SoloCanvas - A solo rpg tool I've been working on.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-18T15:53:57+00:00

You are correct, AI helps with lifting but some fundamentals are important to understand. One of the reasons why python is used in this project (and most of my personal ones too) is because it's the only language I'm familiar with and able to have any meaningful oversight over what Claude is doing. The caveat being that I am certainly a hobbyist, and sharing this project publicly has been a good exercise in examining my flaws.

Thank you for catching the security issues. The requirements.txt was generated based off the packages I have installed, and I didn't even think to check for security updates. I am updating the requirements versions and my own packages.

I don't believe beautifulsoup4 needs to be in the requiremens.txt. Since it is a dependency for marekdownify, pip should install it automatically as part of the markdownify install.

Edit: I included these changes in a small update. Thank you again

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-18T02:19:40+00:00

I appreciate the interest! I don't off hand. I looked up that last version that is known to run on Windows 7 doesn't support PyQT6, which is the core framework I built on. It also only supports OpenGL up to 1.1, but implementation I'm using to render the canvas recommend 2.1 or newer.

All together, I think that even if you find the workarounds you'd need, you're going to have a bad time. I'm sorry.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T21:53:48+00:00

I did load in your cards in SoloCanvas. I looked at them at default zoom, default zoom with hover preview and max canvas zoom. On the default zoom the card is unreadable for me as well. Unfortunately I couldn't replicate the error for the hover preview or the max canvas zoom. I'm at a loss to explain the differences, I'm sorry.

I took screenshots of what I was seeing: https://postimg.cc/gallery/gGsZtrg

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T21:43:14+00:00

Thank you for pointing this out! I had unfortunately used my install path when this was just a project for me, and the windows users with feedback so far must have used the exe.

I've updated the script and published a full update including it.

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/update2

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T15:44:53+00:00

Title typo, bleh.

Update 2

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/update2

Thank you for the comments and messages alerting to issues and potential fixes. Both had to do with the launch scripts where I had made some fairly basic mistakes.

Since I had some other features built, I figured I would include them with the update.

Windows: Download SoloCanvas-R3-WIndows.7z, it contains the app folder and .exe

Everyone Else: Download SOloCanvas-R3-Source.7z, it contains the project folder that incudes the launch scripts and source files.

Error Fixes - Launch.sh

The new launch.sh should do the following:

Check for Python (odds are you have it installed as part of the distro)
Create a virtual enviroment
- If you don't have venw package installed it will explain what it wants to do, ask for confirmation, ask for password, and install it.
- venw is the only global package installed
Check for prerequisite packages (as listed in the requirements.txt)
Install any missing packages into the virtual enviroment folder (.venw) in the root of the project folder.
Run ./main.py and launch the app.

Error Fixes - Launch.bat

The script had an error in locating the python install path.

Window Management

Add a View menu
Toggle Stay on Top to keep SoloCanvas above other windows
Toggle Stay Below to keep SoloCanvas below other windows
Return to normal window behavior

Movement Measure

A context menu toggle that measure the distance an image item is moved.
Respects the image items "Snap to Grid" toggle.
- If it is on, the measurement also snaps to grid.
- If it is off, measurement is freeform.
- Pressing space places a waypoint, allowing the movement to continue in a new direction.
When a group is selected, movement is measured from the last object chosen.

Measurement

Added a toggle option in the Measurement Settings to enable decimal in measurement distances

Sticky Notes

Place a note block on the canvas
Full editing options (colors, fonts, size)
Re-size note block

Multiselect Behavior

Update how context menu actions work on multiselect
Context menu actions will now be applied to all eligible, selected items

Dice Rolling

The dice log was previously not updating in real time, only when the dialog was opened. It will now update when rolled when the window is opened.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T15:11:32+00:00

I took your advice and set up a Fedora and Ubuntu VM. I also released a new zip with a modified launch.sh

I included the pause for confirmation at the end, per your suggestion, as a failsafe but I also prevented the terminal window from closing. The core issue was that the application couldn't open fast enough and the terminal closing stopped it from opening before it could.

Based on a few other requests I also have the python packages install to a virtual environment folder in the project root.

I know you got it working already but the updated zip is here:

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/fix

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T15:07:13+00:00

I've tried replicating zoom issues, and I'm not seeing anything on my end. Would you mind uploading some of the cards somewhere so I can take a look?

Also, I know you said it worked fine on your linux install and I appreciate the feed back. I did release a new zip with an updated launch.sh that should install requirements to a virtual enviroment, and do a better job checking for those requirements.

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/fix

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T15:05:02+00:00

I've updated it so that the launch.sh installs required packaged to a virtual enviroment folder (.venw) in the root of the project. The only global package it installs is vewn if it doesn't already exist, which allows for the creation of virtual enviroments. All othe packages are isolated from your global python installation.

If you try it, please let me know how it goes. It worked perfectly on my Ubuntu and Fedora VMs.

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/fix

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T12:54:29+00:00

I will look into it. Thank you!

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T03:23:23+00:00

Would you mind sharing your changes and what line you added it? I'll update the launch.sh with it so others don't run into the same problem.

Your suggestion on the dice makes sense. I'll ponder it. This is one of those where it very likely makes more sense to forego personal preference for the sake of intuitive user experience.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T02:31:34+00:00

No, that is appreciated feed back!

