WINI. In development

Wi-Fi is not
the Internet.

When the Internet goes quiet,
your community shouldn’t have to.

WINI explores how ordinary computers can become local infrastructure for messaging, shared files, and essential information, even without Internet access.

Explore WINI Planned downloads
Windows & LinuxPrepared online. Designed for offline.
A LOCAL NETWORK No cloud required
Two WINI nodes connected by Ethernet Three nearby devices connect to node A over Wi-Fi. Two devices connect to node B. An Ethernet cable links the nodes. This is an illustration of the planned architecture. ETHERNET PHONE LAPTOP LAPTOP TABLET WINI ALOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE WINI BLOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE WI-FIWI-FI
Local connectionsIllustrative topology · Planned architecture
Windows + LinuxPlanned node platforms
Wi-Fi + EthernetLocal connectivity
500 MBProposed critical storage per node
Local-firstIndependent of cloud services

01 / THE IDEA

A connection is enough.
An Internet connection isn’t.

Wi-Fi connects nearby devices. The Internet connects networks around the world. WINI builds on the connection you can still have.

01

Prepare while online

The planned downloads will let you keep installers, maps, and recovery tools on your computer or a USB drive.

BEFORE AN OUTAGE
02

Start a local node

A compatible Windows or Linux computer will provide local services. Wi-Fi access depends on its hardware and drivers.

ORDINARY HARDWARE
03

Connect & communicate

Nearby people will connect through a browser. Additional nodes will extend the network over Ethernet or supported wireless links.

NO INTERNET REQUIRED

The goal is a useful local network. WINI is designed to restore basic community services using equipment that may already be available.

02 / PLANNED CAPABILITIES

Small networks.
Useful things.

We’re working towards services that help a small community share information and stay connected when normal infrastructure is unavailable.

01

Messages that stay local

Community chat, direct messages, and administrator announcements, stored locally and synchronised between reachable nodes.

02

Files worth keeping

Share useful documents and software. Verify their integrity with SHA-256 hashes and reserve space for critical community information.

03

Maps without mobile data

Offline regional maps, with local markers for water, medical assistance, shelter, meeting points, and other community resources.

04

Accounts without the cloud

Locally managed usernames and passwords, plus public information areas. No external email or cloud identity provider required.

05

Nodes working together

Independent nodes will exchange application events. Local operations should continue through disconnection and reconcile after reconnection.

06

Know what will work

A compatibility checker will assess the system, network interfaces, storage, and dependencies before making installation or network changes.

03 / PREPARE & DOWNLOAD

Prepare now.
Keep it for later.

Active development

WINI is being built incrementally. Downloads will appear here as real releases become available.

Windows

Dedicated installer

In development

Ubuntu

Linux setup script

In development

Linux Mint

Linux setup script

In development

Fedora

Linux setup script

In development

Compatibility checker

PLANNED

Offline recovery bundle

PLANNED

Regional map packages

PLANNED

Guides & manuals

PLANNED

Future offline bundles can be kept on USB storage. Once deployed, WINI is intended to work independently of this website.

04 / THE ROAD AHEAD

Built in steps.
Tested in practice.

WINI is an active 2026/2027 Final Year Project. Development follows a practical sequence, with the aim of keeping the software functional at the end of each phase.

PLANNED DEVELOPMENT SEQUENCE

  1. 01

    Lay the foundation

    Architecture and requirements, compatibility checking, and Linux and Windows installation.

  2. 02

    Build useful local services

    The standalone portal, local accounts, messaging, and file sharing.

  3. 03

    Bring nodes together

    Node identity and discovery, Ethernet communication, event synchronisation, and resilience storage.

  4. 04

    Prepare, evaluate, improve

    Maps, essential software, wireless backhaul, and practical tests of range, recovery, interoperability, and usability.

05 / THE PROJECT

A final year project.
A practical question.

Can everyday devices help a community stay connected when normal telecommunications fail?

Developed at TU Dublin, WINI explores local communication for outages, damaged infrastructure, and isolated environments. Its focus is useful services for people, with hardware compatibility and resilience assessed through practical experiments.

Local-firstGraceful failureEvidence over assumptions