# Open Notebook Documentation

Welcome to Open Notebook - a privacy-focused AI research assistant. This documentation is organized for different needs.

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## 🎯 Choose Your Path

### I'm brand new
→ Start here: **[0-START-HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md)**
- Learn what Open Notebook is
- Pick your setup path (OpenAI, cloud, local/Ollama)
- 5-minute quick start

### I need to install/deploy
→ Go here: **[1-INSTALLATION](1-INSTALLATION/index.md)**
- Multiple installation routes
- Docker Compose (recommended)
- From source (developers)
- Single container (shared hosting)

### I want to understand how it works
→ Read this: **[2-CORE-CONCEPTS](2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md)**
- Mental models and architecture
- How RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) works
- Notebooks, sources, and notes explained
- Chat vs. transformations vs. podcasts

### I want to use it (tutorials)
→ Follow this: **[3-USER-GUIDE](3-USER-GUIDE/index.md)**
- How to add sources (PDFs, URLs, audio, video)
- Creating and organizing notes
- Chat effectively with your research
- Creating podcasts from research
- Search techniques

### I need to configure it
→ Check this: **[5-CONFIGURATION](5-CONFIGURATION/index.md)**
- Choose and setup AI provider
- API configuration
- Database setup
- Advanced tuning

### I need provider-specific help
→ Go here: **[4-AI-PROVIDERS](4-AI-PROVIDERS/index.md)**
- OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, Ollama, Azure
- Model comparisons
- Cost estimates
- Setup paths

### Something's not working
→ Troubleshoot: **[6-TROUBLESHOOTING](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md)**
- Quick fixes (top 10 issues)
- Installation problems
- Connection issues
- AI/chat problems
- Content processing issues
- Podcast problems

### I want to contribute/develop
→ Read this: **[7-DEVELOPMENT](7-DEVELOPMENT/index.md)**
- Architecture and tech stack
- Contributing guidelines
- API reference
- Testing

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## 📊 Documentation Overview

### By Section

**[0-START-HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md)** — Entry point
- What is Open Notebook?
- Quick start guides (3 routes)
- First 5 minutes

**[1-INSTALLATION](1-INSTALLATION/index.md)** — Getting it running
- Multiple installation routes
- Docker, single-container, from-source
- Requirements and setup

**[2-CORE-CONCEPTS](2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md)** — Understanding the system
- Notebooks, sources, notes hierarchy
- RAG (retrieval-augmented generation)
- Chat, transformations, podcasts
- Context management

**[3-USER-GUIDE](3-USER-GUIDE/index.md)** — Using features
- Adding sources (all types)
- Working with notes
- Chat effectively
- Creating podcasts
- Searching (text and semantic)

**[4-AI-PROVIDERS](4-AI-PROVIDERS/index.md)** — AI configuration
- Provider comparison
- Setup for each provider
- Model recommendations
- Cost estimates

**[5-CONFIGURATION](5-CONFIGURATION/index.md)** — Complete reference
- AI provider setup (detailed)
- Database configuration
- Server/API settings
- Advanced tuning
- Environment variables (complete reference)

**[6-TROUBLESHOOTING](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md)** — Problem solving
- Quick fixes (top 10)
- Installation issues
- Connection problems
- AI/chat issues
- Content processing
- Podcast generation
- Getting help

**[7-DEVELOPMENT](7-DEVELOPMENT/index.md)** — For contributors
- Architecture
- Contributing guidelines
- API reference
- Testing & development

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## 🔍 Find What You Need

### By Problem Type

**Installation & Setup**
- Fresh install? → [0-START-HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md)
- Detailed installation routes? → [1-INSTALLATION](1-INSTALLATION/index.md)
- Configuration reference? → [5-CONFIGURATION](5-CONFIGURATION/index.md)
- Provider setup? → [4-AI-PROVIDERS](4-AI-PROVIDERS/index.md)

**Using Open Notebook**
- How to use features? → [3-USER-GUIDE](3-USER-GUIDE/index.md)
- Understanding concepts? → [2-CORE-CONCEPTS](2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md)
- Chat not working? → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING - AI Issues](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/ai-chat-issues.md)
- Files won't upload? → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING - Quick Fixes](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/quick-fixes.md#4-cannot-process-file-or-unsupported-format)

**Troubleshooting**
- Quick fix? → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING - Quick Fixes](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/quick-fixes.md)
- Can't connect? → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING - Connection](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/connection-issues.md)
- Chat issues? → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING - AI Issues](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/ai-chat-issues.md)
- Podcast problems? → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING - Quick Fixes](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/quick-fixes.md#8-podcast-generation-failed)

