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Show HN: Rowboat – Open-source, local-first alternative to Claude Desktop

A desktop AI coworker with a memory of your work and built-in surfaces to act on it.

rowboatlabs/rowboat | Trendshift

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Rowboat indexes your work into a living knowledge graph and uses that to get work done on your machine. It includes work surfaces for collaborating with AI: email client, notes, browser, code mode, meeting note taker, and workspaces for different projects.

Download latest for Mac/Windows/Linux: Download

Rowboat demo video

Demo - apps to code · Demo - knowledge graph

⭐ If you find Rowboat useful, please star the repo. It helps more people find it.



Download latest for Mac/Windows/Linux: Download

All release files: https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/releases/latest

To connect Google services (Gmail, Calendar, and Drive), follow Google setup.

To enable voice input and voice notes (optional), add a Deepgram API key in ~/.rowboat/config/deepgram.json

To enable voice output (optional), add an ElevenLabs API key in ~/.rowboat/config/elevenlabs.json

To use Exa research search (optional), add the Exa API key in ~/.rowboat/config/exa-search.json

To enable external tools (optional), you can add any MCP server or use Composio tools by adding an API key in ~/.rowboat/config/composio.json

All API key files use the same format:

Most AI tools reconstruct context on demand by searching transcripts or documents.

Rowboat maintains long-lived knowledge instead:

  • context accumulates over time
  • relationships are explicit and inspectable
  • notes are editable by you, not hidden inside a model
  • everything lives on your machine as plain Markdown

The result is memory that compounds, rather than retrieval that starts cold every time.

Rowboat works with the model setup you prefer:

  • Local models via Ollama or LM Studio
  • Hosted models (bring your own API key/provider)
  • Swap models anytime — your data stays in your local Markdown vault

Extend Rowboat with tools (MCP)

Rowboat can connect to external tools and services via Model Context Protocol (MCP). That means you can plug in (for example) search, databases, CRMs, support tools, and automations - or your own internal tools.

Examples: Exa (web search), Twitter/X, ElevenLabs (voice), Slack, Linear/Jira, GitHub, and more.

  • All data is stored locally as plain Markdown
  • No proprietary formats or hosted lock-in
  • You can inspect, edit, back up, or delete everything at any time