Simple Ollama GUI on Debian and macOS

Ollama, the powerful open-source large language model runner, becomes even more user-friendly with a graphical interface. This guide will walk you through setting up and running the Ollama GUI on Debian-based Linux distributions (like Ubuntu) and macOS.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that Ollama is installed and running on your system. The GUI we're setting up is an add-on that works with your existing Ollama installation.

Step 1: Verify **make** Installation

First, let's make sure make is installed on your system.

For Debian-based Linux (e.g., Ubuntu):

Check if make is installed:

make --version

If it's not installed, run:

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sudo apt-get install build-essential

This command installs make along with other essential build tools.

For macOS:

Check if make is installed:

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make --version

If it's not installed, you'll need to install Xcode Command Line Tools:

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xcode-select --install

This command will open a prompt to install the necessary developer tools, including make.

Step 2: Set Up and Build Ollama GUI

Now that we have make installed, let's set up and build the Ollama GUI. The process is the same for both Debian Linux and macOS:

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mkdir -p $HOME/temp
cd $HOME/temp
git clone https://github.com/ollama-ui/ollama-ui
cd ollama-ui
make

These commands will:

1. Create a temporary directory in your home folder

2. Clone the Ollama UI repository

3. Build the interface

Step 3: Access the UI

Once the build process completes:

1. Open your web browser

2. Navigate to http://localhost:3000 (or the port specified in the build output)

You should now see the Ollama GUI in your browser.

Running Ollama GUI After Initial Setup

After you've completed the initial setup and want to run the Ollama GUI again:

1. Ensure Ollama is Running: Before starting the GUI, make sure the Ollama service is running.

2. Navigate to the Ollama UI Directory:

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   cd $HOME/temp/ollama-ui
   

3. Start the GUI:

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   make run
   

4. Access the Interface: Open your web browser and go to http://localhost:3000 (or the port specified in the output).

Tip: To make starting the GUI easier, you can create a simple shell script:

1. Create a file named start_ollama_gui.sh in your home directory:

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   nano ~/start_ollama_gui.sh
   

2. Add these lines to the file:

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   #!/bin/bash
   cd $HOME/temp/ollama-ui
   make run
   

3. Make the script executable:

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   chmod +x ~/start_ollama_gui.sh
   

Now, you can start the Ollama GUI anytime by running:

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~/start_ollama_gui.sh

Important Note

Remember, Ollama needs to be running on your system for the GUI to function properly. If you encounter any issues, make sure Ollama is up and running before starting the UI.

Wrapping Up

Congratulations! You've successfully set up the Ollama GUI on your Debian Linux or macOS system. This interface provides a more visual and intuitive way to interact with your Ollama models compared to the command line. With the added instructions for running it after the initial setup, you can easily access the GUI whenever you need it. Happy modeling!