diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 83f9a541c7..7932ece0cf 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -597,7 +597,10 @@ checksum = "b3d1d046238990b9cf5bcde22a3fb3584ee5cf65fb2765f454ed428c7a0063da"
 name = "app"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "base64 0.22.1",
+ "image",
  "log",
+ "once_cell",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "tauri",
@@ -605,12 +608,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "tauri-plugin-log",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "arbitrary"
-version = "0.4.7"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "db55d72333851e17d572bec876e390cd3b11eb1ef53ae821dd9f3b653d2b4569"
-
 [[package]]
 name = "arbitrary"
 version = "1.3.2"
@@ -654,9 +651,9 @@ checksum = "76a2e8124351fda1ef8aaaa3bbd7ebbcb486bbcd4225aca0aa0d84bb2db8fecb"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrayvec"
-version = "0.7.4"
+version = "0.7.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "96d30a06541fbafbc7f82ed10c06164cfbd2c401138f6addd8404629c4b16711"
+checksum = "7c02d123df017efcdfbd739ef81735b36c5ba83ec3c59c80a9d7ecc718f92e50"
 dependencies = [
  "serde",
 ]
@@ -840,15 +837,14 @@ dependencies = [
  "log",
  "nom",
  "num-rational",
- "serde",
  "v_frame",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "avif-serialize"
-version = "0.8.1"
+version = "0.8.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "876c75a42f6364451a033496a14c44bffe41f5f4a8236f697391f11024e596d2"
+checksum = "e335041290c43101ca215eed6f43ec437eb5a42125573f600fc3fa42b9bddd62"
 dependencies = [
  "arrayvec",
 ]
@@ -1060,9 +1056,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bitstream-io"
-version = "1.10.0"
+version = "2.6.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "e445576659fd04a57b44cbd00aa37aaa815ebefa0aa3cb677a6b5e63d883074f"
+checksum = "6099cdc01846bc367c4e7dd630dc5966dccf36b652fae7a74e17b640411a91b2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bitvec"
@@ -1225,12 +1221,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "built"
-version = "0.5.2"
+version = "0.7.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5b9c056b9ed43aee5e064b683aa1ec783e19c6acec7559e3ae931b7490472fbe"
-dependencies = [
- "cargo-lock",
-]
+checksum = "73848a43c5d63a1251d17adf6c2bf78aa94830e60a335a95eeea45d6ba9e1e4d"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bumpalo"
@@ -1372,18 +1365,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "cargo-lock"
-version = "8.0.3"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "031718ddb8f78aa5def78a09e90defe30151d1f6c672f937af4dd916429ed996"
-dependencies = [
- "semver 1.0.23",
- "serde",
- "toml 0.5.11",
- "url",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "cargo-platform"
 version = "0.1.9"
@@ -4317,12 +4298,12 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "image"
-version = "0.25.1"
+version = "0.25.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "fd54d660e773627692c524beaad361aca785a4f9f5730ce91f42aabe5bce3d11"
+checksum = "cd6f44aed642f18953a158afeb30206f4d50da59fbc66ecb53c66488de73563b"
 dependencies = [
  "bytemuck",
- "byteorder",
+ "byteorder-lite",
  "color_quant",
  "exr",
  "gif",
@@ -4340,12 +4321,12 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "image-webp"
-version = "0.1.2"
+version = "0.2.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "d730b085583c4d789dfd07fdcf185be59501666a90c97c40162b37e4fdad272d"
+checksum = "b77d01e822461baa8409e156015a1d91735549f0f2c17691bd2d996bef238f7f"
 dependencies = [
  "byteorder-lite",
- "thiserror 1.0.63",
+ "quick-error",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -4525,15 +4506,6 @@ version = "1.70.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "f8478577c03552c21db0e2724ffb8986a5ce7af88107e6be5d2ee6e158c12800"
 
-[[package]]
-name = "itertools"
-version = "0.10.5"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "b0fd2260e829bddf4cb6ea802289de2f86d6a7a690192fbe91b3f46e0f2c8473"
-dependencies = [
