How to Get Started with Strut

Open strut.io/app in your browser and start free — no install required. Strut is an open-source tool for spatial presentations: you place content on slides, arrange those slides in 3-D space, and present by flying a camera through that world. The free tier covers unlimited public decks with shareable links, presenting, and export. If you want private decks or a custom share domain, Pro is $2.50/mo per user; if you want unlimited private decks without paying, you can self-host the open-source app for free.

Before you start

• A modern browser. The app runs at strut.io/app.
• A rough idea of your content. You can either build slides manually or generate them from a description.
• Optional: an OpenRouter API key if you want to use AI features. Strut's AI runs on your own OpenRouter key, so bring one if you plan to generate or edit by chat.
• A decision on hosting: use the hosted app (free or Pro) or self-host the open-source version.

Step 1: Open the app and start a deck

Go to strut.io/app and start free. You'll land in the editor where slides live. Nothing about the free tier requires a payment method — "Free to start" and "Self-host the open-source app for free, forever" are both stated on the site.

If you sign in, you can continue with GitHub or Google. Signing in is what routes you toward Pro checkout, so stay signed out if you only want the free tier for now.

Step 2: Place content on slides

Each slide holds rich content. This is the same authoring surface you'd expect from a normal deck tool — the difference is what happens next. Build out the slides you need first; the spatial arrangement is a separate step you can do after the content exists.

Step 3: Arrange slides in 3-D space

This is the core of Strut. Instead of a linear stack, you position slides in three dimensions. The presentation is then a camera flight through that arrangement, so the order and geometry you choose become the narrative.

Two ways to approach this:

• Manual arrangement — you decide where each slide sits in space.
• Auto-arrange — Strut can arrange your deck for you. The site lists "auto-arrange your deck" as an AI capability, so this depends on having AI configured.

Generating slides with AI

If you have an OpenRouter key set up, you can:

• Generate slides from a description.
• Auto-arrange the deck.
• Edit by chat.

The site notes the AI is "grounded in your content," meaning it works from what's already in your deck rather than inventing from nothing.

Step 4: Present as a camera flight

Presenting plays the camera flight through your 3-D world. Because edits are optimistic and sync is live, you can present instantly — the site describes the app as local-first and fast, with "instant presenting."

Step 5: Share or export

Free decks are public and get shareable links, plus present and export. Pro adds:

• Private decks
• Custom share domain and white-label
• Unlimited hosted image storage

Choosing your setup

Pick Free if your decks can be public and you want to start immediately. Pick Pro if you need private decks or a branded share domain. Pick self-hosting if you want unlimited private decks at no cost and are willing to run the open-source app yourself.

Common snags

• AI features don't work. They depend on your OpenRouter key. Without one, expect to build and arrange manually.
• You want private decks on Free. That's a Pro feature — or self-host.
• You're routed to checkout unexpectedly. Signing in leads to Pro checkout; the free tier doesn't require it.