Devtoolwatch Boardnanobot review
nanobot is an open-source, self-hosted personal AI agent framework in Python that runs in a browser, terminal, or chat app.
TL;DR
nanobot is a lightweight, self-hosted personal AI agent framework written in Python. It suits developers who want one agent across a WebUI, terminal, and chat apps, connected to their own model provider or local model server. It includes memory, MCP, scheduled automations, multi-agent delegation, a Python SDK, and an OpenAI-compatible API.
- 49.7kGitHub stars
- +434new stars, week of Oct 25
- 20.9kdownloads a week, +6% vs 4-week avg
- #62in Coding agents this week
nanobot at a glance
- Category
- Coding agents
- Maintained by
- ✨Data Intelligence Lab@HKU✨ (organization, @HKUDS on GitHub)
- License
- MIT
- Language
- Python, TypeScript, CSS
- Repository
- github.com/HKUDS/nanobot
- Website
- nanobot.wiki
- PyPI package
- nanobot-ai 0.3.5
- Latest release
- v0.3.5 on GitHub, Sep 15, 2026
- First published
- Feb 1, 2026
What nanobot does
- nanobot runs in a browser WebUI or a native terminal client, and both share saved conversations and the local gateway.
- nanobot connects to chat channels including Telegram, Discord, Slack, WeChat, Email, Mattermost, and Linear.
- nanobot reads PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with built-in file tools, for tasks such as summarizing reports.
- nanobot uses shell, web search and fetch, MCP integrations, cron, image generation, and multi-agent delegation.
- nanobot keeps session history and long-term memory through its Dream feature.
- nanobot runs long-horizon goals and scheduled automations, such as a morning brief or weekly review.
- nanobot exposes a Python SDK and an OpenAI-compatible API for integrations.
How it works
nanobot runs a local gateway that the WebUI and terminal client both use. You run `nanobot webui` for the browser or `nanobot` for the terminal. You connect a supported model provider or local model server to supply the AI. The agent can run as a long-running local or server-side gateway, and reaches chat apps, MCP servers, and tools from there.
How to install and start using nanobot
Installer on macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HKUDS/nanobot/main/scripts/install.sh | shWith uv
uv tool install nanobot-aiWith pip
python -m pip install nanobot-aiRequirements
- Python 3.11 or newer.
- Access to a supported model provider or local model server; nanobot does not supply a model account.
- Git and Bun for a current-source development install.
- Native TUI wheels cover macOS 13+, glibc 2.17+ Linux (ARM64, x64), and Windows x64; x64 requires SSE4.2.
First steps
- Run `nanobot webui` to open the browser UI, or `nanobot onboard --wizard` for terminal-only setup.
- Open Settings → Models and save a provider/model preset with your credential or supported sign-in.
- Start a new topic and send `Hello!` to verify the model connection.
- Try a file task by selecting a practice folder with Restricted access and asking nanobot to summarize a file.
Who nanobot is for
- Developers who want a self-hosted personal AI agent they can inspect, customize, and extend.
- Teams running an agent inside chat apps like Telegram, Discord, Slack, or Mattermost.
- Users who want to run local LLMs or OpenAI-compatible model APIs with fallbacks.
- Developers embedding an agent through a Python SDK or OpenAI-compatible HTTP API.
Limitations to know
- nanobot does not supply a model; model fees or local hardware requirements depend on the service you choose.
- On platforms without native TUI wheels, you must use `nanobot --classic` or the WebUI.
- The README describes current source; the released version is covered by separate published documentation.
- The WebUI launcher terminal must stay open while using the browser.
Is nanobot growing? Usage data
In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, nanobot ranked #175 on the Devtoolwatch Board and #62 in Coding agents, with a momentum score of 47 out of 100. Its main package had 20.9k downloads that week, +6% against its own 4-week average.
