Hi there, Alexis here!

I love making 👏🏻 things 👏🏻 that 👏🏻 do 👏🏻 things 👏🏻.

This project is a ‘batteries-included’ macOS UI for LangChain. It ships with a self-contained, embedded, Apple-notarisable Python 3.11 and LangChain libraries. It also includes documentation on how to update langchain dependencies over time.

Why? Access to LangChain should be easy for those who want to change the world.

I saw my girlfriend fully embrace GPT-4 via an app I built for her. Even though it’s “just a UI to GPT-4”, it comes batteries-included. This allowed her to fully focus only on her projects and not the technology.

The hard, and tedious, part - like installing brew, getting the right Python version, creating the right venv, updating langchain, choosing and learning an IDE - should not a barrier to entry for her.

UI Evolution

Here you can see the small user-facing increments.

The first (working) UI!

Got LangChain wired up!

Development Notes

To build with XCode, please create APIConfig.xcconfig under $ROOT/EmbeddedPythonSpike/Backend with this content

$ cd $PROJECT_ROOT
$ touch ./EmbeddedPythonSpike/Backend/APIConfig.xcconfig
$ echo "OPENAI_API_KEY = your-api-key" > ./EmbeddedPythonSpike/Backend/APIConfig.xcconfig

How to update LangChain and its dependencies

See the documentation for details (Not shown in XCode, use Terminal)

Distributing the App

This project is based on my template for embedding Python in a signed macOS app, which itself stands on the shoulders of these giants: Eldar Eliav, Eddie Espinal, and this person

So far, I’ve successfully uploaded and got the bundle signed with my Developer ID.

Template for embedding Python in a signed macOS app

• Started here https://medium.com/swift2go/embedding-python-interpreter-inside-a-macos-app-and-publish-to-app-store-successfully-309be9fb96a5
• Didn’t understand the run script part
• Found this comment: https://medium.com/@eddieespinal/great-tutorial-eldar-thank-you-for-sharing-it-a8206d657e3a that recommended this signing code:

set -e

echo "Signing contents of $CODESIGNING_FOLDER_PATH/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib/lib-dynload as $EXPANDED_CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY_NAME ($EXPANDED_CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY)"

cd "$CODESIGNING_FOLDER_PATH/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib/lib-dynload"

/usr/bin/codesign --force --sign "$EXPANDED_CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY" --options runtime --timestamp=none --preserve-metadata=identifier,entitlements,flags --generate-entitlement-der *.so

• Then found this post https://butternut-ray-869.notion.site/Embedding-Python-in-a-Swift-App-Using-Xcode-Apple-Silicon-and-Intel-59f5a3c832914a96990dfcc0e610c720 which ultimately (except the signing script part) worked

Successful Test Output

Python Version: 3.11
Python Encoding: UTF-8
Python Path: ['/Users/$HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EmbeddedPythonSpike-ehqmlmwnoppyokdrvctjjjowcsrq/Build/Products/Debug/EmbeddedPythonSpike.app/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib', '/Users/$HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EmbeddedPythonSpike-ehqmlmwnoppyokdrvctjjjowcsrq/Build/Products/Debug/EmbeddedPythonSpike.app/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib/lib-dynload', '/Users/$HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EmbeddedPythonSpike-ehqmlmwnoppyokdrvctjjjowcsrq/Build/Products/Debug/EmbeddedPythonSpike.app/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib/lib/python311.zip', '/Users/$HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EmbeddedPythonSpike-ehqmlmwnoppyokdrvctjjjowcsrq/Build/Products/Debug/EmbeddedPythonSpike.app/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib/lib/python3.11', '/Users/$HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EmbeddedPythonSpike-ehqmlmwnoppyokdrvctjjjowcsrq/Build/Products/Debug/EmbeddedPythonSpike.app/Contents/Resources/python-stdlib/lib/python3.11/lib-dynload']

Archiving and Notarization

• Product > Archive > Distribute App > ‘Distribute as developer’
• Signing files (takes about a minute)
• Upload to Apple
• Waiting…
• Ready to distribute!