- "either",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "itertools"
 version = "0.11.0"
@@ -4887,11 +4859,11 @@ checksum = "97b3888a4aecf77e811145cadf6eef5901f4782c53886191b2f693f24761847c"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libfuzzer-sys"
-version = "0.3.5"
+version = "0.4.9"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "fcf184a4b6b274f82a5df6b357da6055d3e82272327bba281c28bbba6f1664ef"
+checksum = "cf78f52d400cf2d84a3a973a78a592b4adc535739e0a5597a0da6f0c357adc75"
 dependencies = [
- "arbitrary 0.4.7",
+ "arbitrary",
  "cc",
 ]
 
@@ -5776,13 +5748,13 @@ checksum = "51d515d32fb182ee37cda2ccdcb92950d6a3c2893aa280e540671c2cd0f3b1d9"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "num-derive"
-version = "0.3.3"
+version = "0.4.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "876a53fff98e03a936a674b29568b0e605f06b29372c2489ff4de23f1949743d"
+checksum = "ed3955f1a9c7c0c15e092f9c887db08b1fc683305fdf6eb6684f22555355e202"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
- "syn 1.0.109",
+ "syn 2.0.87",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6107,9 +6079,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "once_cell"
-version = "1.19.0"
+version = "1.20.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "3fdb12b2476b595f9358c5161aa467c2438859caa136dec86c26fdd2efe17b92"
+checksum = "945462a4b81e43c4e3ba96bd7b49d834c6f61198356aa858733bc4acf3cbe62e"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "opaque-debug"
@@ -6782,6 +6754,25 @@ dependencies = [
  "unicode-ident",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "profiling"
+version = "1.0.16"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "afbdc74edc00b6f6a218ca6a5364d6226a259d4b8ea1af4a0ea063f27e179f4d"
+dependencies = [
+ "profiling-procmacros",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "profiling-procmacros"
+version = "1.0.16"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a65f2e60fbf1063868558d69c6beacf412dc755f9fc020f514b7955fc914fe30"
+dependencies = [
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.87",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "prompt_engineering"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -7120,11 +7111,11 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rav1e"
-version = "0.6.6"
+version = "0.7.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "16c383692a5e7abd9f6d1eddb1a5e0269f859392387883361bb09e5555852ec1"
+checksum = "cd87ce80a7665b1cce111f8a16c1f3929f6547ce91ade6addf4ec86a8dda5ce9"
 dependencies = [
- "arbitrary 0.4.7",
+ "arbitrary",
  "arg_enum_proc_macro",
  "arrayvec",
  "av1-grain",
@@ -7132,7 +7123,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "built",
  "cfg-if 1.0.0",
  "interpolate_name",
- "itertools 0.10.5",
+ "itertools 0.12.1",
  "libc",
  "libfuzzer-sys",
  "log",
@@ -7143,10 +7134,9 @@ dependencies = [
  "num-traits",
  "once_cell",
  "paste",
+ "profiling",
  "rand 0.8.5",
  "rand_chacha 0.3.1",
- "rust_hawktracer",
- "rustc_version 0.4.0",
  "simd_helpers",
  "system-deps",
  "thiserror 1.0.63",
@@ -7156,9 +7146,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ravif"
-version = "0.11.3"
+version = "0.11.11"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "badc69028460108fa7e32d4aec2b0c980710d7a31a896864002c8c1fc61516ee"
+checksum = "2413fd96bd0ea5cdeeb37eaf446a22e6ed7b981d792828721e74ded1980a45c6"
 dependencies = [
  "avif-serialize",
  "imgref",
@@ -7177,9 +7167,9 @@ checksum = "20675572f6f24e9e76ef639bc5552774ed45f1c30e2951e1e99c59888861c539"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rayon"
-version = "1.8.0"
+version = "1.10.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "9c27db03db7734835b3f53954b534c91069375ce6ccaa2e065441e07d9b6cdb1"
+checksum = "b418a60154510ca1a002a752ca9714984e21e4241e804d32555251faf8b78ffa"
 dependencies = [
  "either",
  "rayon-core",
@@ -7187,9 +7177,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rayon-core"
-version = "1.12.0"
