Cyclops
A downloadable Cyclops for Windows
Early Alpha — Not Finished Yet
Cyclops is still in early development. Right now only IP:PORT connection works — you need to manually forward a port on your router so your friend can connect. NAT traversal, relay servers, and other connection methods are planned for future updates.
About Pricing
I originally wanted Cyclops to be completely free. But keeping the project alive — fixing bugs, adding new features, making sure it actually works — costs money I don't always have. So there's a small price now. Every dollar goes straight back into development. No servers to maintain, no investors to please — just me and the code.
If you've ever tried to watch a movie with someone over the internet, you know how much it usually sucks. Discord screenshare turns into a pixelated slideshow. Browser extensions break every other week. And there's nothing worse than your friend screaming "NO WAY!" in voice chat while your screen is still buffering a twist that happens five seconds later.
I got tired of it, so I built Cyclops.
The Concept: One Gaze
Cyclops doesn't stream video over the network — it's not a streaming app at all. You and your friend both load the same video file locally on your own machines. Cyclops simply acts as the nervous system connecting the two.
It locks your timelines together completely. You are quite literally looking through a single eye. Hit pause and it pauses for them. Skip a boring scene and their player skips too. Instant, millisecond-accurate sync — even on a terrible internet connection.
What It Actually Does
No Streaming, No Compression
The video plays straight from your hard drive — full quality, no transcoding, no artifacts. Your friend's PC does the same on their end. Cyclops only syncs the playback state.
Hash Verification
Different cuts or rips can silently drift out of sync. Cyclops compares SHA-256 hashes before playback starts and warns you if the files don't match.
In-Player Chat
A chat panel built right into the app — no alt-tabbing, no voice chat echo. Supports emoji reactions, reply threads, and searchable history. Collapsible when you want to focus on the movie.
Simple Connection
The host creates a room and shares their address (IP:PORT). The other person pastes it and joins. Currently requires port forwarding on the host's router — automatic connection methods are on the roadmap.
Extra Features
Smart Transfer
If one of you doesn't have the file, Cyclops can send it peer-to-peer with SHA-256 verification. No file size limits.
Binge Mode
Load a folder of episodes — skip the intro once and it auto-skips for every episode. Chapters, subtitles, audio tracks, speed control, all synced.
Host Controls
Pause-lock everyone during bathroom breaks. Away/DND status. Pass host to someone else. Full playlist management.
Fully Customizable
Resizable chat, collapsible sidebar, dark/light theme, UI scaling from 70% to 150%. It adapts to your screen.
Discord Presence
Shows what you're watching right in your Discord status — because showing off your movie taste is half the fun.
How to Use It
1. Download Cyclops.exe (~15 MB). No installer — just double-click to run.
2. Drag a video file into the window, or use the browse button.
3. One person clicks "Host", enters their IP:PORT, opens the port on their router, and shares the address. The other person pastes it in and clicks "Join".
That's it. You're synced. Press play.
Windows · Standalone · No Install · ~15 MB · Free
A Note from the Dev
I built Cyclops with Tauri and Rust because I wanted something tiny that doesn't hog your RAM like a browser or VLC. It weighs just a few megabytes, uses zero ads, and collects absolutely no data. If it helps you and someone close enjoy a movie night without the usual headache, that's more than enough for me.
Drop a rating if it works well for you — it lets me know this thing is actually useful.
Purchase
In order to download this Cyclops you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $1.98 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Comments
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well done wish i found this sooner!!!very useful and pls keep going with ur project.its true that everytime i used dc or other applications were still very tacky because of my poor wifi but this is much better.now i can watch it with anyone without lagging every few seconds with good quality.thank you
Thanks for the comment. I hope the interface is intuitive and doesn't raise any unnecessary questions. I'm thinking of adding a short tutorial in the app itself in the future. Thank you for appreciating my work; I'm glad I made someone's life even a little easier.
I tried this, and it works AMAZING! not even words could describe how well it works. Worth every penny i spent on it! I would definitely recommend purchasing it, and its so cheap? I didnt expect such amazing app for such low price! Its the best app, ive used! I could buy this app 19 times and still not regret spending any money. 🥰☺️
Thank you for your comment. You flatter me greatly. The app is still in the development and refinement stages, but I will try to live up to your review in the future. Thank you for your purchase.
Tried this it and works perfectly thank u:)Finally watched stuff in duo it worked like a charm
Faster than i thought... Thank you for review tho. It motivates me to work harder for future projects.
id love to support small creators honestlly,thats why.we dont want good potentials wasted my guy