OpenPrism provides an AI-powered, local-first workspace for academic writing, streamlining the LaTeX workflow. It targets researchers and academics seeking enhanced productivity through intelligent assistance, robust document compilation, and seamless collaboration, offering a privacy-focused alternative to cloud-based solutions.

How It Works

This project integrates a sophisticated AI assistant with a traditional LaTeX editing environment. Core functionalities include multi-step AI edits, real-time PDF compilation and preview, and a template system for common academic conferences. A key innovation is the dual-mode Template Transfer, supporting direct LaTeX-to-LaTeX migration and a PDF-to-Markdown-to-LaTeX pipeline via the MinerU API, enhanced by LLM-driven content mapping and VLM layout checks. Real-time, multi-user collaboration is enabled via CRDT and WebSocket, with local-first data storage for privacy.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary install/run: Clone the repository, run npm install, then npm run dev for development or npm run build followed by npm start for production.
• Prerequisites: Node.js (>= 18.0.0), npm (>= 9.0.0), and a LaTeX compilation environment (TexLive recommended, Tectonic alternative).
• Resource footprint: TexLive installation can be substantial (~5-7GB).
• Links: Repository: https://github.com/OpenDCAI/OpenPrism. Tunneling for collaboration: https://dashboard.ngrok.com/get-started/your-authtoken.

Highlighted Details

• AI Assistant: Offers chat, agent-based diff generation, multi-step tool execution, and AI-powered autocomplete.
• Template Transfer: Supports legacy LaTeX-to-LaTeX and MinerU PDF-to-Markdown-to-LaTeX modes, featuring LLM migration, automatic compile error fixing, and VLM layout validation.
• Real-time Collaboration: Enables multi-user editing with CRDT synchronization, cursor tracking, and online user management, accessible via public servers or tunneling solutions like ngrok.
• Integrated Search: Includes WebSearch and PaperSearch functionalities for research and citation gathering.

Maintenance & Community

The project is maintained by the OpenPrism Team. Community engagement is facilitated via a WeChat group. A roadmap is available within the repository.

Licensing & Compatibility

The project is licensed under the MIT License, which permits commercial use and integration into closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

The Template Transfer feature is currently in beta and may contain bugs. Real-time collaboration, while functional, requires a server with a public IP address or the setup of a tunnel (e.g., ngrok) for remote access.