vikingowl
080deb756b
Tool descriptions now explicitly state when models should use them: - Memory Store: 'Use when user asks to remember, recall, list memories' - Task Manager: 'Use when user mentions tasks, todos, things to do' - Structured Thinking: 'Use for complex questions requiring analysis' - Decision Matrix: 'Use when comparing options or recommendations' - Project Planner: 'Use for planning, roadmaps, breaking work into phases' This helps smaller models understand WHEN to call these tools instead of just responding with text claiming they don't have memory/capabilities.
Vessel
A modern, feature-rich web interface for Ollama
Features • Quick Start • Documentation • Contributing
Why Vessel
Vessel is intentionally focused on:
- A clean, local-first UI for Ollama
- Minimal configuration
- Low visual and cognitive overhead
- Doing a small set of things well
If you want a universal, highly configurable platform → open-webui is a great choice. If you want a small, focused UI for local Ollama usage → Vessel is built for that.
Features
Chat
- Real-time streaming responses
- Message editing with branch navigation
- Markdown rendering with syntax highlighting
- Dark/Light themes
Tools
- 5 built-in tools: web search, URL fetching, calculator, location, time
- Custom tools: Create your own in JavaScript, Python, or HTTP
- Test tools before saving with the built-in testing panel
Models
- Browse and pull models from ollama.com
- Create custom models with embedded system prompts
- Track model updates
Prompts
- Save and organize system prompts
- Assign default prompts to specific models
- Capability-based auto-selection (vision, code, tools, thinking)
📖 Full documentation on the Wiki →
Screenshots
Clean chat interface |
Syntax-highlighted code |
Integrated web search |
Model browser |
Quick Start
Prerequisites
Configure Ollama
Ollama must listen on all interfaces for Docker to connect:
# Option A: systemd (Linux)
sudo systemctl edit ollama
# Add: Environment="OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0"
sudo systemctl restart ollama
# Option B: Manual
OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0 ollama serve
Install
# One-line install
curl -fsSL https://somegit.dev/vikingowl/vessel/raw/main/install.sh | bash
# Or clone and run
git clone https://github.com/VikingOwl91/vessel.git
cd vessel
./install.sh
Open http://localhost:7842 in your browser.
Update / Uninstall
./install.sh --update # Update to latest
./install.sh --uninstall # Remove
📖 Detailed installation guide →
Documentation
Full documentation is available on the GitHub Wiki:
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
| Getting Started | Installation and configuration |
| Custom Tools | Create JavaScript, Python, or HTTP tools |
| System Prompts | Manage prompts with model defaults |
| Custom Models | Create models with embedded prompts |
| Built-in Tools | Reference for web search, calculator, etc. |
| API Reference | Backend endpoints |
| Development | Contributing and architecture |
| Troubleshooting | Common issues and solutions |
Roadmap
Vessel prioritizes usability and simplicity over feature breadth.
Completed:
- Model browser with filtering and update detection
- Custom tools (JavaScript, Python, HTTP)
- System prompt library with model-specific defaults
- Custom model creation with embedded prompts
Planned:
- Keyboard-first workflows
- UX polish and stability improvements
- Optional voice input/output
Non-Goals:
- Multi-user systems
- Cloud sync
- Plugin ecosystems
- Support for every LLM runtime
Do one thing well. Keep the UI out of the way.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome!
- Fork the repository
- Create your feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature) - Commit your changes
- Push and open a Pull Request
Issues: github.com/VikingOwl91/vessel/issues
License
GPL-3.0 — See LICENSE for details.