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diff --git a/content/blog/2024-01-13-local-llm.md b/content/blog/2024-01-13-local-llm.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35dc3db --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2024-01-13-local-llm.md @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ ++++ +date = 2024-01-13 +title = "Running Local LLMs on macOS and iOS" +description = "Finding some useful applications for running local LLMs on macOS and iOS." ++++ + +## Requirements + +I've recently started playing with large language models (LLMs), mostly in the +popular chatbot form, as part of my job and have decided to see if there's a +consistent and reliable way to interact with these models on Apple devices +without sacrificing privacy or requiring in-depth technical setup. + +My requirements for this test: + +- Open source platform +- On-device model files +- Minimal required configuration +- Preferably pre-built, but a simple build process is acceptable + +I tested a handful of apps and have summarized my favorite (so far) for macOS +and iOS below. + +> TL;DR - Here are the two that met my requirements and I have found the easiest +> to install and use so far: + +- macOS: [Ollama](https://ollama.ai/) +- iOS : [LLM Farm](https://llmfarm.site/) + +## macOS + +[Ollama](https://ollama.ai/) is a simple Go application for macOS and Linux that +can run various LLMs locally. + +For macOS, you can download the pplication on the [Ollama download +page](https://ollama.ai/download/mac) and install it by unzipping the +`Ollama.app` file and moving it to the `Applications` folder. + +If you prefer the command line, you can run these commands after the download +finished: + +```sh +cd ~/Downloads && \ +unzip Ollama-darwin.zip && \ +mv ~/Downloads/Ollama.app /Applications/ +``` + +After running the app, the app will ask you to open a terminal and run the +default `llama2` model, which will open an interactive chat session in the +terminal. You can startfully using the application at this point. + + + +If you don't want to use the default `llama2` model, you can download and run +additional models found on the [Models](https://ollama.ai/library) page. + +To see the information for the currently-used model, you can run the `/show +info` command in the chat. + +![Model Info](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240113-local-llm/ollama_info.png +!"Model Info") + +## iOS + +While there are a handful of decent macOS options, it was quite difficult to +find an iOS app that offered an open source platform without an extensive +configuration and building process. I found LLM Farm to be decent enough in +quality to sit at the top of my list - however, it's definitely not user +friendly enough for me to consider using it on a daily basis. + +[LLM Farm](https://llmfarm.site/) is available on TestFlight, so there's no +manual build process required. However, you can view the [LLMFarm +repository](https://github.com/guinmoon/LLMFarm) if you wish. + +The caveat is that you will have to manually download the model files from the +links in the +[models.md](https://github.com/guinmoon/LLMFarm/blob/main/models.md) file to +your iPhone to use the app - there's currently no option in the app to reach out +and grab the latest version of any supported model. + +Once you have a file downloaded, you simply create a new chat and select the +downloaded model file and ensure the inference matches the requirement in the +`models.md` file. + +See below for a test of the ORCA Mini v3 model: + +| Chat List | Chat | +|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| +|  |  + +[Enchanted](https://github.com/AugustDev/enchanted) is also an iOS for private +AI models, but it requires a public-facing Ollama API, which did not meet my +"on device requirement." Nonetheless, it's an interesting looking app and I will +likely set it up to test soon. |