+version = "1.12.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5ce3fb6ad83f861aac485e76e1985cd109d9a3713802152be56c3b1f0e0658ed"
+checksum = "1465873a3dfdaa8ae7cb14b4383657caab0b3e8a0aa9ae8e04b044854c8dfce2"
 dependencies = [
  "crossbeam-deque",
  "crossbeam-utils 0.8.20",
@@ -7498,12 +7488,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rgb"
-version = "0.8.37"
+version = "0.8.50"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "05aaa8004b64fd573fc9d002f4e632d51ad4f026c2b5ba95fcb6c2f32c2c47d8"
-dependencies = [
- "bytemuck",
-]
+checksum = "57397d16646700483b67d2dd6511d79318f9d057fdbd21a4066aeac8b41d310a"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ring"
@@ -7677,28 +7664,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_json",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "rust_hawktracer"
-version = "0.7.0"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "e3480a29b927f66c6e06527be7f49ef4d291a01d694ec1fe85b0de71d6b02ac1"
-dependencies = [
- "rust_hawktracer_normal_macro",
- "rust_hawktracer_proc_macro",
-]
-
-[[package]]
-name = "rust_hawktracer_normal_macro"
-version = "0.4.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "8a570059949e1dcdc6f35228fa389f54c2c84dfe0c94c05022baacd56eacd2e9"
-
-[[package]]
-name = "rust_hawktracer_proc_macro"
-version = "0.4.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "cb626abdbed5e93f031baae60d72032f56bc964e11ac2ff65f2ba3ed98d6d3e1"
-
 [[package]]
 name = "rustc-demangle"
 version = "0.1.24"
@@ -9986,15 +9951,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "tokio",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "toml"
-version = "0.5.11"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "f4f7f0dd8d50a853a531c426359045b1998f04219d88799810762cd4ad314234"
-dependencies = [
- "serde",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "toml"
 version = "0.7.8"
@@ -11584,7 +11540,7 @@ version = "1.1.4"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9cc23c04387f4da0374be4533ad1208cbb091d5c11d070dfef13676ad6497164"
 dependencies = [
- "arbitrary 1.3.2",
+ "arbitrary",
  "crc32fast",
  "crossbeam-utils 0.8.20",
  "displaydoc",
@@ -11601,7 +11557,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "775a2b471036342aa69bc5a602bc889cb0a06cda00477d0c69566757d5553d39"
 dependencies = [
  "aes 0.8.4",
- "arbitrary 1.3.2",
+ "arbitrary",
  "bzip2",
  "constant_time_eq 0.3.0",
  "crc32fast",
@@ -11701,9 +11657,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "zune-jpeg"
-version = "0.4.11"
+version = "0.4.14"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "ec866b44a2a1fd6133d363f073ca1b179f438f99e7e5bfb1e33f7181facfe448"
+checksum = "99a5bab8d7dedf81405c4bb1f2b83ea057643d9cb28778cea9eecddeedd2e028"
 dependencies = [
  "zune-core",
 ]
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 7503e8eb87..4e34dd0ef8 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -23,3 +23,6 @@ serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
 log = "0.4"
 tauri = { version = "2.2.4", features = [] }
 tauri-plugin-log = "2.0.0-rc"
+once_cell = "1.20.3"
+image = "0.25.5"
+base64 = "0.22.1"
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/image_endpoint.rs b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/image_endpoint.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a40e1a590f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/image_endpoint.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+use std::io::Cursor;
+use base64::Engine;
+use base64::prelude::{BASE64_STANDARD, BASE64_URL_SAFE};
+use image::codecs::png::{CompressionType, FilterType, PngEncoder};
+use image::ImageReader;
+
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn infer_image(image: &str) -> Result<String, String> {
+  println!("infer_image called; processing image...");
+
+  let bytes = BASE64_STANDARD.decode(image)
+    .map_err(|err| format!("Base64 decode error: {}", err))?;
+
+  let image = ImageReader::new(Cursor::new(bytes))
+    .with_guessed_format()
+    .map_err(|err| format!("Image format error: {}", err))?
