🎯 Koubou (工房) - The Artisan Workshop for App Store Screenshots

Koubou (工房) transforms YAML into handcrafted App Store screenshots with artisan quality.

工房 (koubou) means "artisan's workshop" in Japanese - where masters create their finest work. Every screenshot is carefully crafted with professional precision using device frames, rich backgrounds, and elegant typography.

✨ Features

• 🔄 Live Editing - Real-time screenshot regeneration when config or assets change
• 🌍 Multi-Language Localization - Generate localized screenshots using familiar xcstrings format from Xcode
• 🖼️ Localized Assets - Automatic language-specific asset resolution with convention-based and explicit mapping
• 🎨 100+ Device Frames - iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Air M2, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch Ultra, and more
• 🌈 Professional Backgrounds - Linear, radial, conic gradients with precise color control
• ✨ Rich Typography - Advanced text overlays with stroke, alignment, wrapping, and custom fonts
• 🌈 Gradient Typography - Linear, radial, and conic gradients for text with custom color stops
• 📱 YAML-First Configuration - Elegant, declarative screenshot definitions
• 🚀 Batch Processing - Generate multiple screenshots efficiently from a single config
• 🔦 Highlight Annotations - Circle, rounded rect, and rect shapes with spotlight dimming and background blur
• 🔍 Zoom Callouts - Magnified callout bubbles with source indicators, advanced connectors (straight/curved/facing), and drop shadows
• ✨ Anti-Aliased Rendering - Supersampled shape rendering for smooth edges at any resolution
• 🔧 Flexible API - Both simple and advanced configuration options
• 💎 Artisan Quality - Pixel-perfect output ready for App Store submission

📦 Installation

Package Managers (Recommended)

PyPI (All Platforms)

pip install koubou

macOS/Linux - Homebrew

brew install bitomule/tap/koubou

Python Developers

pip install koubou[dev]  # With development dependencies

Manual Installation

Option 1: Install Script (Recommended)

git clone https://github.com/bitomule/koubou.git
cd koubou
./install.sh

Option 2: From Source

git clone https://github.com/bitomule/koubou.git
cd koubou
pip install .

Verification

Verify your installation:

kou --version
kou --help

🚀 Quick Start

# Create a sample configuration
kou --create-config my-screenshots.yaml

# Generate screenshots
kou generate my-screenshots.yaml

# Live editing mode - regenerate automatically when files change
kou live my-screenshots.yaml

🔄 Live Editing

Real-time screenshot regeneration when your YAML configuration or assets change.

# Start live editing mode
kou live my-screenshots.yaml

# Adjust debounce delay (default: 0.5s)
kou live my-screenshots.yaml --debounce 1.0

# Enable verbose logging
kou live my-screenshots.yaml --verbose

How it works:

• Monitors YAML config and all referenced assets
• Regenerates only affected screenshots
• Debounces rapid changes to prevent excessive regeneration

Perfect for iterative design - edit assets in design tools, update text, tweak positioning, and see results instantly.

Platform support: macOS and Linux only (standard generation works on Windows)

---

🌍 Multi-Language Localization

Generate localized screenshots for international App Store submissions using xcstrings format from Xcode.

project:
  name: "My App Screenshots"
  output_dir: "Screenshots/Generated"
  device: "iPhone 15 Pro Portrait"
  output_size: "iPhone6_9"

localization:
  base_language: "en"
  languages: ["en", "es", "ja", "fr", "de"]
  xcstrings_path: "Localizable.xcstrings"  # Optional - auto-creates if missing

screenshots:
  welcome_screen:
    content:
      - type: "text"
        content: "Welcome to Amazing App"  # Text becomes localization key
        position: ["50%", "20%"]
        size: 48
        color: "#8E4EC6"
      - type: "image"
        asset: "screenshots/home.png"
        position: ["50%", "60%"]

Output structure:

Screenshots/Generated/
├── en/iPhone_15_Pro_Portrait/welcome_screen.png
├── es/iPhone_15_Pro_Portrait/welcome_screen.png
├── ja/iPhone_15_Pro_Portrait/welcome_screen.png
├── fr/iPhone_15_Pro_Portrait/welcome_screen.png
└── de/iPhone_15_Pro_Portrait/welcome_screen.png

Workflow: Koubou extracts text content and creates/updates your xcstrings file. Edit translations in Xcode's xcstrings editor, then regenerate screenshots. Live mode watches both YAML config and xcstrings file for changes.

