Hugmunn

Huginn and Muninn are Odin’s two ravens in Norse mythology. Their names mean “thought” and “memory”: they travel through the world and return to tell Odin what they have seen. Hugmunn takes its name from the pair.

Hugmunn is a desktop application and Python library for working with language models. It connects to local models through llama.cpp and to Claude and ChatGPT through the Claude Code and Codex CLIs, using their subscription logins, as in spaCR. No API key is required.

You can chat, attach instruction packs, let a model read files or run tools, and return to saved conversations. The desktop application and Python API use the same model clients and tool policies. Local model weights and llama-server are separate downloads; they are not included in the Python package or desktop installers.

Use CLI default for your account’s current Claude or Codex model, or select a Claude alias or a model from Codex’s local catalogue. Local additions include Qwen3.8-27B and unlocked Qwen/Gemma variants. See the model catalogue for downloads, compatibility and sources.

Install

Install from PyPI with Python 3.10 or newer in a separate environment:

python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate          # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
python -m pip install hugmunn
hugmunn

Or install directly from GitHub:

python -m pip install "hugmunn @ git+https://github.com/EinarOlafsson/hugmunn.git"
hugmunn

python -m hugmunn also launches the application. hugmunn --version prints the installed version without opening a window. For development, install a checkout with python -m pip install -e ..

Download desktop packages from GitHub Releases: a Linux .deb, Windows setup .exe, or macOS .dmg. These bundle Python and Qt. See the installer guide for installation, portable bundles, and platform requirements.

System requirements

A CUDA GPU is optional. Cloud models run on the provider's hardware. Local models can use CPU, NVIDIA CUDA, Apple Metal, or Vulkan on compatible AMD, Intel and NVIDIA devices. An existing ROCm or SYCL llama-server can also be selected.

These are practical starting points, not measured guarantees for every model:

RAM and discrete GPU memory are different pools; their sum is not a guarantee that a model fits. Longer contexts consume more memory. CPU inference works but large models can be slow. Start with Qwen3.5-0.8B · small CPU starter to check local setup; use larger models for substantial coding work.

• Python: 3.10–3.13 tested; 3.12 recommended. Desktop installers bundle Python.
• Linux: Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or a compatible recent desktop distribution; X11/Wayland and Qt system libraries. The release installer is x86-64.
• macOS: macOS 13+ for current Qt; Apple Silicon uses Metal and shared RAM. The release installer is ARM64; Intel Macs can install through pip.
• Windows: 64-bit Windows 10 1809+ or Windows 11; Windows 11 recommended. The release installer is x86-64.

OS compatibility also depends on the installed Qt version and your llama.cpp build. ARM Linux/Windows may use pip where matching Python/Qt wheels are available; native ARM installers are not currently built for them. See hardware and runtime setup for drivers and backend choices.

First launch

The welcome setup checks CPU, RAM, graphics and free model storage, previews themes, and offers optional AI and GitHub sign-in. The last page contains the noncommercial license and user agreement. It starts unchecked and must be accepted to launch the desktop application. Reopen it from hugmunn → Welcome and setup….

Automatic minimal error reports to EinarOlafsson/hugmunn issues are on by default, after agreement acceptance and connecting a GitHub account. These are public issues under that account. Reports exclude prompts, conversations, logs, error messages, file contents, paths and credentials. Turn reporting off in setup or Accounts → Automatically report errors to GitHub. See setup and reporting for exactly what is collected.

First conversation

1. Launch hugmunn and choose a provider in the Model tab.
2. For a local model, choose a registry entry and download its weights. If you already have them, use hugmunn → Find my models…. Use hugmunn → Set up llama-server… to select an existing runtime or install one.
3. For a cloud model, sign in through Accounts, then select a model from the CLI’s list. Install links and browser sign-in are provided. You can also run claude auth login --claudeai or codex login in a terminal. Your plan’s model access and usage limits apply.
4. Enter a message and send it with Ctrl+Enter.

Local models need enough RAM, GPU memory, and disk space for their weights and context. The model picker shows estimated requirements. Start with a model that fits your machine; cloud models do not need a local GPU.

The Run tab selects a working directory, enables tools, and controls approval behavior. With the default Ask before changing anything setting, read tools run directly and writes or shell commands ask for approval. Higher autonomy levels permit more actions without asking. This policy is not an operating-system sandbox.

Cloud requests send prompts and tool results to the selected provider. Local inference stays on the local server, but web tools and downloads still use the network when requested.

Desktop controls

Effort controls instructions and supported provider reasoning settings. Persistence sets the tool-round budget. Autonomy decides which tool calls need approval. These are separate settings.

Conversations are saved as you work. Ctrl+L starts a new one. Type /help for commands, or /remote to control the application in a browser with a username/password login through a local, token-protected page. See the desktop guide for details.

Python API

Discover the models known to the installation:

import hugmunn

for model in hugmunn.models("local"):
    print(model.key, model.label, model.size_gb, model.downloaded)

After downloading a model and setting up llama-server, use its registry key:

import hugmunn

with hugmunn.agent("code-glm") as chat:
    print(chat.ask("Explain Python context managers with an example."))
    chat.save("conversation.json")

Stream a response with access to a limited set of read tools:

import hugmunn

with hugmunn.agent(
    "code-glm",
    workdir="/path/to/project",
    tools=["list_directory", "read_file", "search_text"],
) as chat:
    for event in chat.run("Read the README and describe this project."):
        if event.kind == "content":
            print(event.text, end="", flush=True)
        elif event.kind == "error":
            raise hugmunn.HugmunnError(event.text)

Tools are disabled by default in the Python API. When enabled, calls requiring approval raise ApprovalRequired unless you supply an approve callback. An agent closes the local server it started when its context exits; an already running server is left running. Library conversations are saved explicitly with save().

The API guide covers cloud models, approval callbacks, streaming, cancellation, and sessions. The reference is generated from the public docstrings. Runnable examples are in examples/.

Configuration and documentation

Settings and sessions normally live in ~/.config/hugmunn/; model weights default to ~/.claude/models/. Override these with HUGMUNN_CONFIG_DIR and HUGMUNN_MODELS_ROOT. Set LLAMA_SERVER to use an existing runtime.

Hugmunn’s themes and packaging take inspiration from spacr, my microscopy analysis project. The applications are installed separately.

Development

python -m pip install -e ".[dev,docs,build]"
QT_QPA_PLATFORM=offscreen python -m pytest
python -m sphinx -W --keep-going -b html docs docs/_build/html
python -m build
python -m twine check dist/*.whl dist/*.tar.gz

Tests use fake model clients and offscreen Qt windows; they do not require model downloads or paid API calls. See CHANGELOG.md for changes.

License

Hugmunn’s source and raven artwork are distributed under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. It permits noncommercial use, modification, and redistribution under its terms. Commercial use requires separate permission from Einar Olafsson; contact einar.olafsson@gmail.com.

These terms apply to new releases beginning with 0.0.0.9. Previously published versions retain the license supplied with those versions. Model weights, llama.cpp, Qt, and other dependencies retain their own licenses; see the third-party notices.

Appearance, remote control and GPU tasks

Settings → Appearance offers rounded windows and separate panel/window opacity. Type /remote for browser control with a username and password; the desktop dialog includes LAN, HTTPS and tunnel options. /skills opens the searchable library of 132 bundled Codex skills and imports your installed skills. On Linux/macOS, /gpu python task.py temporarily unloads Hugmunn's model, runs the command, then reloads it. See the desktop guide for controls, limits and recovery behavior.