+    .decode()
+    .map_err(|err| format!("Image decode error: {}", err))?;
+
+  let rotated_image = image.rotate180();
+  
+  let mut buffer = Vec::new(); // TODO: Preallocate, better data structure
+  let mut writer = Cursor::new(&mut buffer);
+  
+  let encoder = PngEncoder::new_with_quality(&mut writer, CompressionType::Fast, FilterType::Adaptive);
+  rotated_image.write_with_encoder(encoder)
+    .map_err(|err| format!("Image encoding error: {}", err))?;
+
+  let encoded = BASE64_STANDARD.encode(&buffer);
+  
+  println!("Encoded: {:?}", encoded.split_at(10).0);
+  
+  Ok(encoded)
+}
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 9c3118c5d4..eb94f6a947 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+mod image_endpoint;
+
+use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
+use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
+use image_endpoint::infer_image;
+
 #[cfg_attr(mobile, tauri::mobile_entry_point)]
 pub fn run() {
   tauri::Builder::default()
@@ -11,6 +17,39 @@ pub fn run() {
       }
       Ok(())
     })
+    .invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![
+      my_custom_command, 
+      test_round_trip, 
+      infer_image,
+    ])
     .run(tauri::generate_context!())
     .expect("error while running tauri application");
 }
+
+#[tauri::command]
+fn my_custom_command() {
+  println!("I was invoked from JavaScript!");
+}
+
+static COUNTER : Lazy<Arc<RwLock<u64>>> = Lazy::new(|| Arc::new(RwLock::new(0)));
+
+#[tauri::command]
+fn test_round_trip() -> u64 {
+  let value : u64;
+  {
+    match COUNTER.write() {
+      Ok(mut counter) => {
+        *counter += 1;
+        value = *counter;
+      },
+      Err(_e) => {
+        value = 0;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  println!("I was invoked from JavaScript! {:?}", value);
+
+  value
+}
+
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 678c10876b..309c499a91 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/crates/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
   "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2.0.0-rc",
   "productName": "Storyteller Desktop App",
   "version": "0.1.0",
-  "identifier": "com.tauri.dev",
+  "identifier": "com.unique.value.thing.why",
   "build": {
-    "frontendDist": "../../frontend/storyteller-animator",
-    "devUrl": "http://localhost:5173",
+    "frontendDist": "../../../frontend/realtime/dist",
+    "devUrl": "http://localhost:5741",
     "beforeDevCommand": "npm run dev",
-    "beforeBuildCommand": "npm run build"
+    "beforeBuildCommand": "npm run build2"
   },
   "app": {
     "windows": [
diff --git a/frontend/realtime/package-lock.json b/frontend/realtime/package-lock.json
index 6e412b3357..32d4bdcad3 100644
--- a/frontend/realtime/package-lock.json
+++ b/frontend/realtime/package-lock.json
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
         "@fortawesome/free-brands-svg-icons": "^6.6.0",
         "@headlessui/react": "^2.1.3",
         "@preact/signals-react": "^2.2.0",
+        "@tauri-apps/api": "^2.2.0",
         "@techstark/opencv-js": "^4.10.0-release.1",
         "@zip.js/zip.js": "^2.7.52",
         "konva": "^9.3.14",
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@
         "@fortawesome/pro-solid-svg-icons": "^6.6.0",
         "@fortawesome/react-fontawesome": "^0.2.2",
         "@preact/signals-react-transform": "^0.4.0",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli": "^2.2.7",
         "@types/deep-equal": "^1.0.4",
         "@types/react": "^18.3.3",
         "@types/react-dom": "^18.3.0",
@@ -1229,6 +1231,215 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/tannerlinsley"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/api": {
+      "version": "2.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/api/-/api-2.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-R8epOeZl1eJEl603aUMIGb4RXlhPjpgxbGVEaqY+0G5JG9vzV/clNlzTeqc+NLYXVqXcn8mb4c5b9pJIUDEyAg==",
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "funding": {
