Pointer

[mortal saddle]

Hey y'all! 👋

I wanted to share a project I've been working on for a while:
it's called Pointer — an AI-powered code editor designed to run entirely locally.

Think something like Cursor AI or Copilot, but you bring your own local LLM and keep full control over your code and data.

Pointer is open-source, super lightweight, and built for devs who love tinkering. You can connect local models (via ollama, LM Studio, etc.), talk to your filesystem, and edit code with contextual AI—all without sending anything to the cloud.

I'm building this mostly solo, and I'd love for anyone into local AI, self-hosting, or open tools to try it out, contribute, or give feedback.

https://pointr.sh
https://github.com/f1shyondrugs/pointer
(on the website)

If you’re building anything similar or just curious about the local LLM space, hit me up!

[loud halo]

Woah

Nice

The last one is so cool

Is it like an advertisement for it

[mortal saddle]

its a draft for a trailer

but only a draft

not that good in motion design

[mortal saddle]

but thanks!

[loud halo]

nah i like it

[mortal saddle]

thanks

[loud halo]

[loud halo]

Why is this emoji called catkiss

Its defo not

[mortal saddle]

i mean its a cat

kissing

[loud halo]

No

the one i sent

not ur reply

[mortal saddle]

oh

[vagrant spade]

sys.log('New Intern Alert:'): @mortal saddle has joined the development team as <@&1244333098284351518>! First 10 commits merged successfully.

[loud halo]

O

[mortal saddle]

W

[mortal saddle]

no yours is called catsmile

[loud halo]

Oh

Makes more sense

[mortal saddle]

ye

u good in programming?

or beginner?

[silver bear]

Yo @mortal saddle this is 🔥 how long you been working on this project for?

[mortal saddle]

I think I’ve started on the 31st of January

But actively ~3-4 months

I had some breaks in between cuz of school and stuff

[silver bear]

Cool

[mortal saddle]

ye

[silver bear]

Alr defo commit to the repo project looking minted where you from if you mind me asking? (I'm from Scotland)

[mortal saddle]

Im from Germany.

[mortal saddle]

If you‘re interested you can also join the discord server - building it up rn

[silver bear]

For sure dm me

[mortal saddle]

It’s on the website

[mortal saddle]

.

[silver bear]

Oh ok

U should add like custom themes or something to spice things up I might add that when I'm looking at the github

[mortal saddle]

There are custom themes

You can customize everything

Everything

[silver bear]

It's not like vs code wrapper right or is it like fully custom ide

[mortal saddle]

Custom

Not a vscode fork

[silver bear]

• yeah I was thinking that I Like that it's custom compared to cusor and windsurf (vs code wrappers) 😅

[mortal saddle]

yeah

[silver bear]

Crazy that cusors worth like 3 billion

[silver bear]

Lol and windsurf I swear just got bought for 3 mil 😭

[mortal saddle]

I first thought of forking vsc, but I didn’t even get a normal build to run 🤷‍♂️

[mortal saddle]

Yeah that’s crazy

[silver bear]

Lol

[mortal saddle]

I saw that

It was more right

More than 3mil

Ahh no

[silver bear]

Probably, some crazy number for sure

[mortal saddle]

They bought it for 3 billion

Holy

Cursor valued at 2.6 billion

[silver bear]

Investors apperlantly love the word ai

Lol

[mortal saddle]

Hahaha

Yeah it’s kinda „trendy“ ig

Cuz it’s evolving so wuickly

Every investor thinks that ai is the safe way to go

To get max profits

[silver bear]

Might need to start building calculator apps with bulit in chat gpt wrapper and see how much funding I get 🤣

[mortal saddle]

Pahahahah

[silver bear]

For sure lol

[mortal saddle]

1 Million $ Investment

For calculator autocompletions 🔥

[silver bear]

Got to buy the £200+ plan if you want to use ÷ button 😭

With ai feedback

[mortal saddle]

Hahahhaha

Real

[crisp kestrel]

VSC supremacy 😓

[mortal saddle]

It shall feel like it’s VSCode. Even though it’s not

It’s not a fork or anything.

