Marklet is an open source AI client primarily intended for use with local AI models (i.e. in conjunction with Ollama or similar runners). Its primary purpose is to do this simply and to do it well.
Above, initial version 0.2 in dark mode.
This is an early preview release encompassing only the primary aspects of the user interface. It does not currently contain the code needed to connect it to a model. There is no actual "AI" in this release. It is coming.
That being said, you should hopefully find the user interface quite polished. You can download and run it, and it will generate stub response messages intended to exercise the user interface.
It initially supports:
- Linux
- Windows
Runable Linux AppImage and simple Windows zip are provided only for this release.
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Marklet is, for the time being, a personal project. It may not remain so in the future.
It is an experiment in "sovereign AI" predicated on the idea that, while the large AI services bring creative destruction, local AI will persist. Moreover, local AI will grant agency to those who can maintain autonomy in the face of overwhelming convenience.
Marklet is not intended to be all things to all people. The design of the software prioritizes personal use employing local models with local data. It may not be suited for enterprise environments or mobile devices.
An approximate roadmap is as follows:
- Continued development of the user interface and data backend, including full search capability
- Completion of "note taking" interface
- Complete of "project" interface
- Implement connection to model runners and context generation
- Syntax high-lighting for fenced code
- LaTeX math symbols in markdown
- Support for attachments, images
- RAG, Text to speech, yet undecided features
There are likely to be several interim releases before an initial version 1.0. Work continues, but please don't expect to see daily updates or nightly builds in this repo. The code base is currently in-flux and may be subject to significant refactoring in the early phases.
Marklet is created using native human thought. It has not been "vibe-coded".
The following principles are to guide the development of this software:
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Machines Should Not Deceive
Chat and AI systems should not masquerade as human, nor use manipulative psychology such as responses designed to appeal to ego. Modern speech synthesis should contain some audible trait making it discernible from that of human. The same applies to simulated visual appearances and all modes of perception.
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Automation of the Law of Unintended Consequences is a Bad Idea
Despite the allure, agentic automation and machine sub-goals are to be eschewed. Information is dissipated as deterministic processes interact with the environment. Without consciousness to intervene, consequences move away from desirable outcomes. This is not to say AI cannot interact with the environment, but only that decision making should not be chained as automated sub-goals. Moreover, it is not sufficient for humans to passively "check the data", but rather that they must be invested in its outcome.
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An Informational Monad is Heat Death
AI and automated processing should be local and under the control of those who are to receive its benefit or suffer its consequences (i,e. invested in it). AI should be embedded within the personal device, the robot, or employed as on-prem hardware, but not behind monolithic one-way mirrors. There must be valid separation at the level of conscious control so as to maintain an entropy differential. Without this, the flow of information ceases (i.e. informational heat death).
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Without Consciousness Autonomy Entropy Cannot be Regulated
The use of AI and automated systems to manipulate, restrict, subvert or otherwise control autonomous beings is destructive in the long-term. Without conscious autonomy, nothing new can be created and entropy cannot locally be reversed. The effect is one of slow degeneration.
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Responsibility Without Control is Merely to Suffer Consequences
Where autonomy is taken from you, you cannot be responsible for decisions made for you by others. Likewise, if you take autonomy from others, you therefore become responsible. If you seek to direct others, it is valid only where conscious consent exists that can be freely and truly withdrawn.
Please visit the official website for more information which will be populated as the project develops:
COPYRIGHT : Andrew Thomas © 2025-2026 All rights reserved
Marklet is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 3 of the License only.
Marklet is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
In order to prevent "passing off", "Marklet" in connection with AI software is a trademark of Andrew Thomas (kuiperzone). Marklet is, however, a non-commercial project. Use of the name "Marklet" for derivative works or forks requires explicit written permission. The same applies to the "Marklet Owl" image and other original graphical works. While no great artistic skill is claimed, the image is nevertheless an original copyrighted work of the author and is specifically excluded from the AGPL.