+        "type": "opencollective",
+        "url": "https://opencollective.com/tauri"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli/-/cli-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZnsS2B4BplwXP37celanNANiIy8TCYhvg5RT09n72uR/o+navFZtGpFSqljV8fy1Y4ixIPds8FrGSXJCN2BerA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "bin": {
+        "tauri": "tauri.js"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "type": "opencollective",
+        "url": "https://opencollective.com/tauri"
+      },
+      "optionalDependencies": {
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-arm64": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-x64": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm-gnueabihf": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-gnu": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-musl": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-gnu": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-musl": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-win32-arm64-msvc": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-win32-ia32-msvc": "2.2.7",
+        "@tauri-apps/cli-win32-x64-msvc": "2.2.7"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-arm64": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-arm64/-/cli-darwin-arm64-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-54kcpxZ3X1Rq+pPTzk3iIcjEVY4yv493uRx/80rLoAA95vAC0c//31Whz75UVddDjJfZvXlXZ3uSZ+bnCOnt0A==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "arm64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "darwin"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-x64": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-x64/-/cli-darwin-x64-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Vgu2XtBWemLnarB+6LqQeLanDlRj7CeFN//H8bVVdjbNzxcSxsvbLYMBP8+3boa7eBnjDrqMImRySSgL6IrwTw==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "x64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "darwin"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm-gnueabihf": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm-gnueabihf/-/cli-linux-arm-gnueabihf-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+Clha2iQAiK9zoY/KKW0KLHkR0k36O78YLx5Sl98tWkwI3OBZFg5H5WT1plH/4sbZIS2aLFN6dw58/JlY9Bu/g==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "arm"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "linux"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-gnu": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-gnu/-/cli-linux-arm64-gnu-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Z/Lp4SQe6BUEOays9BQAEum2pvZF4w9igyXijP+WbkOejZx4cDvarFJ5qXrqSLmBh7vxrdZcLwoLk9U//+yQrg==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "arm64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "linux"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-musl": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-musl/-/cli-linux-arm64-musl-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+8HZ+txff/Y3YjAh80XcLXcX8kpGXVdr1P8AfjLHxHdS6QD4Md+acSxGTTNbplmHuBaSHJvuTvZf9tU1eDCTDg==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "arm64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "linux"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-gnu": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-gnu/-/cli-linux-x64-gnu-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ahlSnuCnUntblp9dG7/w5ZWZOdzRFi3zl0oScgt7GF4KNAOEa7duADsxPA4/FT2hLRa0SvpqtD4IYFvCxoVv3Q==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "x64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "linux"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-musl": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-musl/-/cli-linux-x64-musl-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+qKAWnJRSX+pjjRbKAQgTdFY8ecdcu8UdJ69i7wn3ZcRn2nMMzOO2LOMOTQV42B7/Q64D1pIpmZj9yblTMvadA==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "x64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "linux"