OpenYak – An open-source Cowork that runs any model and owns your filesystem

https://github.com/openyak/desktop

Comments

coldtraitMar 29, 2026, 6:38 AM
Why did the OP make a comment about the project like he was someone else?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47560380#47560381

When it's clear he is one of the major contributors to the project?

https://github.com/openyak/desktop/graphs/contributors

stingraycharlesMar 29, 2026, 7:33 AM
Because it’s just silly AI generated spam, don’t read too much into it.
ares623Mar 29, 2026, 8:29 AM
aren't these supposed to be bannable offences?
october8140Mar 29, 2026, 11:37 AM
This was posted earlier this week.
girvoMar 29, 2026, 10:01 AM
They are, dang et al deal with it pretty strictly. Which I thank them for.
girvoMar 29, 2026, 5:09 AM
I don’t get it. It says nothing leaves your computer, but it’s sending things to OpenRouter, not running models locally. Perhaps I am dumb (and I always feel dumb after reading an AI generated README for yet another AI tool Tbf)
3sMar 29, 2026, 5:40 AM
Yes it appears your personal data IS being sent to open router and the model provider here. The problem I think is that a lot of people (especially in the openclaw community) mistake “I run it on my mac mini” to mean their data is private. Meanwhile all data is being shipped off for training to anthropic via openrouter and both of those parties see everything.

I guess you could theoretically plug in a local model here but of course the readme should be more precise here when talking about privacy

hrmtst93837Mar 29, 2026, 6:32 AM
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_ache_Mar 29, 2026, 5:32 AM
> Yes. OpenYak is local-first. Your conversations and files are stored only on your machine. When using cloud models, only API calls to LLM providers leave your computer.

So local-first and still upload files to cloud models if you configure it.

BarbingMar 29, 2026, 6:49 AM
>only API calls

Given the software‘s broad appeal, I’d rephrase to make it more clear every word/file you send would leave your computer.

_ache_Mar 29, 2026, 9:10 AM
Absolutely, that is misleading to not-much-technical people, maybe intentionally. Does not inspire confidence.
gbalduzziMar 29, 2026, 6:46 AM
I read it as "everything controlled by us is local first and we do not collect any data about you"

I agree that someone may misunderstand their phrasing though

jstummbilligMar 29, 2026, 6:24 AM
> It says nothing leaves your computer

Where does it say that?

It sends to OpenRouter if you chose to use OpenRouter. Can use Ollama. Idk how to get more local than that? Any tool will be non-local, when you do something explicitly non-local.

raincoleMar 29, 2026, 5:55 AM
> run locally via Ollama

Are you saying this part is a lie?

girvoMar 29, 2026, 10:03 AM
Yes.

In that I'm saying their AI generated slop README is misleading enough to be lying.

When you prominently say "all without uploading anything to the cloud." but the default does exactly that, a single half-sentence mentioning Ollama doesn't cut it.

hrmtst93837Mar 29, 2026, 7:06 AM
You're reading it correctly: it's a thin OpenRouter wrapper calling itself local while your prompts still leave the machine.
teleforceMar 29, 2026, 6:13 AM
I've got the strong feeling that AI model and agent requires different operating system (OS) paradigm that's data centric rather than file-system for more efficient, effective and trustworthy operations. This new OS should work seamlessly with data natively across different processors for examples CPU, GPU, TPU, NPU, accelarators, etc.

For working example, please check TabulaROSA (Tabular Operating System Architecture) proposed by the MIT team. Instead of normal OS system call, it utilizes data based operations with D4M that can work mathematically via associative array with structured or non-structered data [1],[2].

With the advent of new CPU acceleration with fully homomorphic encryption as demonstrated by Intel, the AI model and agent can even analyze the data without even decrypting them [3],[4].

[1] TabulaROSA: Tabular Operating System Architecture for Massively Parallel Heterogeneous Compute Engines

https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/126114

[2] D4M: Dynamic Distributed Dimensional Data Model:

https://d4m.mit.edu/

[3] Intel Demos Chip to Compute with Encrypted Data (121 comments):

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47322815

[4] Intel Demos Chip to Compute With Encrypted Data: Fully homomorphic encryption chip speeds operations 5,000-fold:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/fhe-intel

rbrenMar 29, 2026, 6:21 AM
I still strongly believe every developer should be vibecoding their own cowork/openclaw/devin

Here are the prompts I use for my AI environment, though it's changed a bunch since the last snapshot

https://github.com/rbren/personal-ai-devbox

m_kosMar 29, 2026, 6:59 AM
Neat! I might give it a try.

What do you mean by interfaces in "These interfaces can do literally anything on the host machine. You're responsible for your own security"?

Also, your backdooring image links to a 404.

BarbingMar 29, 2026, 6:56 AM
Thanks for the link. You mention security; is the _average_ developer safer going with OpenClaw?
nimchimpskyMar 29, 2026, 7:23 AM
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october8140Mar 29, 2026, 11:37 AM
Flag this garbage.
rakagMar 29, 2026, 5:58 AM
What's the difference between this and OpenWork which has existed for a while?
jaimex2Mar 29, 2026, 8:01 AM
OpenWork supports Linux where this does not
kvakkeflyMar 29, 2026, 7:38 AM
Nice! MacOS download link is a 404
SilverElfinMar 29, 2026, 4:30 AM
What does “owns your filesystem” mean? That sounds dangerous.
h05sz487bMar 29, 2026, 5:53 AM
Its your filesystem which is now, also, owned.
systimaMar 29, 2026, 7:58 AM
How does this differ to Open Code Desktop?
jaimex2Mar 29, 2026, 8:00 AM
This doesn't support Linux where Open Code does.
SomaticPirateMar 29, 2026, 5:52 AM
Not to be too conspiratorial here but since the founder of OpenClaw was snatched up, there seems to be a rush of “open source” AI projects desperately bidding to be alternatives. Which can generate huge returns if one of the major players decides that “they also need a cowork-style product”

So its uniquely viable to be a sellout here and attempt to clone a major lab’s attempt on the off-chance you get acquired later

Factor1177Mar 29, 2026, 6:55 AM
Anyone else getting a 404 when trying to download?
SathwickpMar 29, 2026, 6:40 AM
A simpler version of openclaw?
zombotMar 29, 2026, 6:49 AM
> owns your filesystem

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse than OpenClaw, someone proposes this, in all seriousness. I see a stellar future for them at OpenAI.

the_real_cherMar 29, 2026, 5:22 AM
So it's like open claw but you have to pay for it?
kennywinkerMar 29, 2026, 5:37 AM
It looks free / open source to me?
spiderfarmerMar 29, 2026, 5:08 AM
I have used Cowork so much over the last couple of months and I have no reason to switch. But I’ll definitely give this a try.
firekey_browserMar 29, 2026, 5:12 AM
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orangmisteriusMar 29, 2026, 5:36 AM
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wangzhangwuMar 29, 2026, 4:26 AM
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