"Never feel alone with your computer problems again"
Relay is a friendly, always-available AI assistant that lives on your computer and helps non-technical users solve their computer problems. Think of it as having a patient, knowledgeable IT professional available 24/7, right on your desktop.
Note
This project is open-source. Some advanced features may be offered under a paid license in the future to support long-term development.
Every day, millions of non-technical users face computer issues that seem simple to tech-savvy people but feel overwhelming to them:
- 🐌 "My computer is so slow, but I don't know why"
- 🔇 "My sound suddenly stopped working"
- 🦠 "I think I have a virus but I'm not sure"
- 🖨️ "My printer won't connect anymore"
- 💾 "I'm running out of disk space"
- 🔒 "I keep getting weird pop-ups"
Current solutions fail these users:
- ❌ Google/Stack Overflow: Too technical, overwhelming, scary to execute
- ❌ IT Support Lines: Long waits, expensive, not always available
- ❌ Friends/Family: Annoying them repeatedly, not always available
- ❌ Existing AI assistants: No access to system, can only give advice
Relay is different because it:
- ✅ Actually executes fixes - Not just advice, real actions
- ✅ Speaks human - No jargon, friendly explanations
- ✅ Knows your system - Learns your computer's specifics on install
- ✅ Safe by design - Asks permission, explains risks, can rollback
- ✅ Available 24/7 - No waiting, no subscriptions for basic help
- ✅ Gets smarter - Learns from your system over time
When you install Relay, it creates a "profile" of your system:
- Hardware specs (CPU, RAM, Storage, GPU)
- Installed software catalog
- System configuration
- Driver inventory
- Baseline performance metrics
Users describe their problem naturally:
"My computer is running really slow today and I need to get work done"
Relay investigates the issue:
- Checks current CPU/Memory/Disk usage
- Reviews running processes and services
- Compares against baseline metrics
- Identifies anomalies and potential causes
Presents findings in plain language:
"I found the issue! Google Chrome is using a lot of memory because you have 47 tabs open. Also, there's a Windows update running in the background. Would you like me to help with this?"
Offers multiple resolution paths:
- 🤖 "Fix it for me" - Relay executes the fix
- 👀 "Show me how" - Step-by-step guidance with screenshots
- 📖 "Explain first" - Detailed explanation before any action
After fixing, Relay:
- Tests if the fix worked
- Reports results to user
- Provides prevention tips
- System Health Monitor: Real-time CPU, RAM, Disk, Network stats
- Process Inspector: Identify resource-hungry applications
- Service Auditor: Check critical services status
- Startup Analyzer: Find programs slowing boot time
- Storage Scanner: Locate large files and cleanup opportunities
- Security Scanner: Check for common vulnerabilities
- Performance Optimization: Clear caches, manage startup, optimize settings
- Driver Management: Update, rollback, reinstall drivers
- Software Fixes: Repair installations, clear corrupted data
- Network Troubleshooter: DNS fixes, adapter resets, firewall checks
- Audio/Video Fixes: Driver updates, default device settings
- Malware Detection: Scan for suspicious processes/files
- Explain Mode: Every action explained before execution
- Approval Gates: Dangerous operations require explicit consent
- Rollback Points: System restore before major changes
- Audit Log: Complete history of all actions taken
- Sandbox Testing: Test fixes in isolation when possible
- Common problem patterns
- System-specific solutions
- User history and preferences
- Learning from successful fixes
| Component | Technology | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop App | Electron / Tauri | Cross-platform, native system access |
| UI Framework | React | Rich interactive chat interface |
| Backend Core | Python | Rich ecosystem for system scripts |
| AI Engine | Gemini API / Local LLM | NLU and reasoning |
| Database | SQLite | Local, no server needed |
| System Scripts | Python + PowerShell/Bash | OS-native capabilities |
| Packaging | PyInstaller / Electron Builder | Easy distribution |
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/hibbault/relay.git
# Navigate to project
cd relay
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Set up environment variables
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and add your Gemini API key (get from https://aistudio.google.com/app/apikey)
# Or leave empty to use Ollama locally
# Run Relay
npm startApache License 2.0 - See LICENSE for details
We welcome contributions! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
Made with ❤️ for everyone who just wants their computer to work
Relay - Because you deserve a patient tech friend