penecho

Why we included this project

If you have ever tried to reason about a diagram or a math problem inside a plain text chat window, PenEcho offers a different path. It runs as a local web app or desktop app with an infinite canvas where you can handwrite notes, sketch diagrams, and write equations, and then have an AI model work with that visual context instead of just your typed words. The project connects to several model backends, including Claude Code CLI, Codex CLI, and OpenAI or Anthropic compatible APIs, so you can use your existing credentials and preferred model rather than being locked into one provider. Because it is self-hosted and keeps API keys in a local config file, it gives individuals and small teams control over where their prompts and canvas content go. That makes it a natural fit for students and tutors, as well as anyone who works with visual or spatial ideas, where the canvas turns the AI into a collaborator on the actual artifact rather than a text-only assistant.