A resilient off-grid application stack that gives every outpost a local digital hub for knowledge, AI, and mesh-integrated services.
LocalNet
LocalNet is the resilient, off-grid server stack for the High Desert Institute outposts. It is designed to be a “set-it-and-forget-it” digital hub that empowers regional communities to run their own local tools while integrating seamlessly with the wider mesh network.
As part of the High Desert Institute’s mission to build a foundation for the survival of humanity, LocalNet provides the critical digital infrastructure required for communities to function independently of the traditional internet grid. It is a primary project of the Lorekeepers’ Guild.
Key Features
The Digital Hearth
LocalNet serves as an application server on the local intranet at each outpost, hosting rich services on low-power hardware (e.g., Raspberry Pi, mini PCs, Steam Machines):
- The Library: Hosting a vast, offline-first repository of survival, technical, and cultural knowledge.
- The Librarian: A local, privacy-focused LLM (Large Language Model) that acts as an intelligent interface to The Library, answering complex questions without internet access.
- Pubsub: A lightweight publish-subscribe messaging system to facilitate communication between local applications and services and maintain updated records and library content.
- Kasm Workspaces: Containerized applications accessible via web browser, providing a variety of tools and environments for users.
- Collaboration Tools: Local instances of GitLab, Nextcloud, and other collaboration platforms to facilitate teamwork and resource sharing within the community.
- Knowledge Management Systems: GitLab/Pages for documentation, wikis, and project management.
- Open WebUI: An open source chat interface for interacting with all the bleeding edge LLMs.
- Creative AI: Local AI-powered tools for image, code, and music generation.
- Offline-First Design: All services are designed to function fully offline, ensuring reliability in remote locations.
- Internet-In-A-Box: Complete local copy of Wikipedia, OpenStreetMaps, and other educational materials.
Mesh Integration (The Cyberpony Express)
LocalNet integrates directly with The Cyberpony Express, HDI’s public Meshtastic-based mesh network.
- Acts as a bridge between the local high-bandwidth intranet and the low-bandwidth, long-range LoRa mesh.
- Facilitates secure communication between disparate outposts (e.g., High Ground, Mammoth, Slab City).
- Hosts the BBS, allowing for asynchronous messaging, bulletin boards, and lightweight applications over the mesh.
- Records data from regional sensors for things like weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and resource management.
This project is hosted in a submodule.
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