PixPaint is a simple Java based pixel drawing app that lets anyone start creating pixel art within seconds on a 32x32 grid canvas. The app works on both Windows and MacOS.
- Why we built it: We wanted to make a lightweight drawing tool that is easy to understand and saves work online, so you can pick up where you left off on any device.
- What problem it solves: Many art tools are complicated and overwhelming. PixPaint is fast and beginner-friendly; it ensures your work is safely stored in the cloud and easy to retrieve.
- 🖌️ Brush Tool: Draw pixel-by-pixel with your selected colour
- 🧽 Eraser Tool: Removes pixels instantly
- ☁️ Save to MongoDB: Store your work under your account and reload it anytime
- 📁 Load from MongoDB: Pick up from exactly where you left off
- 💾 Export to PNG: Save your finished artwork locally
- 👤 User Accounts: Log in to your account to access your artworks
- 🚀 Easy to Use: Clean interface that can be used by both beginners and experts
- Log in/Sign up to your account.
- Draw your art piece, using the brush/eraser tool. Change the palette's color by rightclicking on the color tiles.
- Export your finished art piece as a PNG!
- Create a MongoDB Account. Get your MongoDB connection string.
- Clone the repository.
git clone https://github.com/luzli312/PixPaint.git cd PixPaint - Set up MongoDB token.
- In the project folder, create a file named:
token.txt - Paste your account's MongoDB connection string inside it.
- In the project folder, create a file named:
- Open the project in IntelliJ. If prompted, set the Project SDK to Java 17 or higher.
- Click the Run button after navigating to
src/main/java/app/Main.java
Common Issues & Fixes
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Package view does not exist | IntelliJ did not set the src/main/java folder as the source root. |
Right-click src/main/java → Mark Directory as → Sources Root. |
| Cannot connect to MongoDB | Wrong token or network issue. | Verify the contents of token.txt and network connection. |
This project is licensed under the MIT License.
Send feedback via our Google Form.
Feedback Guidelines:
- Be clear and constructive.
- Include steps to reproduce bugs that you witnessed.
- Avoid spam or offensive language please.
Contributions are always welcome! Follow the steps below.
Forking the project:
- Go to PixPaint repository on GitHub.
- Click the Fork button on the top-right corner to create your own copy.
- Clone your fork to your local machine:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/PixPaint.git cd PixPaint
Making your Changes
- Create a branch of your changes.
git checkout -b feature/your-feature - Make your edits in the codebase.
- Commit your changes with a clear message.
git commit -m "Descriptive message." - Push your branch to your fork.
git push origin feature/your-feature - Submit a merge request (pull request) with your changes.
- Keep requests focused on one feature or bug fix at a time.
- Follow the existing code style (naming conventions, comments, etc.)
- Test your changes to make sure it works
- If your request changes the UI, add screenshots in the PR description.
- At least one author will review your PR once it is submitted.
- Feedback will be provided if any changes are needed.
- PRs that meet all guidelines and pass tests will be merged into the
mainbranch.