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Open Notebook Documentation

Welcome to Open Notebook - a privacy-focused AI research assistant. This documentation is organized for different needs.

🎯 Choose Your Path

I'm brand new

→ Start here: 0-START-HERE

  • Learn what Open Notebook is
  • Pick your setup path (OpenAI, cloud, local/Ollama)
  • 5-minute quick start

I need to install/deploy

→ Go here: 1-INSTALLATION

  • Multiple installation routes
  • Docker Compose (recommended)
  • From source (developers)
  • Single container (deprecated, see Docker Compose)

I want to understand how it works

→ Read this: 2-CORE-CONCEPTS

  • Mental models and architecture
  • How RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) works
  • Notebooks, sources, and notes explained
  • Chat vs. transformations vs. podcasts

I want to use it (tutorials)

→ Follow this: 3-USER-GUIDE

  • How to add sources (PDFs, URLs, audio, video)
  • Creating and organizing notes
  • Chat effectively with your research
  • Creating podcasts from research
  • Search techniques

I need to configure it

→ Check this: 5-CONFIGURATION

  • Choose and setup AI provider
  • API configuration
  • Database setup
  • Advanced tuning

I need provider-specific help

→ Go here: 4-AI-PROVIDERS

  • OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, Ollama, Azure
  • Model comparisons
  • Cost estimates
  • Setup paths

Something's not working

→ Troubleshoot: 6-TROUBLESHOOTING

  • Quick fixes (top 10 issues)
  • Installation problems
  • Connection issues
  • AI/chat problems
  • Content processing issues
  • Podcast problems

I want to contribute/develop

→ Read this: 7-DEVELOPMENT

  • Architecture and tech stack
  • Contributing guidelines
  • API reference
  • Testing

📊 Documentation Overview

By Section

0-START-HERE — Entry point

  • What is Open Notebook?
  • Quick start guides (3 routes)
  • First 5 minutes

1-INSTALLATION — Getting it running

  • Multiple installation routes
  • Docker Compose (recommended), from-source
  • Requirements and setup

2-CORE-CONCEPTS — Understanding the system

  • Notebooks, sources, notes hierarchy
  • RAG (retrieval-augmented generation)
  • Chat, transformations, podcasts
  • Context management

3-USER-GUIDE — Using features

  • Adding sources (all types)
  • Working with notes
  • Chat effectively
  • Creating podcasts
  • Searching (text and semantic)

4-AI-PROVIDERS — AI configuration

  • Provider comparison
  • Setup for each provider
  • Model recommendations
  • Cost estimates

5-CONFIGURATION — Complete reference

  • AI provider setup (detailed)
  • Database configuration
  • Server/API settings
  • Advanced tuning
  • Environment variables (complete reference)

6-TROUBLESHOOTING — Problem solving

  • Quick fixes (top 10)
  • Installation issues
  • Connection problems
  • AI/chat issues
  • Content processing
  • Podcast generation
  • Getting help

7-DEVELOPMENT — For contributors

  • Architecture
  • Contributing guidelines
  • API reference
  • Testing & development

🔍 Find What You Need

By Problem Type

Installation & Setup

Using Open Notebook

Troubleshooting

Development

📚 Reading Paths

Path 1: Complete Beginner (1-2 hours)

  1. 0-START-HERE/index.md — Understand what it is
  2. 0-START-HERE Quick Start — Set it up
  3. 2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md — Understand concepts
  4. 3-USER-GUIDE/index.md — Learn features

Result: Fully understand how to use Open Notebook

Path 2: Get Running Fast (15 minutes)

  1. 0-START-HERE — Pick your path
  2. Follow quick-start guide for your setup
  3. Start using!

Result: Running in 15 minutes, learn details later

Path 3: DevOps/Deployment (1-2 hours)

  1. 1-INSTALLATION — Understand routes
  2. 5-CONFIGURATION — Reference setup
  3. 7-DEVELOPMENT - Architecture — Understand system

Result: Ready to deploy to production

Path 4: Troubleshooting (5-30 minutes)

  1. 6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md — Identify problem
  2. Find specific guide
  3. Follow solutions

Result: Problem solved!

❓ Common Questions

Q: Where do I start? A: → 0-START-HERE — Choose your setup path

Q: How do I install it? A: → 1-INSTALLATION — Multiple routes available

Q: How do I use [feature]? A: → 3-USER-GUIDE — Step-by-step tutorials

Q: Why does [feature] work like that? A: → 2-CORE-CONCEPTS — Understand the mental model

Q: How do I configure [provider]? A: → 4-AI-PROVIDERS or 5-CONFIGURATION

Q: Something's broken, what do I do? A: → 6-TROUBLESHOOTING — Problem solver

Q: How does the system work? A: → 2-CORE-CONCEPTS — Architecture and concepts

Q: Can I contribute? A: → 7-DEVELOPMENT — Contributing guide

📖 How This Documentation is Organized

Principles

  • Progressive Disclosure: Start simple, go deeper if needed
  • Multiple Entry Routes: Different paths for different users
  • High Signal-to-Noise: Focused content, no fluff
  • Step-by-Step: Clear instructions you can follow
  • Decision Trees: Help you pick the right path
  • Symptom-Based: Troubleshooting by what's broken

Structure

  • 0-START-HERE — Entry point (everyone starts here)
  • 1-INSTALLATION — Multiple setup routes
  • 2-CORE-CONCEPTS — Mental models (understand why)
  • 3-USER-GUIDE — How to use (step-by-step)
  • 4-AI-PROVIDERS — Provider guides
  • 5-CONFIGURATION — Reference material
  • 6-TROUBLESHOOTING — Problem solving
  • 7-DEVELOPMENT — For contributors

🚀 Quick Navigation

First Time?

→ START HERE

Just Want to Use It?

→ QUICK START (5 minutes)

Something Broken?

→ TROUBLESHOOTING

Full Reference?

→ CONFIGURATION

Developer?

→ DEVELOPMENT

📞 Getting Help

📈 Documentation Stats

  • 8 major sections
  • 35+ focused guides
  • ~80,000 words
  • Covers all features
  • Multiple entry paths
  • Progressive difficulty

🎯 Start Here

First time using Open Notebook? → Go to 0-START-HERE

Experienced, looking for specific help? → Use the navigation above to find your section

Something not working? → Go to TROUBLESHOOTING

Last updated: January 2026 | Open Notebook v1.2.4+