ChatGPT Desktop Application - AI Chat Interfaces Tool
Overview
ChatGPT Desktop Application (lencx/ChatGPT) is an open‑source, native desktop client that wraps the ChatGPT web experience into a cross‑platform Electron app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It aims to provide a more integrated workflow than a browser tab by adding desktop conveniences such as a system tray, global hotkey, native notifications, and downloadable installers (DMG, EXE, AppImage) so users can access ChatGPT like a regular application. The app focuses on usability features around conversations: persistent history with search and pinning, export/import of conversations (Markdown/JSON), prompt templates, and improved code rendering with copy buttons and syntax highlighting. It supports either signing in with an OpenAI account through the embedded web view or using an API key in settings, and includes options for custom proxies and user agents to adapt to various network environments. According to the GitHub repository, the project is actively maintained and widely used, offering a popular alternative to using ChatGPT exclusively in a browser.
GitHub Statistics
- Stars: 54,383
- Forks: 6,204
- Contributors: 29
- Primary Language: Rust
- Last Updated: 2024-08-29T17:58:11Z
- Latest Release: v1.1.0
According to the GitHub repository, the project has 54,383 stars, 6,204 forks, and 29 contributors, with the most recent commit on 2024-08-29. Those metrics indicate a large user base and an active contributor community. The repo appears to receive regular maintenance and community PRs; however, the repository metadata lists no license. That combination (high activity but no declared license) is an important consideration for downstream use and redistribution.
Installation
Install via npm:
git clone https://github.com/lencx/ChatGPT.gitcd ChatGPTnpm installnpm run devchmod +x ChatGPT-*-x86_64.AppImage && ./ChatGPT-*-x86_64.AppImage Key Features
- Cross-platform native app with installers for macOS (.dmg), Windows (.exe), and Linux (.AppImage)
- Sign in with OpenAI account or use an OpenAI API key from app settings
- Persistent conversation history with search, pinning, and export to Markdown/JSON
- Built-in code blocks with syntax highlighting and one-click copy for developer workflows
- System tray support, global hotkey, native notifications, and custom proxy/user-agent options
Community
The project has a large and active community (54k+ stars, 6k+ forks) and receives frequent contributions, issue reports, and feature requests on GitHub. Users commonly praise the native integration, quick access, history export, and developer-friendly code rendering. Community threads frequently discuss breakage when OpenAI changes the web interface and requests for API-key workflows, client-side privacy options, and additional localization. Note: the repository currently lists no license, so check the repo before redistributing or embedding in other projects.
Key Information
- Category: Chat Interfaces
- Type: AI Chat Interfaces Tool