Find open-source software you can trust.

ESPConnect uses Web Serial or WebUSB in a modern Chromium browser to inspect ESP32 hardware and partitions, manage filesystems, back up flash, deploy firmware, and open a serial console without a desktop installation. Other applications using the same USB serial bridge must be closed before connecting. ESP8266 support is limited, and the NVS inspector remains an experimental, read-only debugging tool whose parsed output may not cover every edge case.

ZenNotes keeps every note as an ordinary Markdown file while offering both a desktop app and a self-hosted web mode. Its keyboard-first workflow combines Vim motions, split editing and preview, search, tags, tasks, daily notes, diagrams, and local assets in one vault. A companion CLI, Raycast integration on macOS, and an MCP server let scripts and compatible AI tools work with the same files. Desktop builds are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Gmail Cleaner is a local or Docker-hosted web interface for reducing an overloaded Gmail inbox. It can group and filter messages by sender, date, size, category, or label, then bulk unsubscribe, delete, archive, mark messages read or important, manage labels, and export selected metadata as CSV. Setup requires the user to enable the Gmail API in a personal Google Cloud project, create OAuth credentials, and add the Gmail address as a test user. Because the OAuth app is personal and unverified, Google displays a warning that should be reviewed before granting access.

Chat AI Desktop wraps a web-based AI chat interface in a small menu-bar application with builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users can access the hosted chat experience or switch to an API mode and supply their own OpenAI API key from the app menu. It is an unofficial client rather than an OpenAI desktop product, and the macOS package may be blocked because its developer cannot be verified. In that case, users must explicitly open it through Finder's security prompt or build the binary themselves.

TidGi is a cross-platform desktop app for notes, GTD, and personal knowledge management built around Node.js TiddlyWiki. Create a local workspace or clone an online wiki, keep ownership of the underlying data, and back it up through a local Git repository or GitHub; public content can also become a blog. It suits users who value customization and the TiddlyWiki plugin ecosystem, while macOS users may need to explicitly trust the unsigned app.

SnapOtter is a self-hosted file-processing platform for images, video, audio, PDFs, and general documents. Users can run conversions, compression, editing, OCR, transcription, and on-demand local AI through its web interface, REST API, or reusable pipelines, while keeping files inside their own network. A single Docker command starts the basic installation; the documented production setup adds separate Postgres and Redis services for durable jobs and larger deployments.

MooTool is a cross-platform desktop toolbox for recurring developer tasks. It combines quick notes, JSON, SQL, and Java formatting, batch text operations, translation, user-agent inspection, image and PDF helpers, environment-variable tools, configuration conversion, and other small utilities in one tabbed application. Many modules retain searchable history so previous inputs or outputs can be reviewed, reapplied, or copied. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Kanri is a desktop Kanban app for Windows, macOS, and Linux that works without an account or internet connection. It supports customizable columns and cards, rich descriptions, subtasks, due dates, tags, Trello import, and granular or full exports for backup. Board data is stored in a single local JSON file, and built-in cloud synchronization is intentionally excluded, making it suitable for users who want to keep control of their own data.

Groove Basin runs a music server connected to a personal library and lets laptops, tablets, and phones control playback through a web interface. It includes automatic queueing, drag-and-drop uploads and playlists, loudness scanning, filesystem monitoring, remote streaming, and MPD compatibility. The project is for music you own or manage locally and does not support DRM content.

Hermes Desktop is a native macOS workbench for an existing Hermes Agent installation, either on the same Mac or on another host over SSH. It brings real sessions, workflow presets, Kanban, files, usage, skills, cron jobs, and a terminal into one window while keeping the Hermes host as the source of state—without a gateway API, browser wrapper, daemon, or synchronized mirror. It requires macOS 14 or later; SSH mode needs non-interactive access, and some chat, resume, and workflow features require the hermes CLI on the host.

AppPorts moves large applications out of `/Applications` onto an SSD, SD card, or network storage while leaving a small launcher stub in the original location. Apps can still appear and launch normally through Finder and Launchpad, and the utility selects different strategies for native apps, self-updating software, suites, and supported App Store apps. It can also flag broken links when a drive is unavailable. System apps and running apps are blocked from migration, and the current download is not signed with an Apple Developer ID, so macOS may require manual quarantine removal.

Colorpicker is an Electron desktop tool for macOS, Windows, and Linux that samples colors from anywhere on the screen and saves or categorizes reusable values in Colorsbook. Pinning, shade bars, focus mode, random colors, and preferences support day-to-day color work. Clipboard color detection is still under development and currently recognizes only the first hexadecimal or RGB value it finds.

Open Cowork is a graphical AI agent workspace for Windows and macOS that can use Claude, OpenAI-compatible APIs, and several other model providers. Within a selected workspace, an agent can manage files, create PPTX, DOCX, PDF, and XLSX outputs through skills, connect to services such as browsers or Notion through MCP, and receive remote instructions through Lark or Slack. Basic protection restricts file access by path; WSL2 on Windows or Lima on macOS can add VM isolation. Users should still review permissions carefully because authorized file changes or deletions carry real risk.

Claude Code History Viewer reads local conversation data from many coding assistants, including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode, and presents it in one offline interface. You can search across projects, compare providers, and review usage analytics. Desktop builds cover macOS, Windows, and Linux, while headless mode can export individual sessions as HTML or JSON; a full backup action archives all Claude Code sessions before automatic cleanup removes them.

AIaW is a local-first AI chat client with multiple workspaces, support for several model providers, MCP connections, plugins, reusable prompts, and editable Artifacts. Conversation data is stored locally for offline access, with optional cloud synchronization after sign-in across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and the web PWA. The project is deprecated and has been replaced by the rewritten Nya AI client, so existing users are directed to migrate rather than adopt AIaW as a new long-term setup.

@polkadot/apps provides a visual portal for exploring and interacting with supported Polkadot and Substrate chains. Users can open the hosted web application or run it through IPFS, Docker, or a local node; the desktop edition offers the same general interface while storing encrypted accounts on the local filesystem by default. Chain developers can customize API types, settings, and branding through the repository's configuration package.

Use an endless SVG canvas as a simple desktop whiteboard for diagrams, visual notes, and free-form idea mapping. The app supports panning and zooming, arrows, rectangles, ellipses, selection, copy and paste, folders, local file persistence, basic touch input, and light or dark themes. Individual canvases can be exported as PNG, JPEG, or SVG, and prebuilt releases are available alongside an Arch Linux package. A text tool is still unfinished, so the current workflow is centered on shapes and drawing rather than typed annotations.

Cate is a desktop coding workspace that places editors, terminals, browser tabs, documents, Git tools, and AI-agent chats on a zoomable spatial canvas. Panels can dock, split, detach, and persist across projects, while the built-in agent can connect to several model providers. Prebuilt releases are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.