# Sketch: a Paper-shell-informed native Rust canvas

> A Rust canvas models Paper-like editing behavior after REA investigation of the Paper Desktop shell. The hosted editor was not recovered: research separates observed shell integration from inferred editor features, and the new geometric document model differs from Paper HTML/CSS.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: App
- Category: Community REA investigations
- Relationship: Author-reported mixed workflow
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-01
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-01
- Original resource: <https://github.com/michaelshimeles/sketch>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/michaelshimeles/sketch/blob/af814b7ab2bd77328a906a1986a048c233e25f9c/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/sketch-paper-rea-canvas-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/sketch-paper-rea-canvas-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/sketch-paper-rea-canvas-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires Rust 1.95+ for source builds; macOS releases target 11+, Linux uses the documented graphics libraries and XDG portal for file dialogs.
- **Attribution:** Research targeted licensed Paper Desktop 0.5.15. The hosted editor was absent from the bundle; several editor-level capabilities were inferred from shell integration or the implementation brief.
- **Limits:** No HTML/CSS document model, CSS/code export, rotation or complex-script shaping; several blend, clipping and SVG-import behaviors are approximations.
- **Testing evidence:** Linux window tests used Xvfb; macOS smoke evidence is narrower than complete input/menu/Intel testing.
- **License:** Code is MIT OR Apache-2.0; Inter fonts retain SIL OFL 1.1 and bundled agent skills have separate notices.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/michaelshimeles/sketch/blob/af814b7ab2bd77328a906a1986a048c233e25f9c/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/michaelshimeles/sketch/blob/af814b7ab2bd77328a906a1986a048c233e25f9c/analysis/PAPER_ARCHITECTURE.md>
3. <https://github.com/michaelshimeles/sketch/releases/tag/v0.1.0>

## More in Apps

- [LSX II Volume Fixer: reconstructing volume behavior](https://awesomerea.org/resources/kef-lsx-volume-case/index.md) · Case study
- [UU Remote on Linux: an unofficial protocol implementation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/uu-remote-linux-protocol-case/index.md) · Case study
- [TCLimate: reconstructing selected TCL Home cloud controls](https://awesomerea.org/resources/tclimate-cloud-controls-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Browserbase plugin: re-hosting Claude in Chrome’s browser bridge](https://awesomerea.org/resources/browserbase-claude-chrome-bridge-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Visor: an independent Ray-Ban Meta glasses client](https://awesomerea.org/resources/visor-ray-ban-meta-client-case/index.md) · Case study
- [wine-uwp: running packaged Windows Store apps on a patched Wine](https://awesomerea.org/resources/wine-uwp-store-apps-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.