Sentient OS: your Mac's knowledge for Claude and ChatGPT over MCP
Sentient OS
A macOS app that gathers your knowledge into a Markdown folder and optionally opens it to AI clients through an encrypted MCP mirror with two tools
- 704 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- AGPL-3.0
Broad access
Why this level
- The mirror sends an encrypted copy of your personal knowledge to an external relay, and it can hold mail, plans, people and files you added
- The password is embedded in the link address: whoever gets the link can read, overwrite and delete the mirror
- What an AI client has read stays in its provider's records and deleting the mirror cannot erase that
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add mcp/sentient-osDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- The mirror sends an encrypted copy of your personal knowledge to an external relay, and it can hold mail, plans, people and files you added
- The password is embedded in the link address: whoever gets the link can read, overwrite and delete the mirror
- What an AI client has read stays in its provider's records and deleting the mirror cannot erase that
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Sentient OS is an open-source personal AI for the Mac: at night it reads the local sources you choose, builds connected notes and puts them into a folder of plain Markdown files, `~/Sentient OS - Knowledge Base/`. For other AIs the app has an optional cloud MCP mirror that is off by default. Once enabled, the Mac encrypts the whole folder with AES-256-GCM and uploads it to the `mcp.sentient-os.ai` relay, which stores only ciphertext and decrypts it in memory for each authorized request. Access goes through a private link of the form `https://mcp.sentient-os.ai/u_<id>/p_<password>/mcp`, with the password embedded in the address. You paste the link into ChatGPT or Claude settings, phone apps included. The server exposes two tools: `get_structure` returns the folder tree along with an overview README portrait, and `get_files` reads files from a list of paths, up to 50 per call with a 256 KB response cap. The app sets everything up in its Connect AIs window: it shows the link, a ready prompt for the AI and 24-hour access stats. Sync runs after each cycle, 30 seconds after an editor change and at launch. The server part is published separately in the `sentient-os-mcp` repository.
Who it is for. For owners of Apple silicon Macs who want Claude or ChatGPT, on the phone as well, to start a conversation already knowing their projects, people and plans.
Good fit when
- You want Claude in the phone app to see notes about your projects that your Mac maintains
- You need a knowledge base in plain Markdown files that opens in any editor and can be fixed by hand
- An AI should pick up context on a prompt like "check my Sentient knowledge"
- You want to see how many notes and calls an AI made in the last 24 hours, which the app's counters show
- You want to hand part of the work to the app overnight and review prepared drafts and suggestions in the morning
Not a fit when
- You do not have an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 15.4 or newer: there is no ready Intel build, and you need 8 GB of memory and about 10 GB of free space
- Knowledge must not go to someone else's infrastructure in any form: the mirror uploads an encrypted copy to an external relay and decrypts it in memory for requests
- You would have to guard the link as strictly as a password: whoever holds it can read, overwrite and delete the mirror
- You need an MCP server without the app: the server part is open but built to work with this client
Example request
Check my Sentient knowledge: call get_structure, read the notes on the payments refactoring project and recap where I left offMCP
- Transport
- http
- Authentication
- API key
Limitations
The app installs with `brew install --cask sentient-os-labs/tap/sentient-os` or from the releases.
The cloud mirror does not guarantee de-identification: local triage filters common sensitive identifiers, but the knowledge stays personal. The mirror also includes the `writingstyle.md` file and every file you added to the folder. Storage is encrypted, but the author states it plainly: while the service answers a request it can see plaintext. The link is issued once at first enable and has no regenerate button, since replacing it would break every connection. If you turn the mirror off, the app asks for the copy to be deleted, but without a network deletion is not guaranteed, and the backstop lifetime of the copy is 30 days.
What an AI provider has already read stays in its records.
How to disable. Turn off Give AIs Knowledge in settings: the app stops syncing and requests deletion of the cloud copy. Then remove the link from the ChatGPT or Claude settings. The app comes off with `brew uninstall --cask sentient-os`, and the knowledge folder stays.
FAQ
How do I connect Sentient OS to Claude?
Install the app with `brew install --cask sentient-os-labs/tap/sentient-os`, open the Connect AIs window and turn on the cloud MCP. Copy the private link and the prompt and paste them into Claude settings. For Claude Code, `claude mcp add --transport http sentient-os <link>` fits.
Which tools does the server expose?
Two: `get_structure` returns the folder tree and an overview README, and `get_files` reads files from a list of paths, up to 50 per call and 256 KB in the response. The agent should call the first, then the second.
What does the relay see?
On disk it holds only the encrypted folder file. Decryption happens in memory on a request through your link, and note paths in the log are stored salted and hashed. The server does not log request paths, because the password sits in the address.
Can I do without the cloud?
Yes, the cloud mirror is optional and off by default. Local tools read the Markdown folder directly, and for the app itself you can choose a local model through LM Studio or Ollama.
What if the link leaks?
Whoever has the full link can read, overwrite and delete the mirror, so the link is kept like a password. The app has no button to replace the link, and only support does that.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
The page covers three modes: handing a task to Sidekick, a reply in two taps and overnight preparation of suggestions. Separate sections explain privacy, local model inference, the engine design and building from source.