361 lines
9.4 KiB
Markdown
361 lines
9.4 KiB
Markdown
# 🔀 Chat Switchboard
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**The Plugin-First, Multi-Model AI Platform**
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Chat Switchboard is a next-generation AI interface that works offline or managed, with a unique plugin architecture and visual workflow builder.
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[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
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[](https://go.dev/)
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[](https://python.org/)
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---
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## 🎯 What Makes Us Different
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| Feature | Chat Switchboard | Others |
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|---------|-----------------|--------|
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| **Works Offline** | ✅ Full-featured unmanaged mode | ❌ Backend required |
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| **Plugin System** | ✅ Core features ARE plugins | 🟡 Limited or none |
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| **Visual Workflows** | ✅ Chain multiple AI models | ❌ Single-shot only |
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| **Multi-Model Routing** | ✅ Auto-select best/cheapest | 🟡 Manual only |
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| **Channels** | ✅ User + AI collaboration | 🟡 Users only |
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| **Self-Hosted** | ✅ Easy Docker setup | 🟡 Complex |
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**Unique Selling Points:**
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1. **Workflows** - No competitor has visual AI orchestration (like n8n for LLMs)
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2. **Dual-Mode** - Privacy-first offline mode OR full collaboration backend
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3. **Plugin-First** - Chat, Channels, Notes are ALL plugins (proves extensibility)
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4. **Smart Routing** - Automatic model selection for cost/quality optimization
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---
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## 🚀 Quick Start
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### Option 1: Offline Mode (No Backend)
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```bash
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# Clone and build
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git clone https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard.git
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cd chat-switchboard
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./build.sh
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# Open in browser
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xdg-open standalone/index.html
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```
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**Configure API:**
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1. Click ⚙️ Settings
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2. Enter API endpoint (OpenAI, OpenRouter, Venice.ai, Ollama, etc.)
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3. Add your API key
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4. Start chatting!
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### Option 2: Full Backend (Collaboration + Workflows)
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```bash
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# Clone repo
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git clone https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard.git
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cd chat-switchboard
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# Configure
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cp .env.example .env
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# Edit .env with your settings
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# Start with Docker
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docker-compose up -d
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# Access at http://localhost:3000
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```
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See [GETTING_STARTED.md](docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) for detailed instructions.
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---
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## ✨ Core Features
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### 1. 💬 Chat (User → AI)
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- Multi-model support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, etc.)
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- Per-conversation model switching
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- Streaming responses with stop button
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- Export (Markdown, JSON, Plain Text)
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- Auto-routing to best/cheapest model (managed mode)
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### 2. 👥 Channels (User → User + AI)
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**Managed mode only**
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Multi-user chat rooms where you can @mention AI models:
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```
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#general
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@alice: What do you think about this design?
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@claude: I'd suggest a darker color scheme for better contrast...
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@bob: Great idea! @gpt4 can you review the implementation?
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@gpt4: I found a potential issue in the error handling...
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```
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- Public/private/DM channels
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- Real-time updates (WebSocket)
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- Threaded conversations
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- Reactions and formatting
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### 3. 📝 Notes & Knowledge Bases
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- Markdown notes with folders
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- Full-text and semantic search
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- RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) in managed mode
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- Link notes to chats
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### 4. 🔄 Workflows ⭐ (UNIQUE FEATURE)
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**Managed mode only**
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Visual workflow builder for chaining AI models and tools:
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```
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[User Query] → [Web Search] → [GPT-4 Summarize] → [Claude Verify] → [Save to KB]
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```
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**Use Cases:**
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- **Research Assistant:** Search → Summarize → Verify → Save
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- **Code Review:** Fetch PR → Find Bugs → Security Check → Report
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- **Multi-Model Consensus:** Run through 3 models → Vote → Best answer
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- **Content Factory:** Outline → Draft → Edit → SEO → Publish
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See [WORKFLOWS.md](docs/WORKFLOWS.md) for details.
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---
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## 🔌 Extension System
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### Everything is a Plugin
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Chat Switchboard proves its extensibility by implementing **core features as plugins**:
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```
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Core (Minimal) Plugins (Modular)
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├── HTTP Router ├── Chat Engine (Python)
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├── WebSocket Hub ├── Channels (Go)
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├── Extension Manager ├── RAG Engine (Python)
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├── Auth/Users ├── Workflows (Go/Python)
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└── PostgreSQL └── Your Custom Plugin...
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```
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### Frontend Plugins (JavaScript)
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```javascript
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// Simple UI extension
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window.ChatSwitchboard.registerExtension({
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name: 'token-counter',
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hooks: {
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onMessageSend: (msg) => {
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const tokens = estimateTokens(msg);
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showToast(`~${tokens} tokens`);
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}
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}
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});
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```
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### Backend Plugins (Python, Go, Node.js)
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```python
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# Full-featured extension
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from fastapi import FastAPI
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app = FastAPI()
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@app.post("/tools/web_search")
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async def search_web(query: str):
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results = duckduckgo_search(query)
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return {"results": results}
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```
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**Create a plugin:**
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```bash
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# Use template
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cp -r extensions/_template-python extensions/my-plugin
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cd extensions/my-plugin
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# Edit extension.json, main.py
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python main.py
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```
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See [PLUGIN_SPEC.md](docs/PLUGIN_SPEC.md) for complete guide.
