Project spotlight

Cairn brings classic interactive fiction into a modern desktop experience

Cairn grew out of a lifelong affection for Infocom games and the pull to play them again in a more immersive desktop experience, with the tools I always wanted nearby. It keeps the familiar rhythm of parser-driven play intact while adding library management, iCloud synchronization, automatic mapping, macOS multi-space support, and custom themes. It is available now on the App Store.

App Store Download Support Privacy

Core value

Honor the original feel of parser-driven storytelling while making long-form play more immersive, continuous, and easier to return to.

Overview

A more usable home for Infocom-style adventures

Cairn is a passion project shaped by nostalgia, but it is not trying to trap classic interactive fiction in amber. The app keeps the reading-and-command rhythm intact while adding quality-of-life features that help players stay immersed.

The current interface brings the story transcript, command entry, collection context, and map support into one focused desktop workspace, so returning to a long, intricate text adventure feels natural on a modern Mac.

Cairn desktop interface showing an interactive fiction session with navigation and mapping panels.

Gameplay

Product framing

Designed to feel archival, readable, and quietly modern

The visual direction for Cairn leans into focus and atmosphere rather than nostalgia alone: strong typography, low-distraction layouts, and feature surfaces that make the experience feel immersive without getting in the way of the text.

Demo

A closer look at the current app experience

The demo shows Cairn's local library, saved games, and reading-focused desktop workspace in motion. Open it full screen to see how the pieces fit together in the current App Store release.

Cairn demo video preview showing the desktop app in use.

Watch demo

Highlights

Modern functionality built around a classic format

Library management Organize, browse, and revisit games through a cleaner collection experience.
iCloud synchronization Keep library state and play context available across supported Apple devices.
Automatic mapping Reduce note-taking overhead with built-in support for tracking spaces and movement.
macOS multi-space support Spread the play session, map, and library across desktop spaces when focus helps.
Custom themes Tune the reading environment for long sessions and personal preference.
Available on the App Store Download Cairn for macOS and follow future updates through the App Store release channel.

Development approach

An Implementer experiment with agentic AI

Cairn was a deliberate exercise in learning how to build well with agentic AI inside a real software development lifecycle. OpenSpec gave the work a structured planning layer, so features could move from intent to requirements, design notes, acceptance criteria, implementation, and review with code review and human-in-the-loop testing against the spec before changes were considered complete.

Spec first

OpenSpec as the planning layer

Spec-driven development with OpenSpec shaped changes as explicit requirements, design notes, and acceptance criteria before implementation began.

Agentic implementation

AI agents worked from clear intent

The specs gave AI agents a concrete target: what to build, why it mattered, and how the work would be judged.

Developer judgment

Direction, review, and testing stayed human

My role shifted toward product judgment, architecture, prompting, code review, and hands-on testing of agent-produced work against OpenSpec acceptance criteria.

Implementer framing

Building with taste and technical oversight

Infocom called its creators "Implementers" rather than developers, and that framing fits: guiding the app so agentic AI produced useful, high-quality software rather than generic output.

Support

For Cairn support, questions, bug reports, or feedback about the App Store release, contact support@ducat.dev.

If you are reporting an issue, include the app version or build, macOS version, Mac model, and a brief description of what you were doing when the issue appeared.

Privacy Policy

Effective May 26, 2026

Cairn is designed to keep your interactive fiction library, play state, and reading context under your control. App data is stored locally on your device, with iCloud synchronization used only when supported and enabled by your Apple account settings.

Stored by the app

What Cairn Stores

Library records, game metadata, play state, and preferences.
Map information, themes, window layout, and related app settings.
Transcripts, notes, or other play context you choose to keep.

Used for gameplay

How Data Is Used

To organize your library and restore active play sessions.
To support mapping, themes, multi-space layouts, and continuity features.
To sync supported app data through iCloud when available and enabled.

Apple services

iCloud Synchronization

Cairn may use iCloud to keep supported library and play context available across your Apple devices. iCloud data is handled by Apple according to your Apple account and device settings.

No selling or sharing

The Privacy Promise

Cairn does not sell or share your library, transcripts, notes, maps, or play history. Information you voluntarily provide for support is used only to respond to your inquiry.

Diagnostics

Analytics and Diagnostics

Cairn may use basic diagnostics to understand app stability and performance. Those diagnostics are not used to collect your story files, transcripts, notes, maps, or library contents.

Your choices

User Control

You choose which story files and library records to add.
You control iCloud availability through your Apple account and device settings.
You can contact support without sharing your library or play history.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your privacy, contact support@ducat.dev.

Back to projects