The latest articles on Forem by Deepesh Gupta (@damndeepeshdev). https://forem.com/damndeepeshdev https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3718372%2Fa224093d-81c9-4400-9087-b37ee309fe0d.png https://forem.com/damndeepeshdev en Deepesh Gupta Sun, 18 Jan 2026 20:23:58 +0000 https://forem.com/damndeepeshdev/paperfold-using-telegram-as-unlimited-cloud-storage-with-a-desktop-app-6ka https://forem.com/damndeepeshdev/paperfold-using-telegram-as-unlimited-cloud-storage-with-a-desktop-app-6ka <p><strong>I’m building Paperfold</strong>, an open-source, cross-platform desktop application that turns Telegram into a usable cloud storage solution.</p> <p>GitHub: <a href="https://github.com/damndeepeshdev/Paperfold" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/damndeepeshdev/Paperfold</a><br> Website: <a href="https://paperfold.damndeepesh.dev" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://paperfold.damndeepesh.dev</a></p> <h2> What is Paperfold? </h2> <p>Paperfold is a desktop client that uses Telegram’s file storage as a backend and exposes it through a native, user-friendly interface.</p> <p>Telegram already allows large file uploads and effectively unlimited storage. Paperfold builds on top of that capability and makes it practical for everyday use outside the Telegram app.</p> <p>The goal is simple: a lightweight cloud storage experience without relying on traditional cloud providers.</p> <h2> Why Build This? </h2> <p>Most cloud storage solutions are limited by:</p> <ul> <li>Storage caps</li> <li>Subscription costs</li> <li>Vendor lock-in</li> </ul> <p>Telegram already solves the storage problem. What it lacks is a proper file management experience. Paperfold fills that gap by offering a focused desktop interface while keeping data on Telegram’s infrastructure.</p> <h2> Features </h2> <ul> <li>Upload and manage files using Telegram as storage</li> <li>Folder-like organization with search</li> <li>Drag-and-drop uploads</li> <li>File previews</li> <li>Soft delete (trash support)</li> <li>Local encrypted metadata</li> <li>Native desktop builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux</li> </ul> <h2> Tech Stack </h2> <ul> <li>Frontend: React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Framer Motion</li> <li>Desktop App: Tauri (Rust)</li> <li>Telegram Integration: MTProto via grammers (Rust)</li> <li>Build Tooling: Vite, GitHub Actions</li> <li>The app is designed to be fast, minimal, and resource-efficient.</li> </ul> <h2> Running Paperfold Locally </h2> <p>Clone the repository<br> <em>git clone <a href="https://github.com/damndeepeshdev/Paperfold.git" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/damndeepeshdev/Paperfold.git</a></em><br> cd Paperfold</p> <p>Install dependencies<br> npm install</p> <p><strong>Configure Telegram API credentials</strong> <br> Create a .env file inside src-tauri:<br> <em>TELEGRAM_API_ID=your_api_id<br> TELEGRAM_API_HASH=your_api_hash</em></p> <p><strong>Run the App</strong><br> <em>npm run tauri dev</em></p> <p><strong>Build production binaries</strong><br> <em>npm run tauri build</em></p> <p>Telegram API credentials can be obtained from <a href="https://my.telegram.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://my.telegram.org</a>.</p> <h2> Current Status </h2> <p>Paperfold is actively being developed. Current focus areas include:</p> <ul> <li>Polishing UX</li> </ul> <p><strong>Open Source</strong><br> Paperfold is open source, and feedback or contributions are welcome.<br> If you’re interested in desktop applications, Tauri, or unconventional storage backends, feel free to explore the repository:<br> <a href="https://github.com/damndeepeshdev/Paperfold" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/damndeepeshdev/Paperfold</a></p> buildinpublic opensource productivity rust