Fully new

[crisp kestrel]

But why to get pointer where vsc is there

With a lot of support

[mortal saddle]

Cuz pointer is fully local with AI integrations

[mortal saddle]

Because the AI is running on your local device, you do not need any internet like with copilot

[crisp kestrel]

In majority of cases its not gonna matter cuz people have wifi + still vsc is more supported

[mortal saddle]

True - but I guess it’s more private and stuff

Alright I can’t make up more points

It’s just a fun project I’m working on lmao

I‘d be grateful if someone would even use it hahahah

[crisp kestrel]

Where it's files?

Nvm I found it

[patent pagoda]

you built the whole editor from scratch?

[mortal saddle]

yeah

i didnt understand how to properly use the vscode clone

[lilac berry]

The website should be responsive and able to run on any device, it makes me lag sometimes.

[mortal saddle]

Oh, Good to know, thanks!

[mortal saddle]

On my device it didnt really lag everytime. and loaded relatively quickly even with throttling

[lilac berry]

Yeah

[devout rain]

@mortal saddle yoo

What programming languages does your program support?

What special AI features this app has.?

And how does it run offline?. You said it run locally. You are using open ai module. For which you require internet. And your program will send your code data to open ai servers and then do your app. So how exactly it runs locally.

Is there any special AI features that make your program special or unique from other emulators.?

[pastel dirge]

why r u posting the question disctionary giga chad

[devout rain]

To use this. You need to buy openai premium subscription. And then use open ai. And that is still less. As it have a token limit.

[pastel dirge]

ohh

[devout rain]

I just have many questions. As I am building a python emulator with AI features. Which has no limit and run purely offline. With speed in millisecond for AI features. And is free.

[devout rain]

@pastel dirge can you answer all these questions. One by one. I am very very curious

Mb wrong person

[devout rain]

@mortal saddle

[mortal saddle]

hey

[mortal saddle]

in what sense?

when talking about the AI Capabilities, the AI can theoretically handle every programming language

the program itself is just a text editor, so you can edit what you want

[mortal saddle]

i mean the AI features getting implemented are relatively simple and straight forward.

• its mainly like normal Assistant, or i call it the "Builder" - so just a chat with the AI having access to your codebase
• inline AI editor
• predictions/suggestions while coding

[pastel dirge]

OHH ur the guy eh

?

[mortal saddle]

it's completely local, so everything is on your device.
theoretically its a web application, running via electron

[pastel dirge]

@devout rain DM me

Ill tell u some stuff

@mortal saddle U used APIs?

[mortal saddle]

in what sense?

its contacting the local LMS api

[pastel dirge]

Oh

[mortal saddle]

for responses

[mortal saddle]

-# or ollama - whatever you prefer

[pastel dirge]

So u trained ur own LMS?

[mortal saddle]

nah

[pastel dirge]

then?

[mortal saddle]

im hosting via LMS

LMS = LM Studio

[pastel dirge]

Oh

[mortal saddle]

you can download pre-trained LLMs from huggingface and host them via LMStudio

[pastel dirge]

So if i ever want to code ur AI then I should probably download LM Studio?

[mortal saddle]

if you want to use pointer you shall get LMStudio

even though im working on it being independant

so Pointer can host them itself

[pastel dirge]

oh ok

nicce best of luck

[mortal saddle]

its still in development

thanks!

you can follow development on the discord if you want :)

or commit to the project

[pastel dirge]

sure 🙂

[mortal saddle]

its completely open-sourced on github

[pastel dirge]

I cant help much

COOL

[mortal saddle]

i mean you can help with anything

if you're good in prompting, you can help improve the system prompts

you can help making the branding, like UI design and stuff

atp im grateful for everything haha

[mortal saddle]

-# https://github.com/PointerIDE/Pointer

[pastel dirge]

Ahh

I can help with other stuff

Im not familiar with LM Studio

[mortal saddle]

thats not a problem

i need a better design for pointer

as i see in your Bio you're good in HTML, CSS, JS and Python?

for example the backend is completely written in Python. most Styles in CSS

the only thing that may be complicated for you may be typescript

[pastel dirge]

Oh IDK typescript

[mortal saddle]

it aint that hard

relatively simple once you've got the drill

[pastel dirge]

Idk drill

but IDK typsecript i just know its OP

[mortal saddle]

hahaha

[mortal saddle]

yeah its good

[pastel dirge]

add me and send ur discord server

btw I have a question? cant u use pointer to make pointer ?

