ZuraAI

A desktop AI assistant with model choice, tools, research, and local control.

ZuraAI is a desktop app for Windows and macOS.
Chat with the models you already pay for (or run locally with Ollama), search the web, use tools with clear approval steps, and keep your history on your machine.

_{No ZuraAI account. No cloud sync. Bring your own providers.}

Releases · Issues · Contributing · Telemetry · Architecture · Security · Report a security issue

Contents

• What you get
• Quick start
• Useful commands
• Releases
• How security works
• Contributing
• License

What you get

ZuraAI is for people who want one desktop app instead of juggling browser tabs and provider dashboards.

• Use the models you already pay for — or run local ones. Drop your keys in Settings and go.
• Research in the chat. Web search can pull current sources into the conversation with progress and citations.
• Agent mode when you need tools. Web search, code (with approval), MCP, memory, and Windows desktop help when you allow it. Tool steps show up in the chat so you can see what ran.
• Local by default. Chats stay on your computer. API keys use Electron secure storage.
• Desktop polish. Streaming replies, image attachments, pinned chats, a command palette, and local usage views.

Quick start

Requirements

• Node.js 18 or newer
• Bun 1.3.14 or newer (see package.json for the exact range)
• Windows or macOS

Install and run

git clone https://github.com/solnikhil/ZuraAI.git
cd ZuraAI
bun install
bun run dev

You do not need a .env file. Add provider keys inside Settings. If you use Ollama, start it locally first (usually http://localhost:11434).

Build installers

bun run build

Use bun run build:dir if you only need an unpacked app folder.

Useful commands

Command	What it does
bun run dev	Start development
bun run typecheck	TypeScript checks
bun run test	Unit tests
bun run test:watch	Tests in watch mode
bun run build	Production Electron package
bun run build:dir	Unpacked directory build
bun run release:checksums	SHA-256 checksums for release files
bun run preview	Preview the renderer build

Releases

Desktop builds are published on GitHub Releases.

There is also a small npm package (zuraai) that installs the matching verified GitHub desktop release when needed, then opens the app through local protocols. Details live in docs/RELEASE.md.

How security works

• The UI process is treated as untrusted.
• Sensitive work runs in the Electron main process.
• The UI only talks to main through a small, allowlisted bridge.
• Chats and files stay under Electron’s local user data folder.
• API keys never sit in plain settings JSON when secure storage is available.
• Anonymous analytics is opt-in. See TELEMETRY.md.

Deeper design notes are in AGENTS.md.

Contributing

1. Read CONTRIBUTING.md.
2. Skim AGENTS.md if you touch architecture, IPC, storage, or tools.
3. Run bun run typecheck and bun run test.
4. In the PR, call out anything that changes security boundaries or packaging.

License

MIT. See LICENSE.

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This is still early open-source software. Rough edges are expected. Thanks for the patience, feedback, and help.