{
  "slug": "lm-studio",
  "name": "LM Studio",
  "category": "Runtimes / Inference",
  "tagline": "Desktop app for discovering and running local models, plus the lms CLI and a local server.",
  "kit_says": "The friendliest GUI in the directory. The app itself isn't open source, but the lms CLI is, and that's what I'd script.",
  "homepage": "https://lmstudio.ai/",
  "repo": "https://github.com/lmstudio-ai/lms",
  "docs": "https://lmstudio.ai/docs",
  "license": "lms CLI: MIT (LM Studio desktop app is proprietary freeware)",
  "platforms": [
    "macos-apple-silicon",
    "linux",
    "windows"
  ],
  "mac_studio_fit": "Primary",
  "what_it_is": "A desktop application for downloading and running local LLMs, with a CLI (lms) for scripting: status, server start/stop, list and load models.",
  "gap_role": "Point-and-click model management with an OpenAI-compatible local server; good for comparing GGUF vs MLX builds of the same model on a Mac.",
  "prerequisites": [
    "LM Studio 0.2.22 or newer (ships lms)"
  ],
  "install": {
    "macos-apple-silicon": [
      {
        "run": "brew install --cask lm-studio",
        "note": "Homebrew cask (0.4.26 as of 2026-10-15) or download from https://lmstudio.ai/"
      },
      {
        "run": "npx lmstudio install-cli",
        "note": "only if `lms` is not on PATH; then open a new terminal"
      }
    ],
    "linux": [
      {
        "run": "# download the Linux build from https://lmstudio.ai/ then run: npx lmstudio install-cli"
      }
    ],
    "windows": [
      {
        "run": "# download the installer from https://lmstudio.ai/ then run: npx lmstudio install-cli"
      }
    ]
  },
  "configure": [
    {
      "run": "lms server start",
      "note": "start the local API server"
    },
    {
      "run": "lms ls",
      "note": "list downloaded models"
    }
  ],
  "verify": [
    {
      "run": "lms status",
      "expect": "shows LM Studio status"
    },
    {
      "run": "lms ls --json",
      "expect": "machine-readable model list"
    },
    {
      "run": "curl -s http://localhost:1234/v1/models",
      "expect": "JSON model list (1234 is LM Studio's usual server port; check the app if changed)"
    }
  ],
  "rollback": [
    {
      "run": "lms server stop"
    },
    {
      "run": "brew uninstall --cask lm-studio",
      "note": "if installed via Homebrew"
    },
    {
      "run": "# downloaded models and settings live under ~/.lmstudio; delete only if you want them gone"
    }
  ],
  "caveats": [
    "Desktop app is not open source; only the CLI repo is."
  ],
  "works_with": [
    "open-webui",
    "litellm",
    "aider"
  ],
  "sources": [
    "https://github.com/lmstudio-ai/lms",
    "https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/lm-studio",
    "https://lmstudio.ai/"
  ],
  "sponsored": false,
  "verified_on": "2026-10-15",
  "gap_score": {
    "value": null,
    "status": "pending test on Mac Studio",
    "baseline": "frontier reference (see /about#gap-score)"
  },
  "benchmarks": {
    "status": "pending test on Mac Studio",
    "rig": "Mac Studio, Apple Silicon, 128GB unified memory",
    "results": []
  },
  "hardware_tested": [],
  "repo_meta": {
    "stars": 5352,
    "stars_as_of": "2026-10-15",
    "last_push": "2026-10-14",
    "archived": false,
    "license_spdx": "MIT"
  },
  "stack_layer": "runtime",
  "summary": {
    "what": "A desktop app for local models.",
    "why": "Browse, download and chat with no terminal needed."
  }
}