Let a private AI on your own computer work through your files
A free desktop app picks an AI model that fits your computer, downloads it, and then reads, edits and fills in your documents, PDFs and spreadsheets without sending them anywhere. It works offline.
Seen on Hacker News · GitHub
What the bot does
- On first launch it checks your computer's memory and graphics card and downloads the best open model that will run well on it.
- You point it at a folder you allow. It can read and change files there, look at images and big PDFs, and fill in PDF forms.
- For number crunching or file conversions it writes and runs small bits of code in a locked-down sandbox, and can draw charts.
- It asks before changing anything and lets you undo changes.
- Web search is optional and can be switched off, so private paperwork never leaves your machine.
What you end up with
A Cowork-style helper for private paperwork (contracts, medical records, tax forms) that costs nothing per use and doesn't upload your files.
Copy-paste prompt
Fill in the [brackets]. Then paste it into any tool below.
Work only inside the folder [folder name]. Read every PDF in it and make a table with [document name, date, who it's from, amount, deadline]. Save it as [summary.csv] in the same folder. Don't delete or rename anything, and ask me before you change any existing file.
New to this? How to build an AI agent without coding, or set up a bot in 5 plain steps →
Setup
- Check your computer: Hob needs at least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB is better) and 10 to 25 GB of free disk space; the biggest model needs about 75 GB.
- Download Hob for Mac, Windows or Linux from hob.chat or the GitHub releases page. No account is needed.
- Let it pick and download a model on first run. This is a big download, so do it on Wi-Fi.
- Make a test folder with copies of a few documents, and try one small job first, like a summary table.
- Turn off web search in settings if you want everything to stay offline.
Tools that can do it today
- agentHobFree, open-source (MIT), Mac, Windows and LinuxFree and open source (MIT); runs on your own computer
- localOllama (local models)Alternative if you're happy with a plain chat windowFree to download; runs open models on your own computer
Plans and limits change; check each tool's page.
Watch out
- Local models are much weaker than Claude or ChatGPT on long, multi-step jobs; one HN commenter summed up the problem as “the models are really dumb, mainly.” Keep jobs small and check the results.
- Work on copies of important files until you trust it.
- The models are large. One HN tester complained there was no easy way to clean up the 18 GB it downloaded, so you may need to delete the model files yourself.
- It's a two-week-old open-source project from a small startup. Expect rough edges and updates.
What this costs to run
In a chat app it runs inside your plan. If you run it as a bot on an AI API, the bill depends on how often it runs and how much it reads.
Estimate it in the cost calculator →
Tip: Use a small AI model for simple jobs, a big one for hard ones. More in Run your bots for less and how much an AI agent costs.
Questions people ask
Which AI tools can do this?
Hob or Ollama (local models) can do this today. Paste the copy-paste prompt on this page into any of them and fill in the [brackets].
How hard is it to set up?
It's rated Medium. Start with the steps under “What the bot does”.
What should I watch out for?
Local models are much weaker than Claude or ChatGPT on long, multi-step jobs; one HN commenter summed up the problem as “the models are really dumb, mainly.” Keep jobs small and check the results.
Sources
- Hacker NewsHacker News: “Show HN: Hob – Open-source, on device alternative to Claude Cowork and ChatGPT” 159 points · 36 comments · measured Oct 27, 2026
- GitHubGitHub: FrigadeHQ/hob (free MIT-licensed desktop app that runs open models like Gemma and gpt-oss on your own computer) 243 stars · measured Oct 27, 2026
- articleFounderMag (Oct 26, 2026): Hob reads and edits files you allow, fills in PDFs, asks before changing anything; needs 8 GB RAM, 16 GB better
- articleOpen Source For You (Oct 27, 2026): Hob runs open models locally and works fully offline
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Self-reported results from posts are the poster's own claims.