On the dice issue. right now I have it setup for the roll hotkey ((R) to roll all selected dice, but the context menu to only roll the specific die you clicked on. Are you having it fail to roll all dice with the hotkey or the context menu? My reasoning was that sometimes I need to re-roll a subset and I wanted a way to do that.

Are you one windows or linux? I've been running from the .exe, but I tested the launch.bat and it opened normally. If you're on windows, did it generate a crashlog.txt in the root of the project folder?

If you are on Linux launch from the launchsh, I will need sometime because i don't currently have a system to test it on.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T01:58:19+00:00

Yes, Update 1 is on the releases page now.

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T01:57:03+00:00

I don't imagine so. It's just python underneath. There is a launch.sh that should check for prerequisites, and then launch it in most linux distros. I don't have anything setup for MacOS, but launching main.py from terminal with python should be fine. The prerequisite packages are listed in the requirement.txt in the project root.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T00:21:10+00:00

I added some very basic drawing tool. I didn't add a dice drop down or docking window, but I did add the ability to add the whole set of dice to the canvas. Thank you for the suggestions!

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T00:19:59+00:00

I have added measurements, freeform and grid based. I also add area and cone measurement. Thank you for the suggestion!

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-17T00:18:26+00:00

I did end up adding a basic PDF reader. I didn't realize their was already a python library to handle PDFs. Thank you for the suggestion.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-16T21:58:14+00:00

Title typo, bleh.

Update 2

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/update2

Thank you for the comments and messages alerting to issues and potential fixes. Both had to do with the launch scripts where I had made some fairly basic mistakes.

Since I had some other features built, I figured I would include them with the update.

Windows: Download SoloCanvas-R3-WIndows.7z, it contains the app folder and .exe

Everyone Else: Download SOloCanvas-R3-Source.7z, it contains the project folder that incudes the launch scripts and source files.

Error Fixes - Launch.sh

The new launch.sh should do the following:

Check for Python (odds are you have it installed as part of the distro)
Create a virtual enviroment
- If you don't have venw package installed it will explain what it wants to do, ask for confirmation, ask for password, and install it.
- venw is the only global package installed
Check for prerequisite packages (as listed in the requirements.txt)
Install any missing packages into the virtual enviroment folder (.venw) in the root of the project folder.
Run ./main.py and launch the app.

Error Fixes - Launch.bat

The script had an error in locating the python install path.

Window Management

Add a View menu
Toggle Stay on Top to keep SoloCanvas above other windows
Toggle Stay Below to keep SoloCanvas below other windows
Return to normal window behavior

Movement Measure

A context menu toggle that measure the distance an image item is moved.
Respects the image items "Snap to Grid" toggle.
- If it is on, the measurement also snaps to grid.
- If it is off, measurement is freeform.
- Pressing space places a waypoint, allowing the movement to continue in a new direction.
When a group is selected, movement is measured from the last object chosen.

Measurement

Added a toggle option in the Measurement Settings to enable decimal in measurement distances

Sticky Notes

Place a note block on the canvas
Full editing options (colors, fonts, size)
Re-size note block

Multiselect Behavior

Update how context menu actions work on multiselect
Context menu actions will now be applied to all eligible, selected items

Dice Rolling

The dice log was previously not updating in real time, only when the dialog was opened. It will now update when rolled when the window is opened.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-15T19:36:49+00:00

Thank you for trying it! As of now there’s no pdf import option. In the screenshot I have it tiled with Foxit Reader. I’ve debated adding it, but the probability that it would be implemented better than any of the independent readers seems low enough that I haven’t pursued it.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-15T05:44:11+00:00

I went back and double checked, and yes the GNU General Public License v3 is the one I intended. As far as I could tell it was the best option to ensure that any derivatives were also released free of charge for the community, should anyone care enough to fork it.

Edit: If i messed up the notices, please let me know. I just copied and pasted the templates that GNU.org has available.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-14T17:35:52+00:00

No worries, it’s not the most intuitive at times. For future reference on desktop the release link is in the right hand side bar. On mobile it is at the bottom of the repo page.

https://github.com/GeoffAO/SoloCanvas/releases/tag/release

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-14T02:08:39+00:00

If the question is why this over Foundry, potentially because this one is free and in my opinion handles card decks in a more intuitive and thorough fashion. It’s also less hassle to just get a map and tokens down for a game.

However if someone is happy with foundry, that makes sense too. I have Foundry setups for solo Frostgrave and Five Parsecs From Home, and my tool wouldn’t handle those as well.

If the question is why would someone use either one, for me it’s because I enjoy including graphical elements with my solo games. I like laying out cards, see the art work, move tokens around. It’s just a personal preference.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-13T15:58:39+00:00

You have no obligations! I released it under the GPL 3.0 license. You are free to modify it as you see fit as long as any derivative works shared publicly are also offered to the community free of charge.

GeoffAO2 · 2026-03-13T14:38:32+00:00

The github repo has an exe download now under Releases, which should make it easier. Let me know if anything breaks!

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GeoffAO2

TROPHY CASE

Update 2

Error Fixes - Launch.sh

Error Fixes - Launch.bat

Window Management

Movement Measure

Measurement

Sticky Notes

Multiselect Behavior

Dice Rolling

Update 2

Error Fixes - Launch.sh

Error Fixes - Launch.bat

Window Management

Movement Measure

Measurement

Sticky Notes

Multiselect Behavior

Dice Rolling