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-arm64-msvc": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-arm64-msvc/-/cli-win32-arm64-msvc-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-aa86nRnrwT04u9D9fhf5JVssuAZlUCCc8AjqQjqODQjMd4BMA2+d4K9qBMpEG/1kVh95vZaNsLogjEaqSTTw4A==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "arm64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "win32"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-ia32-msvc": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-ia32-msvc/-/cli-win32-ia32-msvc-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-EiJ5/25tLSQOSGvv+t6o3ZBfOTKB5S3vb+hHQuKbfmKdRF0XQu2YPdIi1CQw1DU97ZAE0Dq4frvnyYEKWgMzVQ==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "ia32"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "win32"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-x64-msvc": {
+      "version": "2.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-x64-msvc/-/cli-win32-x64-msvc-2.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZB8Kw90j8Ld+9tCWyD2fWCYfIrzbQohJ4DJSidNwbnehlZzP7wAz6Z3xjsvUdKtQ3ibtfoeTqVInzCCEpI+pWg==",
+      "cpu": [
+        "x64"
+      ],
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "Apache-2.0 OR MIT",
+      "optional": true,
+      "os": [
+        "win32"
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@techstark/opencv-js": {
       "version": "4.10.0-release.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@techstark/opencv-js/-/opencv-js-4.10.0-release.1.tgz",
diff --git a/frontend/realtime/package.json b/frontend/realtime/package.json
index 0d96e2485c..4ae7619369 100644
--- a/frontend/realtime/package.json
+++ b/frontend/realtime/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "version": "0.0.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
-    "dev": "vite",
+    "dev": "echo 'realtime' && vite",
     "build": "tsc -b && vite build",
     "build2": "vite build",
     "lint": "eslint .",
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     "@fortawesome/free-brands-svg-icons": "^6.6.0",
     "@headlessui/react": "^2.1.3",
     "@preact/signals-react": "^2.2.0",
+    "@tauri-apps/api": "^2.2.0",
     "@techstark/opencv-js": "^4.10.0-release.1",
     "@zip.js/zip.js": "^2.7.52",
     "konva": "^9.3.14",
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@
     "@fortawesome/pro-solid-svg-icons": "^6.6.0",
     "@fortawesome/react-fontawesome": "^0.2.2",
     "@preact/signals-react-transform": "^0.4.0",
+    "@tauri-apps/cli": "^2.2.7",
     "@types/deep-equal": "^1.0.4",
     "@types/react": "^18.3.3",
     "@types/react-dom": "^18.3.0",
diff --git a/frontend/realtime/src/KonvaApp/RenderingPrimitives/RealTimeDrawEngine.ts b/frontend/realtime/src/KonvaApp/RenderingPrimitives/RealTimeDrawEngine.ts
index 1fa768956f..29bc9f76d4 100644
--- a/frontend/realtime/src/KonvaApp/RenderingPrimitives/RealTimeDrawEngine.ts
+++ b/frontend/realtime/src/KonvaApp/RenderingPrimitives/RealTimeDrawEngine.ts
@@ -3,14 +3,9 @@ import { Container } from "konva/lib/Container";
 import { Shape } from "konva/lib/Shape";
 import { Group } from "konva/lib/Group";
 
-import {
-  // SharedWorkerRequest,
-  SharedWorkerResponse,
-} from "../WorkerPrimitives/SharedWorkerBase";
-import {
-  DiffusionSharedWorkerProgressData,
-  DiffusionSharedWorkerResponseData,
-} from "../SharedWorkers/Diffusion/DiffusionSharedWorker";
+
+import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
+
 
 import { FileUtilities } from "../FileUtilities/FileUtilities";
 import { ImageNode, VideoNode, TextNode } from "../Nodes";
@@ -274,10 +269,15 @@ export class RealTimeDrawEngine {
     return canvas;
   }
 
-  private handleNodeDragEnd = () => {
+  public isProcessing = false;
+  private handleNodeDragEnd = async () => {
     // Clean up any existing state
+    if (this.isProcessing) {
+      return;
+    }
     console.log("Node drag ended");
-    this.render();
+    this.isProcessing = true;
+    await this.render();
   };
