WHAT IS IT?
Shelf is a platform for tracking physical assets: IT equipment, tools, vehicles, camera gear, inventory. Every asset gets a QR tag you scan with any phone to pull up its record, check it out or report a problem. It targets teams that need to know at all times what they own, where it sits and who is currently holding it.
WHY IS IT INTERESTING?
- QR tags and built-in scanner: generate and print the codes, then scan from a phone. The embedded scanner handles bulk actions: assign custody, update location, add to a booking.
- Bookings and custody tracking: schedule checkout and return dates with calendar integration, double-bookings are blocked. Every asset is assigned to a team member, so you always know who has what.
- Kits and hierarchical locations: bundle laptop + charger + dock into a kit managed as a single unit, and file everything in a building / floor / room / shelf tree with GPS tagging.
- Built for teams: four roles with granular permissions (Owner, Admin, Base, Self Service), multi-workspace to keep inventories separate per entity, custom fields, CSV import/export and an activity log on every asset.
- Open source and self-hostable: AGPL-3.0 licensed, running on React Router 7 / Prisma / PostgreSQL. Docker deployment is community-maintained and relies on an external Supabase instance for the database, auth and storage.
USE CASES
- Company IT fleet: workstation assignments, serial numbers, warranties and purchase dates
- Film or event production gear shared across teams and venues
- Workshop or construction tooling spread over several sites
- Equipment lending in a school, fablab or public library, with the Self Service role for borrowers
- Scheduled reminders for maintenance, calibration or warranty expiry