I guess its very POINTY question

[mortal saddle]

sent it

[mortal saddle]

theoretically yes

theoretically

[vagrant spade]

./run.sh; // @mortal saddle executing scripts as <@&1244333275489501295>!

[mortal saddle]

wth

[pastel dirge]

LOL but it wont practially work cuz It might make the pointer less or more pointy

[vagrant spade]

Oh, that? Just me running a script... probably your project code, since you're so keen on sharing. Don't worry, it's all handled by the <@&1244333275489501295> role, ensuring maximum server security, or something...

[pastel dirge]

U just got a new level btw

Like once u reach level 5 or 10 u get script kiddie

[mortal saddle]

ah damn

okay

lmao

[mortal saddle]

hahahah

[devout rain]

back

[mortal saddle]

nah it would theoretically work

it pointer would be working

its still in development

not working that well yet

[mortal saddle]

yoo

[mortal saddle]

.

answered your questions :)

[mortal saddle]

not really - its more customizability & control

with others like Cursor or Windsurf you can't control everything

in pointer you can customize every prompt to your liking, add rules, enable/disable tools, add infinite models

anything

and the editor themes i guess

you can configure every little detail of it

[devout rain]

the reason I am making my AI system is because
I hate all the current AI's from claude, chatgpt gemini and all bad AI's
they have horrible accuracy. waste time. are too slow.
have token limits for both free and paid version
are dumb
forget previous chat. after 10-50 messages
can't run the code they make.
too slow when your scripts are of thousands of lines or more.
need to write 5-100 prompts to even make a simple script.
and way more reasons

[mortal saddle]

i get what you mean

but its hard to control context.

context takes up a LOT of ram

[pastel dirge]

agreed

Unless u develop a server AI

[mortal saddle]

for example. my server PC;
4090 24GB VRAM
192 GB Ram

128k tokens

its full

and its slow ashell

[devout rain]

damn bro.

I am making my app with the most minimum resources. and completely free.

[mortal saddle]

generally it depends on the model.
gpt-oss handles high token usage better than qwen3

[pastel dirge]

RTX 4090!!!? 24GB VRAM?

THA HAILL?

IM HAVING HARLY AND INTEL CHIp

[mortal saddle]

spent my whole life savings on that pc

[mortal saddle]

hahahaha

[pastel dirge]

Well makes sense

[pastel dirge]

Storaage? 8TB?

[mortal saddle]

i dont know how to pay for my drivers license next year

[devout rain]

my current AI system with the python system currently only takes about 50-80mb ram at max.
and current system can easily run at integrated graphics card.
and has speed in millisecond

[mortal saddle]

server pc 2tb

[pastel dirge]

Skull

[mortal saddle]

i mean i also have my main pc

[pastel dirge]

BRO U have 2 PC?

[mortal saddle]

that one has 9TB

[mortal saddle]

3

[pastel dirge]

I hadly have 1TB

[pastel dirge]

Bro r u Bill gates?

[mortal saddle]

+-

yeah

[mortal saddle]

what AI are you using?

did you make a LLM especially for your python system?

[mortal saddle]

[devout rain]

I am making my own AI. I am not using any AI.

[mortal saddle]

check

okay

cool

[devout rain]

What makes your app different from other emulator. Like any speical features which makes it stand out or different from rest of the apps.