   public addNodes(node: MediaNode) {
     if (node instanceof VideoNode) {
@@ -379,6 +379,59 @@ export class RealTimeDrawEngine {
     }
   }
 
+
+
+  private async imageBitmapToBase64(imageBitmap: ImageBitmap): Promise<string> {
+    // Create a temporary canvas
+    const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
+    canvas.width = imageBitmap.width;
+    canvas.height = imageBitmap.height;
+
+    // Draw the ImageBitmap onto the canvas
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
+    if (!ctx) throw new Error("Failed to get 2D context");
+
+    ctx.drawImage(imageBitmap, 0, 0);
+
+    // Convert to base64
+    const base64String = canvas.toDataURL("image/png");
+
+    // Clean up
+    canvas.remove();
+
+    // Remove the data:image/png;base64, prefix if you want just the base64 string
+    return base64String.split(",")[1];
+  }
+
+  private async base64ToImageBitmap(
+    base64String: string,
+  ): Promise<ImageBitmap> {
+    // Create an image element
+    const img = new Image();
+
+    // Convert base64 to data URL if it doesn't include the prefix
+    const dataUrl = base64String.startsWith("data:")
+      ? base64String
+      : `data:image/png;base64,${base64String}`;
+
+    // Create a promise to handle the image loading
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      img.onload = async () => {
+        try {
+          const bitmap = await createImageBitmap(img);
+          resolve(bitmap);
+        } catch (error) {
+          reject(error);
+        }
+      };
+
+      img.onerror = () => reject(new Error("Failed to load image"));
+
+      // Set the source to trigger loading
+      img.src = dataUrl;
+    });
+  }
+
   public async render() {
     // only pick nodes that intersect with the canvas on screen bounds to freeze.
     this.mediaLayerRef.draw();
@@ -399,6 +452,22 @@ export class RealTimeDrawEngine {
       test: false,
     })) as ImageBitmap;
 
-    this.previewCanvas.image(bitmap);
+    try {
+      const base64Bitmap = await this.imageBitmapToBase64(bitmap);
+      console.log("Sending to server");
+      const base64BitmapResponse = await invoke("infer_image", {
+        image: base64Bitmap,
+      });
+      console.log("RESPONSE IS");
+      console.log(base64BitmapResponse);
+      const decoded = await this.base64ToImageBitmap(
+        base64BitmapResponse as string,
+      );
+      this.previewCanvas.image(decoded);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Error during image processing:", error);
+    } finally {
+      this.isProcessing = false;
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/realtime/src/components/landing/Hero.tsx b/frontend/realtime/src/components/landing/Hero.tsx
index 2b290de87d..030a3e96ee 100644
--- a/frontend/realtime/src/components/landing/Hero.tsx
+++ b/frontend/realtime/src/components/landing/Hero.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { FontAwesomeIcon } from "@fortawesome/react-fontawesome";
 import { Button } from "../ui";
 import { faDiscord } from "@fortawesome/free-brands-svg-icons";
 
+import { invoke } from '@tauri-apps/api/core';
+
 import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 
 interface HeroProps {
@@ -72,6 +74,14 @@ const Hero = ({ onFeatureClick }: HeroProps) => {
             ))}
           </div>
 
+          <br />
+          <Button onClick={() => invoke("my_custom_command")}>Test Backend Call: Custom command</Button>
+          <br />
+          <Button onClick={() => invoke("test_round_trip")}>Test Backend Call: Round trip</Button>
+          <br />
+          <Button onClick={() => invoke("infer_image")}>Test Backend Call: Image</Button>
+          <br />
+
           {/* Creative description */}
           <p className="mx-auto mb-12 max-w-2xl text-xl leading-relaxed text-gray-600">
             Create stunning visual stories on our intelligent canvas.
@@ -82,37 +92,6 @@ const Hero = ({ onFeatureClick }: HeroProps) => {
             and render beautiful movies in minutes.
