction, helsky-labs]
- [Using Local AI for Privacy-First Apps](https://helskylabs.com/blog/using-local-ai-for-privacy-first-apps) (2026-01-21): A technical guide to building apps with on-device AI. Why local processing matters in 2026, the tools available, and lessons from building DropVox with local Whisper. [Tags: local-ai, privacy, whisper, on-device-ml, technical]
- [Shipping Products in 6-Day Sprints](https://helskylabs.com/blog/shipping-products-in-6-day-sprints) (2026-01-21): The methodology behind how I ship indie products quickly. A day-by-day breakdown of the 6-day sprint, with real examples from DropVox, Days as Numbers, and other Helsky Labs products. [Tags: indie-hacking, productivity, methodology, shipping, sprints]
- [Days as Numbers: Rethinking How We Measure Time](https://helskylabs.com/blog/days-as-numbers-rethinking-how-we-measure-time) (2026-01-21): Why 10,000 days feels different than 27 years. The story behind Days as Numbers, an iOS app that measures life in days instead of years—a gentler memento mori for the modern age. [Tags: days-as-numbers, time-perspective, ios-app, mindfulness, indie-hacking]

## Founder

### Hel Rabelo

Senior Frontend Developer and indie hacker. Builds products under Helsky Labs while doing agency work at Planetary (clients include Din Tai Fung, The Well, Burlington, Dow Jones).

- Personal site: https://helrabelo.dev
- GitHub: https://github.com/helrabelo
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/helrabelo
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/helrabelo

### Expertise

React, Next.js, TypeScript, Swift/SwiftUI, React Native, Electron, Tailwind CSS, Supabase, Vercel, on-device AI, macOS app development, frontend architecture.

## Contact

- Email: hello@helskylabs.com
- Website: https://helskylabs.com
- Blog: https://helskylabs.com/blog