OpenHistory

What is OpenHistory?

OpenHistory is a free, open source macOS app that turns your computer activity into a private work timeline. It notes the apps, windows, and documents you use, then writes hourly and daily summaries. Local AI agents can search that history through an MCP server, while your data stays on your Mac by default.

Top Features:

• Automatic timeline: groups foreground apps, windows, and documents into clear work sessions.
• Recaps: summarizes finished work, decisions, and open tasks without any manual logging.
• Agent access: lets Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Desktop, and other MCP agents query a redacted history.

Use Cases:

• Standups: recall what you finished yesterday before a team meeting starts.
• Resuming work: find where you left a release task after a busy week.
• Reports: rebuild client hours or weekly updates from an accurate activity record.

Who Can Use OpenHistory?

• Developers: track work spread across editors, terminals, browsers, and issue trackers.
• Freelancers: keep a private log of client work for invoices and updates.
• Knowledge workers: give their AI assistant memory of past work without cloud uploads.

Pricing

• Mac app (free): full timeline, summaries, search, and agent access under the MIT license.
• On-device AI (free): summarize locally on Apple Intelligence Macs running macOS 26 or later.
• Cloud AI (own API key): connect OpenAI, Anthropic, or Kimi and pay that provider directly.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Private by default: data, summaries, and settings stay in a restricted folder on your Mac.
• No screenshots: it never captures your screen, audio, camera, keystrokes, or passwords.
• Controls: pause collection in one click, exclude apps, or wipe all local data.

Cons:

• Mac only: needs macOS 14 or later, with no Windows or Linux version.
• Early stage: the project is under active development and still changing quickly.
• Sensitive capture: email and chat activity are included by default during first setup.

FAQs:

1) Does it take screenshots?

No, it reads permitted app and window context, never screenshots, audio, or keystrokes.

2) Do I need an API key?

No, you can use Apple on-device summaries or turn automatic summaries off entirely.

3) Which agents can search it?

Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Desktop, and any agent that supports local MCP servers.

4) Is it really free?

Yes, it is MIT licensed open source software with no paid plans.

5) Can I delete my data?

Yes, one setting permanently removes all activity, summaries, saved keys, and agent connections.