Show the weekly numbers
| Week of | New stars |
|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2026 | 314 |
| Aug 16, 2026 | 284 |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 290 |
| Aug 30, 2026 | 229 |
| Sep 6, 2026 | 350 |
| Sep 13, 2026 | 346 |
| Sep 20, 2026 | 262 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 209 |
| Oct 4, 2026 | 218 |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 249 |
| Oct 18, 2026 | 254 |
| Oct 25, 2026 | 434 |
On Hacker News
- Nanobot: Ultra-Lightweight Alternative to OpenClaw, 257 points and 128 comments (Feb 5, 2026)
The Board ranks tools by four signals each week: new stars, new stars for the repo's size, added downloads and download growth beyond the market. How the ranking works.
nanobot alternatives
Other AI coding agents on the Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum:
| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CindyCindy is an open-source AI agent app for desktop and mobile that combines Claude Code, Codex and Pi across your connected devices. | 8.8k | – |
| #2 | OpenMausBotOpenMausBot is an open-source desktop chat app where each contact is a local Claude, Codex, or Grok CLI agent with its own computer. | 9.6k | – |
| #3 | OrcaOrca is a desktop agent development environment for running Claude Code, Codex, and other CLI coding agents in parallel, each in its own… | 111.7k | – |
| #4 | OpenBotOpenBot is an open-source, self-hosted template for AI coworkers that each get their own browser, files and granted tools, with every… | 9.1k | – |
| #5 | Agent ReachAgent Reach is a Python CLI that lets AI agents search and read platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, GitHub, Bilibili and… | 107.2k | – |
| #6 | Skill RecorderSkill Recorder is a desktop app that records your on-screen work session and turns it into a reusable agent Skill or Automation. | 5.6k | – |
Recent nanobot releases
nanobot FAQ
Is nanobot free and open source?
Yes. nanobot's source code is on GitHub (HKUDS/nanobot) under the MIT license, so you can use it for free.
How do I install nanobot?
Run curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HKUDS/nanobot/main/scripts/install.sh | sh. The nanobot-ai package needs Python 3.11 or newer. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.
Is nanobot still maintained?
Yes. The HKUDS/nanobot repository was last updated on Oct 21, 2026, and the latest release, v0.3.5 on GitHub, came out on Sep 15, 2026.
How popular is nanobot?
nanobot has 49.7k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 434 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 287 a week. Its main package had 20.9k downloads that week, +6% against its own 4-week average. That made it #62 among AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board.
nanobot vs Hermes Agent: how do they compare?
nanobot and Hermes Agent are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI coding agents. nanobot has 49.7k GitHub stars and Hermes Agent has 259.2k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, nanobot's main package had 20.9k downloads and Hermes Agent's had 35.7k. Hermes Agent is an open-source, self-hosted AI agent by Nous Research with persistent memory, self-created skills, and a messaging gateway. Hermes Agent review.
What are the best alternatives to nanobot?
Other AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: Cindy (#1), OpenMausBot (#2), Orca (#3), OpenBot (#4), Agent Reach (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.
How do I use nanobot with a local model?
nanobot connects to a supported model provider or local model server to supply the AI. Configure it in Settings → Models in the WebUI, or with nanobot onboard --wizard in the terminal. The README lists local LLMs among supported options.
Is nanobot an alternative to OpenClaw?
nanobot was presented on Hacker News as an ultra-lightweight alternative to OpenClaw. Its repository lists openclaw among its topics.
How does nanobot limit file access?
nanobot lets you select a project folder and an access level such as Restricted for file tasks. Attaching a file sends it to the conversation but does not change the selected project folder.
Can nanobot run on a remote server?
nanobot can run on a server with nanobot webui --no-open. You then forward port 8765 over SSH and open the printed login link locally. The docs recommend keeping the server listener on localhost.
What is nanobot?
nanobot is an open-source, self-hosted personal AI agent framework written in Python. It works with files, remembers preferences, and schedules tasks from a browser, terminal, or chat app.
Sources
nanobot README badge
Maintainers can show the tool's weekly Board rank in their README:
[](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/hkuds-nanobot/)How this page is made: Devtoolwatch writes each review from the project's README, releases, package metadata and website, with an AI model, then checks every claim against the source it cites and drops what the sources don't support. The numbers come from Devtoolwatch's daily GitHub snapshots, GitHub's stargazer history, and the npm and PyPI download APIs. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].