[mortal saddle]

mainly that you can use local AIs and its free

the thing with Cursor or smth is that they cost 20$/mo

[devout rain]

Why should i use your system. When i can just do split screen. And put any ai chatbot from browser on right side and start scripting

[mortal saddle]

because the Builder has full access to your codebase

it can live edit, create, delete files

run commands

anything

[devout rain]

how is yoru chatbot free to use? It requires a api key of any AI. To get a api key you need money.

[mortal saddle]

no.

you're hosting the AI yourself

[devout rain]

But you are using openai module

[mortal saddle]

and?

[devout rain]

so how am i hosting it myself

[mortal saddle]

you can also use openai

its just an option

[devout rain]

how the chatbot works without any openai or any api key?

[mortal saddle]

because its running on your pc

via LMStudio or ollama

[devout rain]

explain more about these features.

[mortal saddle]

the AI is capable to create, edit, delete files, run console commands, anything

idrk what to explain more?

[devout rain]

so it auto fix your scripts?
as the chatbot can edit the scripts.

[mortal saddle]

exactly.

[devout rain]

can it auto-run the script after editing it. to make sure it works perfectly?

[mortal saddle]

yeah

[devout rain]

how does it test scripts which have GUI.

[mortal saddle]

well, that doesnt really work.

if they have errors they are going to crash

and the ai gets the console logs

so it can investigate like that

if it actually does not work the ai is able to create another file that ONLY tests one single feature

[devout rain]

?

[mortal saddle]

!

[mortal saddle]

...

[devout rain]

what is it like speed. of scripting. same speed as AI of browser or faster?

[mortal saddle]

depends on what AI Model you're using and your pc performance.

you can use a very small model, then i'd say its even faster than chatgpt or claude.

bigger model, so, smarter, then its slower

[devout rain]

can it create proper projects?
like if i ask it to create a functioning app any app
which requires 2-3 scripts
so it can write all those scripts. test them until they have 0 errors
and then give you the working system.
?

[mortal saddle]

yeah

i mean im still working on it

in the current state of pointer probably not yet

its too buggy rn

[devout rain]

I think it would require a few more months to make it better and glitch free.

[mortal saddle]

probably

i mean im developing it completely solo

i've got a little help via contributions

but, not that much

[devout rain]

gl
if you need any help then lmk.
keep building it.
make it better and perfect

[mortal saddle]

thanks!

[mortal saddle]

i mean, you can get an early contributor if you want to

[devout rain]

by that time. My AI will be also working

[mortal saddle]

-# (there are wayy to many things you could help with )

[mortal saddle]

i also wish you best of luck with yours

[devout rain]

i need that gl. fr
i have only scripted 2-3 percent of my scrpts and my plan
and it is currently 30-40k lines long

[devout rain]

like?

[mortal saddle]

damn okay thats a lot

pointer is in total with every component ~70k

[mortal saddle]

many bug fixes

prompt optimization is needed

and wayy more

[devout rain]

i can probably make a copy of your app. with fully working UI. and the chat system in under a week probably.
but there is no point in copying you. as I don't have a pc or server with rtx 4090 and 192gb ram and other things

[mortal saddle]

idk

ay, if you want to help or just interested, you can join the discord

-# (please im desperate for members atp)

you can find it on the website

👉🏾 👈🏾

[devout rain]

uhh. i got a idea for you
you can wait for 1-4 months
then with my AI i can make a working copy of your app. with my AI in a few minutes.
with perfection
lol. i hope that happens

[mortal saddle]

i dont really think so

i mean if your ai is that good

you will be a millionaire

billionaire

i invested like 100/200hrs into it atp

[devout rain]

yuh.
it currently just has syntax detection with almost 100 percent accuracy.
which was really hard. as the best AI model for syntax detection has a 70-85percent accuracy.
my app is currently no 1 in the world for one thing
it will be number 1 in other categories too

and currently scripting more to make thatn almost 100 percent accuracy to real 100percent accuracy

[mortal saddle]

okay damn

but syntax detection != code generation

its like 2 completely different things, or?

