This repository is a documentation-enhanced clone of NateBJones-Projects/OB1. All original code, schemas, and guides are preserved. This fork adds comprehensive documentation for developers and users new to the Open Brain ecosystem — including an architecture deep dive with ASCII diagrams, a complete API reference, a developer guide written for C/Java developers new to web development, a zero-to-hero study plan, a quick start tutorial, and a detailed technical explainer of how every piece of the system works. For the original upstream repository and community, visit github.com/NateBJones-Projects/OB1.
The infrastructure layer for your thinking. One database, one AI gateway, one chat channel. Any AI you use can plug in. No middleware, no SaaS chains, no Zapier.
This isn't a notes app. It's a database with vector search and an open protocol — built so that every AI tool you use shares the same persistent memory of you. Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code, whatever ships next month. One brain. All of them.
Open Brain was created by Nate B. Jones. Follow the Substack for updates, discussion, and the companion prompt pack. Join the Discord for real-time help and community.
ob1-philosophy.mp4
ob1-getting-started.mp4
Never built an Open Brain? Start here:
- Quick Start Guide — Already set up? Get your first 10 wins in 5 minutes.
- Setup Guide — Build the full system (database, AI gateway, Slack capture, MCP server) in about 45 minutes. No coding experience needed.
- AI-Assisted Setup — Prefer building with Cursor, Claude Code, or another AI coding tool? Point it at this repo and go. Same system, different workflow.
- CLI-Direct Approach — Use Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini CLI? Skip MCP entirely and use the lightweight
obCLI tool for direct access with justcurlandjq. - Companion Prompts — Five prompts that help you migrate your memories, discover use cases, and build the capture habit.
- Then pick Extension 1 and start building.
If you hit a wall: We built a FAQ that covers the most common questions and gotchas. And if you need real-time help, we created dedicated AI assistants that know this system inside and out: a Claude Skill, a ChatGPT Custom GPT, and a Gemini GEM. Use whichever one matches the AI tool you already use.
| Document | Audience | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Start Guide | Users | 10-step guided tutorial — first captures, searches, and quick wins |
| User Guide | Users | Complete guide with 10 use cases, tips, and troubleshooting |
| Architecture | Developers | System design, ASCII diagrams, data flows, security boundaries |
| Developer Guide | Developers | Build extensions, recipes, and integrations — with C/Java comparisons |
| API Reference | Developers | All 35+ MCP tools, database schemas, authentication, environment variables |
| Study Plan | Learners | Zero-to-hero learning path in 13 phases — theory and hands-on combined |
| Setup Guide | Everyone | Full system build from scratch in 45 minutes |
| Companion Prompts | Users | Memory migration, use case discovery, weekly review ritual |
| FAQ | Everyone | Common issues, architecture questions, community tips |
| AI-Assisted Setup | Everyone | Build with Cursor, Claude Code, or other AI coding tools |
| CLI-Direct Approach | Developers | Use Open Brain from terminal AI tools without MCP — includes the ob CLI |
ob1-extensions.mp4
Build these in order. Each one teaches new concepts through something you'll actually use. By the end, your agent manages your household, your schedule, your meals, your professional network, and your career — all interconnected.
| # | Extension | What You Build | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Household Knowledge Base | Home facts your agent can recall instantly | Beginner |
| 2 | Home Maintenance Tracker | Scheduling and history for home upkeep | Beginner |
| 3 | Family Calendar | Multi-person schedule coordination | Intermediate |
| 4 | Meal Planning | Recipes, meal plans, shared grocery lists | Intermediate |
| 5 | Professional CRM | Contact tracking wired into your thoughts | Intermediate |
| 6 | Job Hunt Pipeline | Application tracking and interview pipeline | Advanced |
Extensions compound. Your CRM knows about thoughts you've captured. Your meal planner checks who's home this week. Your job hunt contacts automatically become professional network contacts. This is what happens when your agent can see across your whole system.
ob1-primitives.mp4
Some concepts show up in multiple extensions. Learn them once, apply them everywhere.
| Primitive | What It Teaches | Used By |
|---|---|---|
| Row Level Security | PostgreSQL policies for multi-user data isolation | Extensions 4, 5, 6 |
| Shared MCP Server | Giving others scoped access to parts of your brain | Extension 4 |
ob1-community.mp4
Beyond the curated learning path, the community builds and shares:
/recipes — Step-by-step builds
Each recipe teaches you how to add a new capability to your Open Brain. Follow the instructions, run the code, get a new feature.
- Email history import (pull your Gmail archive into searchable thoughts)
- ChatGPT conversation import (ingest your ChatGPT data export)
- Daily digest generator (automated summary of recent thoughts via email or Slack)
/schemas — Database extensions
New tables, metadata schemas, and column extensions for your Supabase database. Drop them in alongside your existing thoughts table.
- CRM contact layer (track people, interactions, and relationship context)
- Taste preferences tracker
- Reading list with rating metadata
/dashboards — Frontend templates
Host these on Vercel or Netlify, pointed at your Supabase backend. Instant UI for your brain.
- Personal knowledge dashboard
- Weekly review view
- Mobile-friendly capture UI
/integrations — New connections
MCP server extensions, webhook receivers, and capture sources beyond Slack.
- Discord capture bot
- Email forwarding handler
- Browser extension connector
- Browse the category folders above
- Find what you want and open its folder
- Read the README — it has prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting
- Most contributions involve running SQL against your Supabase database, deploying an edge function, or hosting frontend code. The README will tell you exactly what to do.
Read CONTRIBUTING.md for the full details. The short version:
- Extensions are curated — discuss with maintainers before submitting
- Primitives should be referenced by 2+ extensions to justify extraction
- Recipes, schemas, dashboards, integrations are open for community contributions
- Every PR runs through an automated review agent that checks 11 rules (file structure, no secrets, SQL safety, primitive dependencies, etc.)
- If the agent passes, a human admin reviews for quality and clarity
- Your contribution needs a README with real instructions and a
metadata.jsonwith structured info
- Discord — Real-time help, show-and-tell, contributor discussion
- Substack — Updates, deep dives, and the story behind Open Brain
Built by Nate B. Jones's team. Matt Hallett is the first community admin and repo manager. PRs are reviewed by the automated agent + human admins.