Introducing Our Tribute to Around: A Seamless, Open-Source Video Collaboration App

For many remote teams, the recent news of the sunsetting of Around — the lightweight, intuitive video collaboration platform — was a hard pill to swallow. Around made virtual communication more human, offering floating, circular video bubbles that didn’t interfere with screen sharing or workspaces. This simple yet effective design became a staple for teams like ours at Coyotiv, where remote work has been the norm for over a decade.

At Coyotiv, we’ve always been a fully remote team, and during the pandemic, our need for reliable and seamless video conferencing was more critical than ever. But we’ve also realized that our tool of choice is deeply personal and can’t be commodified. We knew we needed something that would provide us with the flexibility to evolve with our needs, while staying true to our philosophy of open collaboration and decentralized ownership.

When we learned that Miro would be sunsetting Around, we knew we couldn’t just sit back and accept the loss. We couldn’t afford to abandon the platform’s unique experience and, more importantly, the essential features that helped us maintain seamless remote collaboration. So, instead of moving to another platform or waiting for a replacement, we decided to do what we do best and take matters into our own hands.

Our Solution: A Custom, Open-Source Video Collaboration App

Using the latest technology from cursor.AI, we were able to start building our own version of the Around platform in just an evening. We’re recreating the core features that made Around stand out, with the flexibility to add more over time.

This is only the beginning so expect a couple of bugs and imperfections, but here’s a look at what our new seamless video collaboration app will include:

• Floating Mode: Just like Around, users can interact with video feeds in small, circular bubbles that don’t block important content on the screen.
• Non-Intrusive Design: The video bubbles are resizable and can be positioned anywhere, allowing users to focus on their work without distraction.
• Lightweight and Optimized for Performance: The app is designed to work smoothly even in low-bandwidth environments, making it perfect for teams spread across different regions.
• Minimal Setup: We’ve ensured that the app is easy to integrate into existing workflows with minimal configuration.

Open Source for the Community

We understand the importance of shared tools in the remote-first world, and we want to make this experience available to others who might be mourning the loss of Around, or those looking for a more tailored solution. That’s why we’ve decided to open source this project on GitHub. You can download the code, contribute new features, or even fork it for your own needs.

The app is built to be modular and extendable. For instance, if you need additional video features, like custom Tivoli Keys for user authentication, or integration with your existing workflow tools, you can implement them. We’ve designed the app to be developer-friendly, with clear documentation to help you get started quickly.

Why Open Source?

The decision to make this project open source comes from our belief in a decentralized, community-driven ecosystem. We want everyone to have access to this tool — free of charge — and we want the community to help shape its future.

By making this app open source, we’re putting control back in the hands of the people. We envision a future where teams can build their own tools, tailored to their unique needs.

Our core values align with a world where everyone owns everything, where no one is locked into a closed, proprietary ecosystem. By contributing to the project, you’re not just using software — you’re part of a movement toward more open, customizable, and community-led digital collaboration.

Features You Can Contribute To

We’re inviting developers, designers, and remote work enthusiasts to help us improve and evolve this tool. Here are some areas where you could contribute:

• Video Features: Implement features like custom backgrounds, noise cancellation, or even spatial audio to enhance the experience.
• UI/UX Improvements: While we’ve replicated the Around floating bubble model, we’re open to innovative design solutions to further reduce friction in virtual collaboration.
• Integrations: We believe a truly seamless experience requires smooth integrations with popular tools like Slack, Trello, Notion, and others. You could help us build out these integrations or create new ones based on the needs of the community.
• Performance Optimization: If you have experience optimizing video and web performance, we’d love your help to ensure the app runs smoothly in every environment.
• Security Features: In this increasingly digital world, security is paramount. Help us make this app even more secure, whether it’s through end-to-end encryption or other features that safeguard user data.

We’re excited to see where this project will go, and we’d love for you to join us on the journey. Whether you’re a developer, a designer, or just someone passionate about remote work, we welcome your contributions. Head over to our GitHub repository to get started.

We can’t wait to see how you’ll make this app even better, and together, let’s keep the spirit of Around alive.

Get Involved:

• Explore the GitHub repo: https://github.com/usenook-co/nook
• Submit issues or feature requests: Help us identify bugs or suggest new features.
• Contribute code: Fork the repo, make your changes, and send us a pull request.