Open Notebook

Open Notebook is an open-source, self-hosted web app and server that focuses on privacy and data sovereignty. It functions as a knowledge management system where users can ingest various content types to create a private research base. The software is deployed as a server application, typically via Docker, and is accessed through a web browser.

Users can upload documents and media to create themed notebooks, then use artificial intelligence to query that specific context. The system supports a wide range of AI providers, allowing users to switch between cloud APIs or run models locally to avoid subscription fees and keep sensitive data on their own hardware. This flexibility ensures that the user maintains complete control over their data and the specific models used for processing.

Key features

• Support for 18+ AI providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, and LM Studio
• Ingestion of PDFs, videos, audio files, web pages, and Office documents
• Multi-speaker podcast generation with custom profiles for one to four speakers
• Full-text and vector search across all uploaded content
• AI chat conversations powered by the specific context of research notebooks
• Full REST API for automation and external integrations
• Multi-language user interface supporting English, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Bengali

The application is built using a stack consisting of Python, Next.js, React, and SurrealDB, with LangChain handling the AI orchestration. It is designed for students, researchers, and professionals who require a structured way to organize multi-modal information without relying on a single proprietary cloud provider. By supporting local LLMs through Ollama and LM Studio, it enables a completely offline workflow for those with the necessary hardware.

Beyond simple note-taking, the tool focuses on content transformation, allowing users to turn static research into interactive conversations or audio formats. The inclusion of a REST API allows developers to integrate their research notebooks into larger automated workflows or custom third-party applications.

Open Notebook is a flexible, privacy-centric tool for users who want the capabilities of AI-driven notebooks without vendor lock-in.