OpenWorker: Detailed Introduction

[ikaijua]

OpenWorker: Detailed Introduction

An open-source desktop coworker connecting files, the terminal, and apps to deliver finished work.

• Audience: People handling local material and cross-app work who want to choose models and integrations.
• Cost: MIT software; model, cloud, and third-party application charges are separate.

Table of Contents

Getting started

1. What it is and who it is for
2. Access and setup: your first session

Usage and configuration

3. A concrete task and how to check it
4. Costs: software, models, and execution
5. Configuration and extensions

Limits and references

6. Permissions, data, and limitations
7. Frequently asked questions
8. Official references

Use the contents to jump to each section. If an in-page link does not respond, open it in a new tab.

[ikaijua]

What it is and who it is for

In one sentence: An open-source desktop coworker connecting files, the terminal, and apps to deliver finished work.

Who it suits: People handling local material and cross-app work who want to choose models and integrations.

What you can do:

• Turn scattered material into documents.
• Review code and dependencies and check fixes.
• Connect work apps and schedule recurring tasks.

Where to start: Install the macOS or Windows client from OpenWorker or the download section.

Cost: MIT software; model, cloud, and third-party application charges are separate.

[ikaijua]

Access and setup: your first session

Install the macOS or Windows client from OpenWorker or the download section.

Connect a model key or Ollama, then choose a dedicated test folder. OpenRouter API-key access and account subscriptions are separate provider cards; check which account is active.

[ikaijua]

A concrete task and how to check it

Start by combining three sanitized meeting notes into a new report without sending it.

Example:

Summarize decisions, owners, and deadlines as Markdown. Mark missing details as unresolved. Save a new file; do not send messages or overwrite sources.

Check sources, omissions, and paths before connecting messaging or calendars. For security work, inspect scanner output and repair diffs independently.

[ikaijua]

Costs: software, models, and execution

The client is MIT-licensed and supports your own provider or local inference. That does not include model allowances, hosting, or integration subscriptions.

Scheduled and multi-step work can keep consuming inference. Measure a full task before setting a frequency; cloud APIs and Ollama have different costs.

[ikaijua]

Configuration and extensions

Configure models under Settings → Models & Keys. Add an application connector or MCP tool only when needed; begin with one integration.

The local agent server is built on aisuite, with the desktop app as its interface. Developers can inspect those layers; ordinary users should start with the app wizard.

[ikaijua]

Permissions, data, and limitations

Local storage does not mean no external processing: configured models and apps receive task-relevant data. Inspect tool and approval provenance in the logs.

Platform sandboxes and OpenShell can constrain execution. Reviewer-model judgments do not guarantee correctness. This is beta software; consult platform-specific download notes.

[ikaijua]

Frequently asked questions

Is one model mandatory? No; multiple providers and Ollama are supported.

Will local schedules run with the machine off? The execution service must be running.

Can it send messages? That depends on permissions and approvals. Start with drafts or messages addressed to yourself.

[ikaijua]

Official references

• Repository
• Website
• OpenShell setup
• License