Purpose-built for agent-heavy workflows

A vault that feels simple, but is built for serious agent workflows.

Agentbrain is a local-first vault for Markdown, JSON, and agent-ready context. Use it like a focused notes app, or extend it with self-hosted sync, share links, and an API for agents and other apps.

View Source

Early open-source release. Local mode works out of the box. Advanced setup is agent-friendly.

02_projects/agentbrain/launch-plan.md synced

Agentbrain launch

Markdown for docs and process, JSON for structured agent and app data.

real Markdown and JSON on disk

builder for non-technical users

sync, share links, scoped API

GET /v1/docs?vaultId=agent-vault

The missing layer

Markdown is great for humans. Agents need structured JSON.

I used to use Obsidian heavily, and it can work well with agents that have local file access. But for agent-heavy workflows, Markdown alone was not enough. I kept needing first-class JSON, better ways to build and inspect structured data, share links, and an API for tools that cannot safely or directly write to local files.

Agentbrain keeps the best part of the vault model, files you own, and makes it purpose-built for AI workflows. Markdown handles docs, process, and human-readable context. JSON handles structured data that agents, other AI systems, and applications can reliably use.

What it does

A focused vault for Markdown, JSON, and agent context.

Local-first desktop vault

Open a folder and start working. agentbrain keeps your vault as ordinary files on disk, so technical users can inspect, back up, sync, or version it, while non-technical users can simply use the Mac app like a clean, focused workspace.

Markdown and JSON

Markdown is excellent for notes, documentation, workflows, and project context. JSON is essential for agent workflows because it gives AI systems and applications structured data they can read, transform, and reuse without ambiguity.

Builder and inspector

Not everyone wants to hand-author Markdown or JSON. agentbrain’s builder helps users construct clean documents and structured JSON, while also making it easier to inspect nested data before handing it to another AI system or application.

Sync, sharing, and API

When you need more than local files, agentbrain adds self-hosted sync, read-only share links, and an HTTP API. It packages the pieces agent workflows need into one purpose-built tool instead of relying on a pile of plugins and workarounds.

Workflow

Start simple. Add power as you need it.

Use it locally

Download the Mac app, choose a vault folder, and start writing Markdown or building JSON. This path works out of the box and does not require Docker, servers, or command-line setup.

Build better structured context

Use Markdown for human-readable docs and JSON for structured state, configs, schemas, workflows, and app data. The builder makes those formats approachable for non-technical users and faster for technical ones.

Connect agents and apps

Agents with local disk access can work directly with the vault files. Agents without disk access, or users who do not want to grant broad filesystem access, can use the API. That matters for tools like Perplexity Computer, and it also opens the door for other applications to talk to agentbrain.

Agent-native

Agent access without handing over your whole filesystem.

Local agents can work directly with agentbrain’s files when disk access is available. For cloud agents, restricted environments, Perplexity Computer, or apps that should not receive broad filesystem access, the HTTP API provides scoped access to the exact vault documents they need.

Scoped tokens for list, read, write, rename, and delete.
Vault-relative paths agents can cite back to you.
Markdown for human context, JSON for structured agent/app data.
Optimistic concurrency with If-Match to prevent silent overwrites.
Step-by-step setup docs that can be handed to Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex.

$ curl "https://sync.example.com/v1/docs?vaultId=agent-vault&path=02_projects/spec.md" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AGENT_TOKEN"

{
  "path": "02_projects/spec.md",
  "contentType": "text/markdown",
  "version": "sha256:8b2...",
  "content": "# agentbrain spec..."
}

Launch shape

Local app first. Open-source power underneath.

Packaged Mac app

Best for most people. Download, open, choose a folder, and start working locally without touching servers or setup scripts.

Recommended first CTA

Open-source repo

Best for developers, contributors, and self-hosters. The repo includes the desktop app, sync/API docs, examples, and the implementation details needed to understand or extend the system.

Developer path

Self-hosted sync and API

Best when you want multi-device sync, share links, remote agent access, or integrations with other apps. If you are not technical, the setup guide is written so you can hand it to Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex.

Optional advanced path

Open source

Build your agent memory layer on files you can actually own.

Start with a local Mac app that feels simple. Grow into a self-hosted agent workspace when you need sync, share links, JSON workflows, or API access.

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