           </p>
 
-          {/* Playful CTA */}
-          <div className="mb-14 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-6 sm:flex-row">
-            <Button
-              onClick={() => navigate("/signup")}
-              className="group relative overflow-hidden rounded-xl px-8 py-4 text-lg text-white"
-            >
-              <div className="from-rose-500 absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r via-purple-500 to-blue-500 opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-500 group-hover:opacity-100" />
-              <span className="relative flex items-center">
-                Start Creating
-                <FontAwesomeIcon
-                  icon={faArrowRight}
-                  className="ml-2 h-5 w-5 transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1"
-                />
-              </span>
-            </Button>
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Video showcase */}
-          <div className="group relative mx-auto max-w-5xl">
-            <div className="relative overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border-[3px] border-gray-200 bg-black/10 shadow-2xl">
-              <video
-                autoPlay
-                loop
-                muted
-                playsInline
-                className="h-full w-full object-cover"
-              >
-                <source src="/videos/landing_video.mp4" type="video/mp4" />
-              </video>
-            </div>
-          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/frontend/realtime/yarn.lock b/frontend/realtime/yarn.lock
index 6a4f57f16a..dcbace8a8d 100644
--- a/frontend/realtime/yarn.lock
+++ b/frontend/realtime/yarn.lock
@@ -811,6 +811,32 @@
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tanstack/virtual-core/-/virtual-core-3.10.5.tgz"
   integrity sha512-WlJp8CipNzBz8Q4g159uMfswYHZ8p1+xJwLBdnbBTcSSu0zVoY6i27Suw5J0Y88YBnJ9jHR8jJMH/qSuZWWfNw==
 
+"@tauri-apps/api@^2.2.0":
+  version "2.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/api/-/api-2.2.0.tgz"
+  integrity sha512-R8epOeZl1eJEl603aUMIGb4RXlhPjpgxbGVEaqY+0G5JG9vzV/clNlzTeqc+NLYXVqXcn8mb4c5b9pJIUDEyAg==
+
+"@tauri-apps/cli-win32-x64-msvc@2.2.7":
+  version "2.2.7"
+  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli-win32-x64-msvc/-/cli-win32-x64-msvc-2.2.7.tgz"
+  integrity sha512-ZB8Kw90j8Ld+9tCWyD2fWCYfIrzbQohJ4DJSidNwbnehlZzP7wAz6Z3xjsvUdKtQ3ibtfoeTqVInzCCEpI+pWg==
+
+"@tauri-apps/cli@^2.2.7":
+  version "2.2.7"
+  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tauri-apps/cli/-/cli-2.2.7.tgz"
+  integrity sha512-ZnsS2B4BplwXP37celanNANiIy8TCYhvg5RT09n72uR/o+navFZtGpFSqljV8fy1Y4ixIPds8FrGSXJCN2BerA==
+  optionalDependencies:
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-arm64" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-darwin-x64" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm-gnueabihf" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-gnu" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-arm64-musl" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-gnu" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-linux-x64-musl" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-win32-arm64-msvc" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-win32-ia32-msvc" "2.2.7"
+    "@tauri-apps/cli-win32-x64-msvc" "2.2.7"
+
 "@techstark/opencv-js@^4.10.0-release.1":
   version "4.10.0-release.1"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@techstark/opencv-js/-/opencv-js-4.10.0-release.1.tgz"
diff --git a/script/launch_realtime_desktop.sh b/script/launch_realtime_desktop.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..55f0faec6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/launch_realtime_desktop.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Tauri doesn't let you configure the frontend project directory statically, though they do provide an
+# environment variable to pass it to the CLI. Without doing this, the tauri cli randomly walks the
+# filesystem and finds the wrong frontend code.
+
+# TODO(bt,2025-02-13): This is not the correct way to get the root dir
+root_dir=$(pwd)
+export TAURI_FRONTEND_PATH="${root_dir}/frontend/realtime"
+
+cargo tauri dev