Overview
Butler is a macOS personal assistant that runs in Node.js and renders chat directly in the terminal. It presents a Codex-style chat transcript, animated character graphics, a British butler’s manner, and MCP-first tools, with desktop control as a fallback when a connected tool cannot handle a task. It requires macOS 14+, Node.js 22.12+, and Apple’s command-line developer tools. The installer builds Butler, refreshes stale native helpers, and installs ~/.local/bin/butler.
On first launch, Butler offers to get everyday apps ready, checking Apple apps and installed coding assistants, reusing saved connections, and using signed-in browser or Slack apps when Gmail, Slack or GitHub has no connected tool. It checks desktop permissions before starting computer use and waits for sign-in or approval. Connections, credentials, preferences and briefing settings use one encrypted profile across restarts, project folders and terminal sessions.
Butler supports natural chat, explicit tasks, spoken replies, voice input, and regular briefings. Each briefing check uses available app/window context, observed notification banners and configured, trusted MCP reads; Butler suggests priorities, speaks the result with macOS’s British voice, and saves an encrypted readable copy. Preferences and completed task history persist encrypted locally and are recalled when relevant. Controls include /yes and /no for task approvals, /stop, /pause, /resume and Ctrl-C.
Pricing
Free
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Use Cases
- Users use Butler to chat naturally, ask it to work, or receive regular spoken briefings with an encrypted readable copy.
- Users use Butler to connect everyday apps such as GitHub, Gmail, Slack, Claude Code, Codex and Apple app bridges.
- Users use Butler to get spoken replies and voice input by saying Hey Butler and continuing the conversation.
- Users use Butler to check reminders or calendar items directly through connected Apple read tools without a model call.
- Users use Butler to run background briefings after quitting the interactive terminal.
- Users use Butler to remember preferences and completed task history locally and recall them when relevant.
- Users use Butler to control tasks with approvals and commands like /yes, /no, /stop, /pause, /resume and Ctrl-C.
Features
AI assistant
Natural language interface
Workflow automation
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