**Development**
- Architecture? → [7-DEVELOPMENT - Architecture](7-DEVELOPMENT/architecture.md)
- Contributing? → [7-DEVELOPMENT - Contributing](7-DEVELOPMENT/contributing.md)
- API reference? → [7-DEVELOPMENT - API Reference](7-DEVELOPMENT/api-reference.md)

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## 📚 Reading Paths

### Path 1: Complete Beginner (1-2 hours)
1. [0-START-HERE/index.md](0-START-HERE/index.md) — Understand what it is
2. [0-START-HERE Quick Start](0-START-HERE/index.md) — Set it up
3. [2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md](2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md) — Understand concepts
4. [3-USER-GUIDE/index.md](3-USER-GUIDE/index.md) — Learn features

**Result:** Fully understand how to use Open Notebook

### Path 2: Get Running Fast (15 minutes)
1. [0-START-HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md) — Pick your path
2. Follow quick-start guide for your setup
3. Start using!

**Result:** Running in 15 minutes, learn details later

### Path 3: DevOps/Deployment (1-2 hours)
1. [1-INSTALLATION](1-INSTALLATION/index.md) — Understand routes
2. [5-CONFIGURATION](5-CONFIGURATION/index.md) — Reference setup
3. [7-DEVELOPMENT - Architecture](../7-DEVELOPMENT/architecture.md) — Understand system

**Result:** Ready to deploy to production

### Path 4: Troubleshooting (5-30 minutes)
1. [6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md) — Identify problem
2. Find specific guide
3. Follow solutions

**Result:** Problem solved!

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## ❓ Common Questions

**Q: Where do I start?**
A: → [0-START-HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md) — Choose your setup path

**Q: How do I install it?**
A: → [1-INSTALLATION](1-INSTALLATION/index.md) — Multiple routes available

**Q: How do I use [feature]?**
A: → [3-USER-GUIDE](3-USER-GUIDE/index.md) — Step-by-step tutorials

**Q: Why does [feature] work like that?**
A: → [2-CORE-CONCEPTS](2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md) — Understand the mental model

**Q: How do I configure [provider]?**
A: → [4-AI-PROVIDERS](4-AI-PROVIDERS/index.md) or [5-CONFIGURATION](5-CONFIGURATION/index.md)

**Q: Something's broken, what do I do?**
A: → [6-TROUBLESHOOTING](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md) — Problem solver

**Q: How does the system work?**
A: → [2-CORE-CONCEPTS](2-CORE-CONCEPTS/index.md) — Architecture and concepts

**Q: Can I contribute?**
A: → [7-DEVELOPMENT](../7-DEVELOPMENT/index.md) — Contributing guide

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## 📖 How This Documentation is Organized

### Principles
- **Progressive Disclosure**: Start simple, go deeper if needed
- **Multiple Entry Routes**: Different paths for different users
- **High Signal-to-Noise**: Focused content, no fluff
- **Step-by-Step**: Clear instructions you can follow
- **Decision Trees**: Help you pick the right path
- **Symptom-Based**: Troubleshooting by what's broken

### Structure
- **0-START-HERE** — Entry point (everyone starts here)
- **1-INSTALLATION** — Multiple setup routes
- **2-CORE-CONCEPTS** — Mental models (understand why)
- **3-USER-GUIDE** — How to use (step-by-step)
- **4-AI-PROVIDERS** — Provider guides
- **5-CONFIGURATION** — Reference material
- **6-TROUBLESHOOTING** — Problem solving
- **7-DEVELOPMENT** — For contributors

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## 🚀 Quick Navigation

### First Time?
→ **[START HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md)**

### Just Want to Use It?
→ **[QUICK START](0-START-HERE/index.md)** (5 minutes)

### Something Broken?
→ **[TROUBLESHOOTING](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md)**

### Full Reference?
→ **[CONFIGURATION](5-CONFIGURATION/index.md)**

### Developer?
→ **[DEVELOPMENT](7-DEVELOPMENT/index.md)**

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## 📞 Getting Help

- **Discord Community** — https://discord.gg/37XJPXfz2w
- **GitHub Issues** — https://github.com/lfnovo/open-notebook/issues
- **Documentation** — You're reading it!

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## 📈 Documentation Stats

- **8 major sections**
- **35+ focused guides**
- **~80,000 words**
- **Covers all features**
- **Multiple entry paths**
- **Progressive difficulty**

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## 🎯 Start Here

**First time using Open Notebook?**
→ Go to **[0-START-HERE](0-START-HERE/index.md)**

**Experienced, looking for specific help?**
→ Use the navigation above to find your section

**Something not working?**
→ Go to **[TROUBLESHOOTING](6-TROUBLESHOOTING/index.md)**

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Last updated: January 2026 | Open Notebook v1.2.4+