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---
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## 📚 Documentation
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- **[Getting Started](docs/GETTING_STARTED.md)** - Installation and setup
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- **[Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md)** - System design and data flow
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- **[Workflows](docs/WORKFLOWS.md)** - Visual workflow builder guide
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- **[Plugin Spec](docs/PLUGIN_SPEC.md)** - Extension development
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- **[Roadmap](ROADMAP.md)** - Development timeline and features
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---
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## 🏗️ Architecture
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Frontend (Vanilla JS) │
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│ - Works offline (LocalStorage) │
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│ - Switches to backend if available │
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└─────────────┬───────────────────────┘
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│
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┌─────────┴─────────┐
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│ │
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[Unmanaged] [Managed Mode]
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LocalStorage │
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▼
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┌────────────────┐
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│ Go Backend │
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│ - Auth/Users │
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│ - WebSocket │
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│ - Extensions │
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└────────┬───────┘
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│
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┌─────────────┴──────────────┐
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│ │
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PostgreSQL Extensions
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- Chats, users - Chat (Python)
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- Channels - RAG (Python)
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- Knowledge - Workflows (Go)
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- pgvector - Custom tools...
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```
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---
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## 🛠️ Tech Stack
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### Frontend
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- **Vanilla JavaScript** - No framework bloat
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- **LocalStorage** - Offline-first
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- **WebSocket** - Real-time updates (managed)
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### Backend (Managed Mode)
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- **Go** - Core API, routing, WebSocket
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- **PostgreSQL** - Primary storage
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- **pgvector** - Vector embeddings for RAG
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- **Redis** - WebSocket pub/sub (optional)
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- **Python** - AI/ML extensions
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- **Docker** - Easy deployment
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---
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## 🎨 Screenshots
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_(Coming soon - will add workflow builder, channels, chat interface)_
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---
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## 🗺️ Roadmap
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### Current: Phase 1 - Backend Core ✅
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- [x] Frontend (unmanaged mode)
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- [ ] Go backend with PostgreSQL
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- [ ] User authentication
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- [ ] WebSocket server
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- [ ] Extension manager
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### Next: Phase 2 - Core Features as Plugins
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- [ ] Chat Engine (Python)
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- [ ] Channels (Go)
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- [ ] Notes (Go)
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- [ ] RAG Engine (Python)
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### Future: Phase 3+
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- [ ] Visual Workflow Builder
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- [ ] Desktop app (Tauri)
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- [ ] Extension marketplace
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- [ ] Mobile PWA
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See [ROADMAP.md](ROADMAP.md) for complete timeline.
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---
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## 🤝 Contributing
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We welcome contributions! Here's how:
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1. **Pick a task** from [ROADMAP.md](ROADMAP.md) or GitHub Issues
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2. **Fork** the repo
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3. **Create** a feature branch
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4. **Submit** a PR
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**Good first issues:**
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- Frontend UI improvements
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- Backend handler implementations
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- Example extensions
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- Documentation
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---
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## 📖 Example Use Cases
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### Personal (Unmanaged)
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- Privacy-focused AI assistant
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- Offline research tool
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- Model comparison testing
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### Team (Managed)
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- Collaborative AI workspace
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- Shared knowledge bases
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- Automated workflows
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- Code review pipelines
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### Enterprise
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- Self-hosted AI platform
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- Custom model routing
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- Compliance and audit logs
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- SSO/SAML integration
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---
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## 🆚 Comparison
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### vs Open WebUI
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- ✅ Works offline (unmanaged mode)
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- ✅ Visual workflows (they don't have)
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- ✅ Plugin-first architecture
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- 🟰 Similar RAG features
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### vs ChatGPT/Claude Desktop
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- ✅ Multi-model (not locked to one provider)
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- ✅ Self-hosted option
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- ✅ Open source
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- ✅ Extensible (closed systems)
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- 🟰 Similar UX quality
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### vs LangChain
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- ✅ Visual workflow builder (no-code)
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- ✅ Multi-model orchestration
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- 🟰 Similar capabilities
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- ❌ Less Python ecosystem (for now)
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**Unique Position:** LangChain for non-coders + n8n for LLMs + privacy-first design
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---
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## 📄 License
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MIT License - build anything, including commercial products.
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---
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## 🙏 Credits
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Built with inspiration from:
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- Open WebUI (knowledge bases, channels)
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- Claude Desktop (thinking blocks)
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- n8n (workflow concepts)
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- VSCode (plugin architecture)
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---
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## 🔗 Links
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- **Repository:** https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard
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- **Documentation:** [/docs](docs/)
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- **Issues:** [GitHub Issues](https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard/issues)
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- **Discussions:** (Coming soon)
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---
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**Ready to build the future of AI interfaces? Star the repo and let's go! 🚀**
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