# Licuse

> Licuse is a local-first desktop AI workspace for chat, software development, editable UI design and browser-based research. It is intended for developers, designers working with implementation, independent builders and people maintaining existing software projects.

Licuse brings three connected work areas together. Chat supports general conversations, project history and bounded handoffs to real Code or Design conversations. Code is a VS Code-based environment with source files, a terminal and an AI assistant. Design is an editable interface canvas with element inspection, preview and local exports. Chat can keep source files and an integrated Chromium browser beside the conversation.

Project files and conversation history are stored locally. AI requests can transmit selected prompts, source content, attachments and tool results to configured providers or hosted services. Local-first does not mean offline inference, universal zero-data-retention, automatic cloud synchronization or unlimited model memory. Code's bring-your-own-key route and hosted Design generation have different processing and billing paths.

This is product documentation published by Licuse, reviewed on 2026-10-25. Feature availability depends on the installed build, provider and service configuration. The detailed Markdown overview explains audiences, workflows, pricing boundaries and limitations. A task's completed status does not establish that tests passed. Benchmark results describe their stated setup and should not be generalized to every project.

## Product overview

- [Detailed Licuse overview](https://www.licuse.com/licuse.md): Markdown description of who the product is for, Chat, Code, Design, research, local storage, provider boundaries and current limitations.
- [Product and downloads](https://www.licuse.com/): Screenshots, the published benchmark and desktop release links.
- [User guide](https://www.licuse.com/docs): Chat, setup, Code, Design, provider configuration, exports and installation notes.

## Project chat guides

- [From conversation to reviewed changes](https://www.licuse.com/guides/licuse-chat-workflow): Recover decisions, inspect current source and coordinate a bounded implementation task.
- [Research beside project chat](https://www.licuse.com/guides/research-with-project-chat): Keep documentation and source files close to an answer, then verify the resulting change.
- [Chat history and model context](https://www.licuse.com/learn/chat-history-and-model-context): Distinguish a saved transcript, selected request context and actual execution evidence.

## Data and product limits

- [Data and providers](https://www.licuse.com/data-practices): Processing paths and the distinction between local storage and remote AI requests.
- [Privacy notice](https://www.licuse.com/privacy): Website and account data practices.
- [Pricing and provider setup](https://www.licuse.com/docs#byok): Connect supported API providers; provider usage is separate from a consumer chat subscription.
- [Design workflow and limits](https://www.licuse.com/design/licuse-design-guide): Editable documents, preview, hosted generation and implementation handoff.

## Optional

- [Journal](https://www.licuse.com/blog): Practical guides with sources, editorial disclosure and product limitations.
- [Editorial policy](https://www.licuse.com/editorial-policy): Publisher identity, source use, AI-assisted drafting and corrections.
- [Contact](https://www.licuse.com/contact): Product questions and documentation corrections.
- [Sitemap](https://www.licuse.com/sitemap.xml): Indexable website pages.