Meet cLockbox: More Than Just a Clock - It's My New Side Project!

Alright folks, buckle up, because I've been working on something really cool lately and I'm finally ready to share it with you! It's called cLockbox, and get this – it's a clock... that's also a secret lockbox. Yep, you heard that right. Honestly, the idea kinda popped into my head and I just had to make it real. Let's dive in and see what it's all about!

What's the Big Deal? Clock + Lockbox = Awesome!

Okay, so we all use clocks, right? They tell time, keep us on schedule. Totally essential. But as a bit of a tech enthusiast and someone who's always thinking about privacy, I started wondering, "Could a clock be... more?" And that's how cLockbox was born!

Think of cLockbox as your everyday clock, but with a super cool secret compartment – a digital one! Imagine you have a regular clock, and inside, tucked away, is a secure little spot for all those digital bits and bobs you want to keep safe. Files, funny memes (gotta have 'em!), important notes, even those passwords we all struggle to remember – all safely stashed inside this clock, right in your web browser.

"Wait, you made a lockbox in a clock? Seriously?"

Yup, seriously! And honestly, I’m pretty stoked about how it turned out. The best part? It all happens right in your browser. I made sure nothing gets sent off to some random server. It’s like having your own private digital vault, totally under your control, and I built it to be that way from the ground up.

Screenshots

Key Features: Timekeeping and Secret Keeping Power!

Why is this something I think is pretty awesome? Let me break it down, from a maker's and a user's perspective:

• Rock Solid Timekeeping, Of Course! It’s a clock first, and I made sure it does that job well. Digital and analog options, choose your style! Plus, I included all the clock staples: alarm to get you going, stopwatch for those speed tests (or cooking, I guess!), and a timer for, well, everything else.
• Your Own Secret Digital Stash Spot: This is the part I really geeked out on. The lockbox feature lets you squirrel away files, images, notes, whatever you need to keep private. Think of it as your personal, browser-based safe deposit box, right there in the clock interface.
• Password Power-Up – Securely! Let's be real, passwords are a pain. I wanted a way to manage them securely, right within cLockbox. So, it uses "SHA256 hash" to protect your passwords – it’s a techy way to say they are super scrambled and incredibly hard to crack. Think ninja-level password security – I made sure of it!
• Super Private & Super Safe – By Design: Privacy was a huge focus for me when building cLockbox. The whole lockbox is encrypted, meaning your data is jumbled up and protected – only you can unscramble it. Think of it as writing your secrets in code, and I made sure you're the only one with the codebook!
• Totally Serverless – Your Data Stays Yours: Remember me saying nothing goes to a server? That's a core feature I built in. Everything stays put in your browser. It’s like whispering secrets directly into your own ear – nobody else is involved! This is a big deal for privacy, and something I really wanted to emphasize.

Under the Hood (Simplified Tech Explanation - From a Developer!)

Alright, let's take a peek at the tech side, but again, I'll keep it simple and explain why I chose these things. The heart of cLockbox is built with React. I picked React because it’s like super-flexible and makes building interactive websites like this a lot smoother. Think of it as like, really versatile LEGO bricks for websites – I could build exactly what I envisioned.

For making it look good and work on all sorts of devices, I went with Tailwind CSS. CSS is the style guide for websites, and Tailwind just makes it faster and more efficient. It's like having a built-in design assistant, making sure cLockbox is both functional and looks pretty good, no matter if you're on a phone or a desktop.

And for storing your files and secrets safely in your browser, I used IndexedDB. Think of IndexedDB as your browser’s personal, secure storage locker. It’s a safe place for your browser to hold data, and I used it to make sure your lockbox contents stay right where they should – with you.

No need to sweat Babel too much – it's just a behind-the-scenes tool that helps make sure cLockbox works perfectly in all kinds of browsers. Think of it as a universal translator, ensuring everyone can understand cLockbox, no matter their browser flavor.

Try cLockbox Yourself - It's Easy!

If you're even a little bit curious, trying out cLockbox is a breeze, and I made it that way on purpose! You don’t have to be a coder to give it a spin.

1. Snag the Code (I put it all on GitHub!): Just hop over to the cLockbox page on GitHub (link below!) and grab the code. Click "Code," then "Download ZIP." Think of it as getting the blueprints for my project.
2. Unzip, Open, and Boom!: Unzip that download, and then just open index.html in your browser. Seriously, that's it! No complicated setup, I promise.

Ta-da! cLockbox is up and running right in your browser! You can even put it on GitHub Pages if you want your own clock website – but that’s totally optional and just a bonus thing I wanted to make easy.

Ready to Unlock Your Inner Secret Keeper?

So, yeah, cLockbox. It’s a clock and a lockbox, and I built it because I thought it was a genuinely cool and useful idea. If you value privacy, or just dig the idea of a clock with a secret digital compartment (and who wouldn’t, honestly!?), then please, check it out! I'd really love to know what you think.

Want to see my project in action? Give cLockbox a try right now at these links:

clock.0kb.org | clock.ż.co

Are you going to use cLockbox to store your top-secret grocery lists? 😉 Seriously though, feedback is always welcome – especially since I built this and am always looking to make it even better. Until next time, keep exploring, stay curious, and maybe, keep some secrets safe with cLockbox!