Coworker: Free Local-First Desktop App for Running AI Agents

Melvin Vivas · X post · 2026-08-29 · Open on X

Topics: AI Agents, Tool Use & MCP, AI Dev Tools & Productivity · Level: beginner

Summary

Melvin Vivas introduces Coworker, his free desktop app that runs AI agents on your own computer. It works with local models, free OpenRouter models and OpenAI. The agents can create files, research the web and run scheduled tasks with approvals, and you can reach them through Telegram. He lists the real tasks he has tried so far.

Key points

• Coworker runs AI agents locally on your desktop (local-first).
• Model options: local models, free models on OpenRouter, and OpenAI.
• Agents do real tasks: create files, research the web, set up scheduled tasks.
• Supports scheduling and human approvals before actions run.
• Telegram integration lets you chat with your agent when you're away from your computer.
• Use cases he tried: create an invoice, research LinkedIn profiles for lead generation, schedule stock price updates, log a receipt from an image into a CSV.

Resources mentioned

• Coworker (donvito/coworker) · repo · github.com · free
  The creator's local-first desktop app where you pick an AI coworker and have it produce work such as invoices as finished PDFs.
  Also in: Claude Opus 5.5 for Video Making: Creator's Showcase Thread (Coworker) (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Coworker: free open-source desktop AI coworker app (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Coworker: Open-Source Desktop App for AI Agents (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Using Devin AI to Test the Coworker Desktop App on Windows (Melvin Vivas on X · notes) and 38 more
• OpenRouter · tool · openrouter.ai · free
  A single OpenAI-compatible API that routes requests to hundreds of models from many providers, with one bill and model fallbacks.
  Also in: Customizing Your Coding Setup with Pi Coding Agent Extensions (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), The Jev model is now on OpenRouter (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Kev-4B model, an alternative to Jev, now available on OpenRouter (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Space Bunny Alpha: stealth 1M-context flash model on OpenRouter (Melvin Vivas on X · notes) and 42 more
• OpenAI · tool · x.com · free
  An AI model provider whose models can be used through managed connectors.
  Also in: Creator's favorite OpenAI DevDay announcements (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), OpenAI Agents API with Bring Your Own Sandbox as a backend for a 'software factory' (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Building Software Factories on the OpenAI Agents API (Codex-Powered) (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), OpenAI Models Leaving Cursor After November 12 (Melvin Vivas on X · notes) and 11 more
• Telegram · tool · telegram.org · free
  Messaging app that can be connected to MaxClaw so you chat with the agent there.
  Also in: Coworker: An Open-Source Desktop Agent App for Local and Cloud Models (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Coworker v0.3.1: Telegram Streaming Sync, Built Fast with Codex (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Coworker v0.3.1: Streaming Sync Between Telegram and Coworker (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Coworker v0.3.0: Telegram Messaging, File Return and PowerPoint Export (Melvin Vivas on X · notes) and 3 more

Try this

• Download Coworker for free from donvitocodes.com/coworker.
• Agent that creates invoices
• Agent that researches LinkedIn profiles for lead generation
• Scheduled agent that sends stock price updates
• Agent that reads a receipt image and logs it to a CSV