Key benefits: Uses iOS-native xcstrings format, natural text as keys (no IDs), supports plurals and device variants, works seamlessly with live mode.

---

🖼️ Localized Assets

Automatically resolve language-specific images for multi-language screenshots. Perfect for RTL layouts, region-specific content, or tools like Maestro that generate per-locale screenshots.

Convention-Based (Recommended)

Organize assets in {lang}/ subdirectories - Koubou resolves them automatically:

localization:
  base_language: "en"
  languages: ["en", "es", "ja"]

screenshots:
  hero_screen:
    content:
      - type: "image"
        asset: "screenshots/hero.png"  # Auto-resolves to screenshots/{lang}/hero.png
        position: ["50%", "50%"]

Directory structure:

screenshots/
├── en/hero.png
├── es/hero.png
├── ja/hero.png
└── hero.png  # Fallback for missing languages

Resolution order: {lang}/path → {base_lang}/path → direct_path

Explicit Mapping

For non-standard structures or external tool outputs:

screenshots:
  onboarding:
    content:
      - type: "image"
        asset:
          en: "maestro/en_iphone/onboarding.png"
          es: "maestro/es_iphone/onboarding.png"
          ja: "maestro/ja_iphone/onboarding.png"
          default: "screenshots/fallback.png"  # Optional
        position: ["50%", "50%"]

Mix both approaches in the same screenshot as needed.

---

📱 App Store Screenshot Sizes

Koubou provides predefined App Store screenshot sizes configured at the project level. All screenshots in a single YAML file use the same output size.

Using Named Sizes

Specify the output size once in your project configuration:

project:
  name: "My App Screenshots"
  output_dir: "Screenshots/Generated"
  device: "iPhone 15 Pro Portrait"
  output_size: "iPhone6_9"  # All screenshots will be 1320×2868

screenshots:
  welcome_screen:
    content:
      - type: "image"
        asset: "screenshots/home.png"

Available Sizes

View all available sizes with descriptions:

kou list-sizes

Common Sizes:

• iPhone6_9 - iPhone 16 Pro Max, 15 Pro Max (1320×2868)
• iPhone6_7 - iPhone 15/14/13/12 Pro Max, Plus (1290×2796)
• iPhone6_1 - iPhone 16/15/14/13 Pro (1179×2556)
• iPadPro12_9 - iPad Pro 12.9" (2048×2732)
• iPadPro11 - iPad Pro 11", iPad Air 11" M2 (1668×2388)

Custom Sizes

You can still specify custom dimensions when needed:

project:
  name: "My App Screenshots"
  device: "iPhone 15 Pro Portrait"
  output_size: [1200, 2600]  # Custom width × height

Multiple Sizes

To generate screenshots for different sizes, create separate YAML files:

• iphone-6-9.yaml - All iPhone 6.9" screenshots
• iphone-6-7.yaml - All iPhone 6.7" screenshots
• ipad-pro.yaml - All iPad Pro screenshots

---

🎨 Configuration

Create screenshots with YAML configuration:

project:
  name: "My Beautiful App"
  output_dir: "Screenshots/Generated"
  device: "iPhone 15 Pro Portrait"
  output_size: "iPhone6_9"  # iPhone 16 Pro Max, 15 Pro Max

defaults:
  background:
    type: linear
    colors: ["#E8F0FE", "#F8FBFF"]
    direction: 180

screenshots:
  welcome_screen:
    content:
      - type: "text"
        content: "Beautiful App"
        position: ["50%", "15%"]
        size: 48
        color: "#8E4EC6"
        weight: "bold"
      - type: "text"
        content: "Transform your workflow today"
        position: ["50%", "25%"]
        size: 24
        color: "#1A73E8"
      - type: "image"
        asset: "screenshots/home.png"
        position: ["50%", "60%"]
        scale: 0.6
        frame: true

See the YAML API Reference below for all available options including gradients, strokes, and advanced positioning.