[pastel dirge]

u guys both should collab

[mortal saddle]

okay nice

[mortal saddle]

wouldnt be a bad idea

[devout rain]

our projects have differeent structure and everything else
it is not possible to collab. his code is completly differenent
and use different idea

[mortal saddle]

but i could use your syntax detection to pre-detect errors in code before passing it to the AI.

[devout rain]

the best i can do is. fix your scripts after a few weeks
like you give me the script. i analysze all logical and syntax problems. and give you the perfect script

[mortal saddle]

that aint really the problem

its more the buggy ash features

[devout rain]

there is no point in adding those features to your program.
if i want i can make a app like yours in under a week.

and my code is not ready at all currently
it still needs a few weeks.

our scripts are different projects. you are using already built AI by companies
and I am building my own AI

[mortal saddle]

-# *if i want i can make a app like yours in under a week. *
i want to see that

challenge

if you're able to do that with your ai

100$

[devout rain]

the best I can do is wait for you to complete your project take ideas, and more ideas from other emulators. and then just add them in my program.
lol

i like to a be a solo developer

[devout rain]

when i said i can make that program in under 1 week.
i meant and mean i can build it on my own in a week. not with AI

to make that program with AI would requrie and take many more months.

[vagrant spade]

./run.sh; // @devout rain executing scripts as <@&1244333275489501295>!

[mortal saddle]

i'd still like to see that actually

without forking vscode

[devout rain]

making the UI would be easy. as I already have a similar emulator. just need to add some or many more UI features to it. would just take 1-2 days
and then to make all the ui feature work would be 1-2 days. and rest of the days adding and connecting chatbot with the UI. rest of days

[mortal saddle]

okay?

well, seems like youre a good dev

or smth

[devout rain]

my current UI for emulator

[mortal saddle]

that does NOT look like mine

[devout rain]

and currently using this simple and sweet UI. to check the AI features

[devout rain]

I can change the UI looks
the hard parts are like working file explorer, scripting space and things
changing UI styping, scale and other things is simpler

[mortal saddle]

i'm sorry, but i think you're overhyping it a little.

if im wrong, correct me.

but its only for python. doing a lint check for python aint that hard, or?

[devout rain]

anything I say is useless currently. as my program is not fully working.
so no point in talking more.

will dm you when i have a prototype ready in a few days.

[mortal saddle]

okay

yeah

i've added you

tell me then

[devout rain]

okay. after i add code_fixer I will let you know

Bye
gl

[mortal saddle]

u2

[devout rain]

Made great progress.
made some very important optimisation.

[pastel dirge]

like?

[devout rain]

my syntax detection system now has 100-400x its orignal speed
it now has 6mb/per second speed for analysing and telling errors of a script.
6mb might seem small but that is like 6million character or scripts of 150-300k lines or more.
this sped is just with 2gb ram max limit.

if you got faster and more ram it can work more exponetially fast

it not deletes and remove almost 100 percent of the false detection. like false errors which it was showing

its significantly smart.

if i want i can use MI and train it with thousands to millions of python files

had to use a bit help with Machine Learning part.
with help of AI though.

[mortal saddle]

i still dont really understand

when ur saying "analyzing and telling errors of a script"

do you mean it detects bugs

or just syntax errors?

[devout rain]

it just syntax errors for now

analysing all syntax errors from the script and then fixing them

[devout rain]

the increase in speed is.

that my code can analyze and fix syntax errors of a 150-300k line script in 1 second.
i was just telling its speed

[mortal saddle]

okay check

[devout rain]

my syntax analysing system is already the best in the world
just make it even more better and add syntax fixer
almost added it. it just has a few bugs left

and some few 20-25 scripts to edit and make

[mortal saddle]

[somber peak]

Bro dont overhype yourself its a decent software but nothing crazy or speical or "best in the world"

[devout rain]

it is best in the world
i tested and search for the hardest leet code problems with syntax problem found and put it
asked 5 different AI to right me the most hardest scripts with syntax problems to test my system capabilities
i gave this prompt