Cool Alternatives

• @kepano’s Obsidian Serenity for Obsidian
• Alicia Guo’s Demo on Twitter
• iA Writer
• FlowState
• Typora

Streamline Demo and Download

Watch the demo and get Streamline for macOS here:

Background

👋🏻 HELLO and welcome!!

Alexis here, great to have you.

I take copious notes with Obsidian and journal daily.

If you do, too, maybe the following sounds familiar :)

A FUCKING CONUNDRUM

I LOVE journaling with pen and paper in the morning.

Journaling gives me a safe space where I let my heart speak.

This makes me feel safe.

I also LOVE note-taking with Obsidian.

It gives me an exciting space where I let my mind wander.

That makes me feel like a million bucks.

But…

Here’s the RUB.

Problem #1: Peace without a future

When I journal with pen and paper, I can’t link to Obsidian.

There is no easy way to link to a note in Obsidian without losing the peace and quiet that I cherish.

So, none of my heart-felt writings will be ever leverage the 6,018 notes in Obsidian because they’re stuck on paper???

Fuck.

Problem #2: Writing as exciting as pink noise

And when I try to journal in Obsidian, it’s extremely hard to focus.

Either…

My mind wanders off to far by following one of the 6,018 rabbit-holes I’ve stored in my vault.

OR my inner editor criticises my spelling as I type, ensuring no creativity is left.

So, my notes in Obsidian will perpetually lack real depth and a heart-felt spontaneity that makes them sparkle???

FUCK!

Streamline is a stream-of-consciousness writer for Obsidian users

So I built Streamline.

It’s a writer that helps me:

…Enter that quiet journaling space.

…AND Link to my notes easily without getting pulled away.

…AND Let go of my inner editor by removing most normal editor features.

A completely new journaling flow

Instead of journaling by hand, I now do a quick, relaxed Streamline session.

Usually right after I log in to my laptop.

The built-in unobtrusive search lets me insert links to Obsidian quickly.

Then I save it as a markdown note to my vault.

It’s really simple.

It works.

And it feels right.

—

So… If you struggle with what I’m talking about.

Know that you’re NOT crazy and you’re NOT alone.

Instead: Give your heart a chance to speak AND your mind a place to wander!

Also, Streamline is free and open-source.

Click on the link below to download it now!

🎁 Download Streamline for macOS 12+

What you’ll get

Learn to listen to your heart

If you’ve never done stream-of-consciousness writing before, it can seem daunting and confusing.

All you need to do is write one word that’s on your mind right now.

There is no hurry. You can type as slow or fast as you like.

With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to hear that quiet inner voice.

You’ll see.

Your heart has some really important things to say.

Learn to love your mistakes

Streamline is a writer, not an editor.

It only moves forward.

When you make a tYpO, there is no DELETE key.

You can’t change the mistake.

What you can do is continue moving forward regardless.

With a little practice, you’ll start focusing on your flow.

(No worries, you can save your writing to markdown and give it the old editor treatment later.)

Learn to link a lot

As you’re writing you can link to a note in Obsidian easily:

• Enter linking mode by typing [[
• Exit the linking mode with ESC
• Choose a link with your UP and DOWN arrow keys
• Insert the link into your stream with RETURN

It takes less than a minute to learn

Once you use it the results are remarkable:

I pepper more links into my journal notes than I do with Obsidian proper.

What you’ll miss

Again, Streamline is a writer, not an editor.

It intentionally only moves forward.

• There is no backspace to delete a mistake
• There are no paragraphs to get off-track
• There is no markdown syntax highlighting to distract
• There is no copy-and-paste or any other shortcuts

Streamline is free and open-source!

🎁 Download Streamline for macOS 12+