🎯 Commands

Core Commands

• kou generate <config.yaml> - Generate screenshots from configuration
• kou live <config.yaml> - Live editing mode with real-time regeneration
• kou list-sizes - List available App Store screenshot sizes
• kou --create-config <output.yaml> - Create a sample configuration file
• kou --version - Show version information
• kou --help - Show detailed help

Command Options

Generate Command

# Override output directory
kou generate config.yaml --output ./custom-screenshots

# Use custom frame directory
kou generate config.yaml --frames ./my-frames

# Enable verbose logging
kou generate config.yaml --verbose

Live Editing Command

# Start live editing with default settings
kou live config.yaml

# Adjust debounce delay (default: 0.5s)
kou live config.yaml --debounce 1.0

# Enable verbose logging to see file changes
kou live config.yaml --verbose

Configuration Creation

# Create config with custom project name
kou --create-config config.yaml --name "My App Screenshots"

Upload to App Store Connect

For uploading screenshots, we recommend App Store Connect CLI:

brew install appstoreconnect-cli
asc auth login

# Upload per device type and language
asc assets screenshots upload \
  --version-localization "LOC_ID" \
  --path "./output/en/iPhone_16_Pro_.../" \
  --device-type "IPHONE_69"

Koubou outputs screenshots organized by {language}/{device}/, mapping directly to individual asc upload calls.

🎨 Device Frames

Koubou includes 100+ professionally crafted device frames:

iPhone Frames

• iPhone 16 Pro (Black, Desert, Natural, White Titanium)
• iPhone 16 (Black, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine, White)
• iPhone 15 Pro/Max (All titanium colors)
• iPhone 14 Pro/Max, 12-13 series, and more

iPad Frames

• iPad Air 11"/13" M2 (Blue, Purple, Space Gray, Stardust)
• iPad Pro 11"/13" M4 (Silver, Space Gray)
• iPad Pro 2018-2021, iPad mini, and classic models

Mac & Watch Frames

• MacBook Pro 2021 (14" & 16"), MacBook Air 2020/2022
• iMac 24" Silver, iMac 2021
• Apple Watch Series 4/7, Watch Ultra

📖 YAML API Reference

Project Configuration

project:
  name: string               # Project name
  output_dir: string         # Output directory (default: "output")
  device: string             # Target device frame (default: "iPhone 15 Pro Portrait")
  output_size: string | [int, int]  # Named size ("iPhone6_9") or custom [width, height] (default: "iPhone6_9")

defaults:                    # Default settings applied to all screenshots
  background:                # Default background configuration
    type: "solid" | "linear" | "radial" | "conic"
    colors: [string, ...]    # Hex colors array
    direction: float?        # Degrees for gradients (default: 0)

Screenshot Configuration

screenshots:
  screenshot_id:             # Unique identifier for each screenshot
    content:                 # Array of content items
      - type: "text" | "image" | "highlight" | "zoom"
        # Text content properties
        content: string?     # Text content (for type: "text")
        position: [string, string]  # Position as ["x%", "y%"] or ["xpx", "ypx"]
        size: int?           # Font size (default: 24)
        color: string?       # Hex color (default: "#000000")
        weight: string?      # "normal" or "bold" (default: "normal")
        alignment: string?   # "left", "center", "right" (default: "center")
        # Image content properties
        asset: string | dict? # Image path (string) or localized mapping (dict)
        scale: float?        # Scale factor (default: 1.0)
        frame: bool?         # Apply device frame (default: false)

Background Configuration

background:
  type: "solid" | "linear" | "radial" | "conic"
  colors: [string, ...]      # Hex colors (e.g., ["#667eea", "#764ba2"])
  direction: float?          # Degrees for linear gradients (default: 0)
  center: [string, string]?  # Center point for radial/conic ["x%", "y%"]

Content Items

# Text Content Item
- type: "text"
  content: string            # Text to display
  position: [string, string] # Position as ["50%", "20%"] or ["100px", "50px"]
  size: int                  # Font size in pixels (default: 24)
  
  # Fill Options (choose exactly one):
  color: string              # Solid color (hex format, e.g., "#000000")
  # OR
  gradient:                  # Text gradient
    type: "linear" | "radial" | "conic"
    colors: [string, ...]    # Hex colors array (minimum 2)
    positions: [float, ...]? # Color stops 0.0-1.0 (optional)
    direction: float?        # Angle in degrees (linear)
    center: [string, string]? # Center point (radial/conic)
    radius: string?          # Radius for radial ("50%", "100px")
    start_angle: float?      # Starting angle (conic)
  
  weight: string             # "normal" or "bold" (default: "normal")
  alignment: string          # "left", "center", "right" (default: "center")
  
  # Stroke Options (optional):
  stroke_width: int?         # Stroke width in pixels
  stroke_color: string?      # Solid stroke color (hex format)
  # OR
  stroke_gradient:           # Gradient stroke (same structure as gradient)

