Brainstorm

Brainstorm is a desktop operating system built specifically for knowledge management. It bundles a suite of productivity applications including notes, a database, calendar, tasks, contacts, a knowledge graph, whiteboard, bookmarks, journal, and an AI agent into a single environment where all apps share the same underlying data. The core philosophy is local-first ownership: every document is a plain file in a folder you control, not locked away in a proprietary cloud format.

The architecture treats data as a unified vault that multiple applications can read and write simultaneously. Your notes app can reference entries in your database, which links to events in your calendar, and all of it stays connected because they share the same object space. This differs from the typical approach where each productivity tool creates its own silo. The tradeoff is learning a new environment, but the payoff is genuinely integrated information management.

AI features are built in but governed through a broker system that gives you real control. Rather than every app having unfettered access to AI capabilities, you set per-app budgets and permissions. The broker logs all AI requests so you can see exactly what's being processed and enforce limits on spending. This matters for anyone concerned about costs spiraling or wanting visibility into how AI integrates with their data.

Sync across devices uses end-to-end encryption with CRDTs for conflict resolution. Keys stay on your devices, so even when data travels through a hosted relay, the service provider cannot read your files. You can also sync peer-to-peer without any server involvement. The encryption design addresses concerns about putting personal knowledge bases in the cloud while still enabling multi-device access.

Applications run in sandboxes with capability-based permissions, which isolates both built-in and third-party apps. You grant specific access rather than giving any app full access to everything. This security model suits a platform that encourages installing additional apps from the ecosystem while protecting your data vault.

The platform runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with mobile companion apps planned for iOS and Android. It requires no account to use locally, which means you can run it entirely offline without signup. For people who have grown tired of applications that require login just to open a document, this is a deliberate design choice.

Pricing follows a freemium model. The free tier includes all bundled apps, unlimited local storage, peer-to-peer sync, and local AI support permanently. Paid plans add hosted relay syncing, more device slots, cloud attachment storage, and AI credits. Plus starts at $4.99 per month, Pro at $14.99, Team at $19 per seat, and Enterprise at $39 per seat with SSO, SCIM, and custom agreements. The product is currently in public beta with the AGPL-3.0 source code available on GitHub.