nanobot: An Ultra-Lightweight, Self-Hosted Personal AI Agent Framework

Introduction

nanobot is an innovative, ultra-lightweight, and open-source personal AI agent framework developed in Python. Designed for self-hosting, it provides a comprehensive suite of features including a WebUI, various tools, long-term memory, Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations, multi-agent workflows, and scheduled automation. Whether you prefer a browser interface, a terminal, or integration with popular chat applications, nanobot offers a flexible and powerful platform for managing your AI agents.

Installation

Getting started with nanobot requires Python 3.11 or newer. For the most stable experience, installation from PyPI or using uv is recommended. If you prefer the latest features, you can install from source.

One-command setup (macOS / Linux):

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HKUDS/nanobot/main/scripts/install.sh | sh

One-command setup (Windows PowerShell):

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HKUDS/nanobot/main/scripts/install.ps1 | iex

Alternatively, you can install using uv or pip:

Install with uv:

uv tool install nanobot-ai

Install from PyPI with pip:

python -m pip install nanobot-ai

For detailed instructions, including source installation and troubleshooting, please refer to the official documentation.

Examples

Once installed, nanobot offers several ways to interact with your AI agent.

Open nanobot in your browser (recommended first run):

nanobot webui

This command launches the WebUI, allowing you to configure models and start new topics.

For a quick, one-shot interaction in the terminal:

nanobot agent -m "Hello!"

This is useful for quick checks or integrating into shell scripts. You can also run the gateway in the background or interact entirely within the terminal.

Why Use nanobot?

nanobot stands out due to several key advantages:

• Persistent Workflows: It ensures that goals, memory, tools, and chat context endure across long-running tasks.
• Chat-Native Reach: With support for WebUI, API, Telegram, Discord, Slack, WeChat, email, and Mattermost, nanobot is accessible wherever you communicate.
• Model Freedom: It supports OpenAI-compatible APIs, local LLMs, image generation, search, and fallback models, giving you control over your AI backend.
• Small Core: Its readable internals, with built-in MCP, memory, deployment, and automation, make it easy to understand and extend.
• Own Your Stack: You have the freedom to inspect, customize, self-host, and extend the framework without reliance on a large platform.

Links

• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot
• Official Documentation: https://nanobot.wiki/docs/latest/getting-started/nanobot-overview
• Discord Community: https://discord.gg/MnCvHqpUGB
• X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/nanobot_project