# Image Content Item
- type: "image"
  asset: string              # Path to image file
  position: [string, string] # Position as ["50%", "60%"] or ["200px", "300px"]
  scale: float               # Scale factor (default: 1.0)
  frame: bool                # Apply device frame around image (default: false)

# Highlight Content Item
- type: "highlight"
  shape: "circle" | "rounded_rect" | "rect"  # Shape (required)
  position: [string, string] # Center position as ["50%", "50%"]
  dimensions: [string, string] # Width, height as ["20%", "15%"]
  border_color: string?      # Border color in hex (e.g., "#FF3B30")
  border_width: int?         # Border width in pixels (default: 3)
  fill_color: string?        # Fill color in hex, supports alpha (e.g., "#FF3B3020")
  corner_radius: int?        # Corner radius for rounded_rect (default: 16)
  shadow: bool?              # Enable drop shadow (default: false)
  shadow_color: string?      # Shadow color with alpha (default: "#00000040")
  shadow_blur: int?          # Shadow blur radius (default: 15)
  shadow_offset: [string, string]? # Shadow X,Y offset (default: ["0", "6"])
  spotlight: bool?           # Dim everything except highlight (default: false)
  spotlight_color: string?   # Overlay color (default: "#000000")
  spotlight_opacity: float?  # Overlay opacity 0.0-1.0 (default: 0.5)
  blur_background: bool?     # Blur outside highlight area (default: false)
  blur_radius: int?          # Background blur radius (default: 20)

# Zoom Content Item
- type: "zoom"
  source_position: [string, string]  # Center of area to magnify (required)
  source_size: [string, string]      # Crop region size (required)
  display_position: [string, string] # Where magnified view appears
  display_size: [string, string]     # Size of magnified bubble (or use zoom_level)
  zoom_level: float?         # Auto-calculate display_size (e.g., 2.5 = 2.5x)
  shape: "circle" | "rounded_rect"   # Bubble shape (default: "circle")
  border_color: string?      # Border color in hex
  border_width: int?         # Border width (default: 3)
  corner_radius: int?        # For rounded_rect (default: 16)
  shadow: bool?              # Enable drop shadow (default: false)
  shadow_color: string?      # Shadow color with alpha (default: "#00000040")
  shadow_blur: int?          # Shadow blur radius (default: 15)
  shadow_offset: [string, string]? # Shadow X,Y offset (default: ["0", "6"])
  source_indicator: bool?    # Show outline on source region (default: true)
  source_indicator_style: string? # "border" | "dashed" | "fill" (default: "border")
  connector: bool?           # Draw line from source to display (default: false)
  connector_style: string?   # "straight" | "curved" | "facing" (default: "straight")
  connector_color: string?   # Line color (defaults to border_color)
  connector_width: int?      # Line width (default: 2)
  connector_fill: string?    # Fill color between facing connector lines

🏗️ Architecture

Koubou uses a clean, modular architecture:

• CLI Layer (koubou.cli): Command-line interface with rich output
• Configuration (koubou.config): Pydantic-based type-safe configuration
• Generation Engine (koubou.generator): Core screenshot generation logic
• Renderers (koubou.renderers): Specialized rendering for backgrounds, text, frames
• Device Frames (koubou.frames): 100+ device frame assets and metadata

🔧 Development

Setup Development Environment

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/bitomule/koubou.git
cd koubou

# Install in development mode with all dependencies
pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Run tests
pytest

# Run linting
black src/ tests/
isort src/ tests/ 
flake8 src/ tests/
mypy src/

Running Tests

# Run all tests with coverage
pytest -v --cov=src/koubou

# Run specific test file
pytest tests/test_generator.py -v

# Run with live output
pytest -s

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Make your changes
4. Run tests and linting (pytest, black, isort, flake8, mypy)
5. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
6. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
7. Open a Pull Request

📋 Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for complete version history.

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

🎯 Koubou Philosophy

In the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship, Koubou embodies:

• 職人気質 (Shokunin-kishitsu) - Artisan spirit and dedication to craft
• 完璧 (Kanpeki) - Pursuit of perfection in every detail
• 簡潔 (Kanketsu) - Elegant simplicity in design and usage
• 品質 (Hinshitsu) - Uncompromising quality in output

Every screenshot generated by Koubou reflects these values - carefully crafted, pixel-perfect, and ready for the world's most demanding app stores.