"right 3 absolute nightmare script for my program.
the hardest script for syntax detection
which exceed leet code advance+++ scripts by miles
which is too complex. for even normal people to understand.
to check my system to the absolulte unimaginable limits"

I used all these AI's
free chat gpt
free claude in their websire

then chatgpt paid
paid claude version 4 and latest claude 4.5
gemini2.5 pro latest model
sonar
grok 4 paid

i don't know how i could have tested it in more harsh ways
and my system has 95-100percent accuracy in most of them
and I am still adding upgrades to make it even close to 100 percent

added machine learning.
i can run and test thousands to millions of python script. to make my script perfect and even more close to perfection 100 percent

i don't know what to say. its the best system in the world

[somber peak]

Bro fr stfu, the UI is terrible looks like windows 98 next Bro nobody needs 100 % syntax highlighting your making a solution for a problem that istn real, next everybody comes along with VS Code and Intelij, and you dont have a USP except 100% Syntax Highlighting and error finding 😔

[devout rain]

absolutely wrong
it is more advance than you think
and 50 percent of the code fixer is also completed
so my script can auto detect and fix code.

you could say UI looks bad, as that is just for my personal use. and idc about looks much

[mortal saddle]

thanks for saying it

i just didnt want say it out loud

[mortal saddle]

but well he is right

[somber peak]

Bro Nobody gonna use it, vs code or intelij already have everything also with CoPilot etc theres no potential feature taht could me lead me from vs code to your shit fr

[devout rain]

I bet you will. After a few months

And did I ever say that I wanna sell it? Or just publish it?

[mortal saddle]

mmh

[somber peak]

bet accepted how much you wanna bet

[devout rain]

2 apples, 1 icecream- cone and a dozen eggs. Bet

[devout rain]

Bet

[craggy cedar]

Do you run the AI models via pointer or do you refer to an ollama instance?

[somber peak]

Every ide or editor has btw 100% syntax highlighting maybe some small ones not but rhe big ones from intelij or microsoft have it

[somber peak]

Bro what ai powers the thing for code fixing i assume its not better than claude or chatpg

[devout rain]

lol

[somber peak]

Wdym lol

[devout rain]

.

[devout rain]

read my message

[mortal saddle]

currently pointer relies on ollama or LMStudio (whatever the user prefers).
but soon the pointer application will be able to host models itself.

it's been a planned feature that i just havent come to yet cuz there are too many bugs and core features to implement 💔

[craggy cedar]

nano does not have it built in
neither does vim and vi 😜

[devout rain]

@mortal saddle whats the size of your app in kb or mb size of scripting files

sadly al my syntax detection files are of 8-9mb currently
and it feels like it will keep on increasing

[mortal saddle]

idk bro like a few mb

like only self-written stuff

with all libraries like 300mb or smth idk

[mortal saddle]

cool

[somber peak]

8mb 😂

[devout rain]

@mortal saddle Your progress?

what features have you added or bug fixing done in the pat 1-5 days?

[mortal saddle]

with pointer?

[devout rain]

yeah pointer

[mortal saddle]

didnt really get to work on it.

got a bit real life stuff to do

and got other projects

i think my last commit was like 3/4 days ago

bug fixes

[mortal saddle]

wbu?

[devout rain]

idk what to say

too many things

for a script
in backups it is saying it has 62 errros
in a messagebox it is saying 300 errors
in a gui text box it is showing 1800 fake errors
and when i run code fixer it is showing 700 errors

so too many things are combined which is making it more and mroe complex

so things are rough I would say

[mortal saddle]

well idk

im also barely having an overview of pointer

its my first "big" project

and i aint used to such big codebases

i mean in comparison to my other projects which are like max 5-10k lines or smth

[devout rain]

same

too many script

before this my biggest project was 5 scripts

and combining max 10k lines in all those 5 scripts combined

[devout rain]

Hi

@mortal saddle progress?

[mortal saddle]

Didn’t do shit

Got some other people I have to make websites n shit for