Goose
Open source local AI agent with desktop, CLI, API, MCP extensions, and support for cloud or local model provider workflows
Quick Start
curl -fsSL https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose/releases/download/stable/download_cli.sh | bash Overview
Goose is an open source AI agent that runs on your own machine through a desktop app, CLI, or API. Goose can edit code, run terminal tasks, work with local files, connect to MCP extensions, and use models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Ollama, OpenRouter, Azure, Bedrock, and other providers.
The self hosted angle is strong, but it is not a normal server dashboard. You run the agent locally, then choose where inference happens. That can be a paid API, a ChatGPT or Claude subscription through supported auth flows, Ollama, LM Studio, Docker Model Runner, or Goose’s built in local inference path. For privacy sensitive work, the local model route matters because prompts and project files can stay on your machine.
Goose is now part of the Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation, which gives it more institutional weight than most open agent projects. The tradeoff is risk. This is an agent with local system access, so you should run it with human approvals, limited permissions, or a container when working around private data or production systems. For technical founders and small teams, Goose is a credible way to test vendor neutral agent workflows without committing to one model provider.
Goose: Pros & Cons
| Pros (The Wins) | Cons (The Friction) |
|---|---|
| Cost & Value: Free open source app Bring your own model. | Cost & Value: Cloud models still cost Local models need hardware. |
| Model Choice: Works with many providers and local model runners. | Setup: Provider config and keys take some care. |
| Workflow: Desktop app, CLI, API, and MCP extensions. | Safety: Agent actions need human approval boundaries. |
| Project Health: Apache 2.0 project under AAIF governance. | Maturity: Fast moving agent stack with rough edges. |
Use Cases
Specific ways to use Goose for your workflow.
Deployment Strategy
Recommended ways to host Goose in your own environment.