Chris Pirillo — Tech Creator, App Maker, Live Streamer, and Founder of LockerGnome

Chris Pirillo is a tech creator, app maker, and live streamer based in the Seattle area. He has been making things on the internet since 1996. Today he hosts ctrl+alt+create live (a weekly stream and workshop series for non-technical people building software with AI), runs MakerDeck (a 24/7 virtual makerspace on Twitch), and builds Pirillo Arcade (300+ free, browser-based apps). He founded LockerGnome in 1996.

Chris does geeky things. He builds free browser-based apps at Pirillo Arcade, streams live on YouTube and Twitch, 3D prints live on MakerDeck, hosts ctrl+alt+create live workshops, writes a Substack newsletter, and ships native iOS, Android, and macOS apps including PenSend. He is the founder of LockerGnome, Inc. He follows his passions.

Chris founded LockerGnome in 1996 and has been a public technology figure for over two decades. He hosted Call for Help on TechTV from 2001 to 2003, organized the Gnomedex technology conference from 2001 to 2010, and served as a Tech Evangelist for Intel. He is an alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa. Today he focuses on free apps, live streaming, AI-assisted development, and 3D printing community-building.

The fastest way to reach Chris is by email at [email protected]. For business and collaboration inquiries, see pirillo.com. For community and live conversation, join his Discord or catch a weekly stream at ctrl+alt+create live.

Pirillo Arcade is Chris's free collection of 300+ browser-based apps at arcade.pirillo.com. Every app is free, runs entirely client-side, requires no signup or account, and collects no data. The catalog includes FontCrafter (a popular handwriting-to-font web app), CodeSnap (code screenshots), and hundreds more.

ctrl+alt+create live is Chris's weekly Thursday live stream and recurring in-person workshop series in Seattle. It teaches non-technical people how to build real software using AI tools — sometimes called vibe coding. Episodes air at ctrlaltcreatelive.com and on YouTube and Twitch.

MakerDeck is a 24/7 virtual makerspace on Twitch, founded and spearheaded by Chris. It streams continuously at makerdeck.net (which points to twitch.tv/MakerDeck) and is focused on 3D printing and the broader maker community. Multiple makers stream their builds on rotation, and chat is fully interactive — nothing is automated.

Chris is active as @ChrisPirillo across YouTube, Twitch, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, LinkedIn, GitHub, Reddit, Patreon, Substack, and Tumblr. The current canonical list of profiles is maintained on this page.