Jan is a ChatGPT-alternative that runs 100% offline on your device. Our goal is to make it easy for a layperson to download and run LLMs and use AI with **full control** and **privacy**.
**⚠️ Jan is in active development.**
## Installation
Because clicking a button is still the easiest way to get started:
Download from [jan.ai](https://jan.ai/) or [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/menloresearch/jan/releases).
## Demo
## Features
- **Local AI Models**: Download and run LLMs (Llama, Gemma, Qwen, etc.) from HuggingFace
- **Cloud Integration**: Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Groq, and others
- **Custom Assistants**: Create specialized AI assistants for your tasks
- **OpenAI-Compatible API**: Local server at `localhost:1337` for other applications
- **Model Context Protocol**: MCP integration for enhanced capabilities
- **Privacy First**: Everything runs locally when you want it to
## Build from Source
For those who enjoy the scenic route:
### Prerequisites
- Node.js ≥ 20.0.0
- Yarn ≥ 1.22.0
- Make ≥ 3.81
- Rust (for Tauri)
### Quick Start
```bash
git clone https://github.com/menloresearch/jan
cd jan
make dev
```
This handles everything: installs dependencies, builds core components, and launches the app.
### Alternative Commands
If you prefer the verbose approach:
```bash
# Setup and development
yarn install
yarn build:core
yarn build:extensions
yarn dev
# Production build
yarn build
# Clean slate (when things inevitably break)
make clean
```
### Available Make Targets
- `make dev` - Full development setup and launch (recommended)
- `make dev-tauri` - Tauri development (deprecated, use `make dev`)
- `make build` - Production build
- `make install-and-build` - Install dependencies and build core/extensions
- `make test` - Run tests and linting
- `make lint` - Check your code doesn't offend the linters
- `make clean` - Nuclear option: delete everything and start fresh
## System Requirements
**Minimum specs for a decent experience:**
- **macOS**: 13.6+ (8GB RAM for 3B models, 16GB for 7B, 32GB for 13B)
- **Windows**: 10+ with GPU support for NVIDIA/AMD/Intel Arc
- **Linux**: Most distributions work, GPU acceleration available
For detailed compatibility, check our [installation guides](https://jan.ai/docs/desktop/mac).
## Troubleshooting
When things go sideways (they will):
1. Check our [troubleshooting docs](https://jan.ai/docs/troubleshooting)
2. Copy your error logs and system specs
3. Ask for help in our [Discord](https://discord.gg/FTk2MvZwJH) `#🆘|jan-help` channel
We keep logs for 24 hours, so don't procrastinate on reporting issues.
## Contributing
Contributions welcome. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for the full spiel.
## Links
- [Documentation](https://jan.ai/docs) - The manual you should read
- [API Reference](https://jan.ai/api-reference) - For the technically inclined
- [Changelog](https://jan.ai/changelog) - What we broke and fixed
- [Discord](https://discord.gg/FTk2MvZwJH) - Where the community lives
## Contact
- **Bugs**: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/menloresearch/jan/issues)
- **Business**: hello@jan.ai
- **Jobs**: hr@jan.ai
- **General Discussion**: [Discord](https://discord.gg/FTk2MvZwJH)
## Trust & Safety
**Friendly reminder**: We're not trying to scam you.
- We won't ask for personal information
- Jan is completely free (no premium version exists)
- We don't have a cryptocurrency or ICO
- We're bootstrapped and not seeking your investment (yet)
## License
Apache 2.0 - Because sharing is caring.
## Acknowledgements
Built on the shoulders of giants:
- [Llama.cpp](https://github.com/ggerganov/llama.cpp)
- [Tauri](https://tauri.app/)
- [Scalar](https://github.com/scalar/scalar)
