Ask Mai is a free MCP server tool developed by Rainu, built with Go and the Wails framework. Categorized as a Desktop Chat Application for Large Language Models (LLMs) and an MCP server, it enables interaction with various Gen-AI LLM providers. Distributed as binary downloads, via AUR for Arch Linux, or self-built as a Flatpak, Ask Mai targets developers, power users, and system administrators seeking scriptable UI-chat functionality. It offers a unique blend of conversational AI and system interaction capabilities.

What does Ask Mai connect to?

Ask Mai functions as a desktop chat application for Large Language Models (LLMs) and an MCP server, connecting to a diverse set of LLM providers. Users can interact with OpenAI, LocalAI, Ollama, Anthropic, Mistral, DeepSeek, and Google Gemini. This broad compatibility allows for flexible integration with various AI backends, catering to different preferences and requirements for LLM-powered conversations and tool utilization within its framework.

Core features and tools

Ask Mai exposes a set of callable tools for system interaction and data handling. These include getSystemInformation, getEnvironment, getSystemTime, getStats, changeMode, changeOwner, changeTimes, createFile, createTempFile, appendFile, readTextFile, deleteFile, createDirectory, createTempDirectory, deleteDirectory, executeCommand, and callHttp. These tools empower other MCP-compliant applications to automate tasks and retrieve system information through the Ask Mai server interface.

Who is it for?

Ask Mai is designed for developers, power users, and system administrators who require a scriptable UI-chat application to interact with Gen-AI LLMs. Its capabilities extend to integrating LLM interactions into scripts and exposing system tools via an MCP server. This tool suits those who need both conversational AI and programmatic control over their environment through a unified interface. This is not the right fit if you do not require programmatic access to system tools via an LLM interface.

How to get started

No credentials are required for clients connecting to the MCP server. The server communicates via streamable HTTP using the "--http-address" flag.

Use cases

• Engaging in chat conversations with various LLMs through a dedicated desktop application.
• Integrating LLM interactions into custom scripts by calling the application from the terminal with arguments and processing the output.
• Exposing its built-in or custom tools via an MCP server for utilization by other MCP-compliant applications.

Ask Mai serves as a versatile MCP server, bridging conversational AI with system control for technical users. Its support for multiple LLM providers and extensive callable tools makes it a valuable asset for automation and interactive system management. The ability to integrate with scripts further enhances its utility for custom workflows. Start by exploring its streamable HTTP capabilities for MCP server communication.