Local-first desktop software for files, documents, developer workflows, research, and AI-assisted work.
Open source tools with no telemetry, no subscription layer, and optional local AI integration.
File tools | Document tools | Developer tools | AI infrastructure | Open research
Public index verified: 2026-06-22. The linked ecosystem currently exposes 74 active public product or research repositories plus 10 active public .github profile repositories. The open-bricks organization itself hosts only the .github profile and community-health repository; product code lives in the linked organizations below.
| Need | Go to | Best first repo |
|---|---|---|
| Manage local files, prompts, knowledge bases, RSS feeds, and desktop utilities | file-bricks | ExplorerPro, ProFiler, promptboard, NoteSpaceLLM |
| Work with mail, PDFs, literature, media, invoices, Markdown, and LLM notes | doc-bricks | UniversalDocsGrabber, UniversalMailCleaner, LitZentrum, llm-note |
| Build, inspect, package, and maintain local software or agent workflows | dev-bricks | DevCenter, CodeBox, apiprober, safe-start-for-codex |
| Connect desktop software to LLM agents, MCP servers, local memory, and computer-use workflows | ellmos-ai | bach, ellmos-filecommander-mcp, ellmos-controlcenter-mcp, open-compute |
| Find specialist tools for research, bioinformatics, finance, games, and civic technology | research-line, biotec-line, assistassets-ai, entertain-and-more, um-bruch | functional-stability-theory, VFDistiller, FinancialProof, regressangst |
open-bricks is the umbrella profile for a family of small, practical, local-first tools. The shared product idea is simple:
- Your data stays on your machine.
- Desktop apps should still be useful without cloud accounts.
- AI should be an optional capability, not a forced dependency.
- Repositories should be inspectable by humans, GitHub search, and LLM agents.
Most software projects in the ecosystem use Python, PySide6 or web companions, SQLite, local file formats, and focused command-line or API surfaces. AI integrations usually connect through Ollama, Claude-compatible workflows, or MCP servers from ellmos-ai.
| Organization | Active public repos | Public focus | High-signal examples |
|---|---|---|
| file-bricks | 15 | Local-first desktop apps for files, prompts, knowledge work, privacy, RSS, cloud-sync repair, packaging, and browser workflows | ExplorerPro, ProFiler, promptboard, ProfiPrompt, RSS-BOOK, CloudLockFixer |
| doc-bricks | 10 | Mail, document intake, PDF/OCR, literature management, media libraries, invoices, Markdown, and LLM notes | UniversalDocsGrabber, UniversalMailCleaner, UniversalInvoiceMail, MediaBrain, LitZentrum, llm-note |
| dev-bricks | 13 | Developer tools, editors, API discovery, static analysis, Codex/Gemini maintenance, file locks, ticket routing, and knowledge scaffolding | DevCenter, CodeBox, apiprober, companion-for-agy, lock-master, ticket-master, safe-start-for-codex |
| ellmos-ai | 25 | LLM operating systems, MCP servers, local agent memory, workflow automation, connectors, media tooling, and computer-use modules | bach, gardener, FileCommander MCP, ControlCenter MCP, n8n Manager MCP, open-compute, ai-media-editor |
| research-line | 6 | Open research repositories, proof notes, reproducible scripts, and Zenodo-linked publication context | functional-stability-theory, crm-cosmology, rh-even-dominance, fst-nash |
| biotec-line | 3 | Research-use bioinformatics and genetic variant tools | VFDistiller, genotype-to-vcf |
| assistassets-ai | 2 | Local-first financial analysis and no-advice assistant workflows | FinancialProof |
| entertain-and-more | 3 | Local games and creative tools with optional AI assistance | ChatAndChess, rpx |
| um-bruch | 6 | Public-interest prototypes, health-policy analysis, civic-tech research, and local-first civic tools | regressangst, verordnungsampel, multiaxial-diagnostic-system, locuterra, system-medicine |
| open-bricks | 1 | Umbrella profile and community-health defaults | .github |
Use these phrases when looking for the ecosystem in GitHub or web search:
open-bricks local-first desktop softwarefile-bricks PySide6 desktop toolsfile-bricks promptboard local-first prompt managerdoc-bricks document toolsdoc-bricks llm-note local-first notes for agentsdev-bricks developer toolsdev-bricks safe-start-for-codex Windows startup gateellmos-ai MCP serversellmos-ai open-compute computer use agent loopUmbruch health policy civic tech GitHublocal-first AI desktop apps
Each tool has its own repository, README, tests, and contribution path. Open issues and pull requests in the specific project repository. Organization-level community files are provided through this .github repository.
open-bricks - open-source software for local work in the age of AI.
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