Jan ​

Jan is a privacy-first, open-source AI application that emphasizes running large language models entirely on your own hardware. All data stays on your machine — conversations, model weights, and preferences never leave the device. MCP creates a controlled bridge to the outside world: the model gains external tool access only through servers you explicitly configure.

Ja
Jan
Open-Source · jan.ai
TRANSPORT
Streamable HTTP ✓
PLATFORM
Windows · macOS · Linux
MCP VIA
Settings + Jan CLI

Privacy-First AI with Controlled External Access ​

Jan's philosophy is local-first: download a model, run it on-device, keep your data private. This is great for sensitive workloads, but it limits what the model can do — it can't access APIs, check databases, or look up documentation.

MCP solves that gap while preserving Jan's privacy model. You decide exactly which external services the AI can reach. A Vinkius Cloud MCP server provides scoped, authenticated access to specific tools — nothing more, nothing less. Your conversations and model state remain entirely local.

Jan also ships a CLI for power users and automation. Jan CLI starts headless sessions that can call MCP tools, making it ideal for scripted workflows, cron jobs, and CI/CD pipelines.

Key points:

  • Local-first — models, data, and conversations stay on your device
  • Jan CLI — headless terminal agent for automation
  • Multi-model — Ollama, GGUF, and cloud providers (OpenAI, Anthropic)
  • Plugin ecosystem — MCP is one of several extension mechanisms
  • GPU acceleration — CUDA, Metal, and Vulkan support
  • Open-source — Apache 2.0, transparent development

Connecting to Vinkius Cloud ​

1. Create a Token ​

Go to Vinkius Cloud → your server → Connection Tokens → Create. Copy the URL.

2. Configure MCP ​

Desktop app: Open Settings → MCP Servers → Add. Paste your Vinkius URL.

Jan CLI: Add it to the CLI configuration:

bash
jan mcp add vinkius "https://edge.vinkius.com/{TOKEN}/mcp"

3. Start Chatting ​

In the desktop app, start a conversation — MCP tools appear in the toolbar. With Jan CLI, tools are available in automated sessions.

FAQ ​

Does MCP compromise Jan's privacy model? MCP tool calls are outbound requests you explicitly configure. No conversation data is shared — only the specific tool call parameters. You control which servers have access.

Can I use Jan entirely offline? Yes, with local models. MCP servers require network access, but they are only contacted when a tool call is made. Without MCP, Jan works fully offline.

What is Jan CLI? A headless command-line interface for Jan that runs sessions without the desktop GUI. It supports MCP tools and is designed for scripting and automation.

Is Jan free? Open-source under Apache 2.0. Free for local models. Cloud providers require their own API keys.