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Edit Mind

Edit Mind is a local-first video knowledge base that indexes video libraries with transcription, frame analysis, and semantic embeddings, then lets users search content in natural language. It is self-hosted with Docker Compose and described as privacy-preserving, though the project is still in active development and not yet production-ready.

Edit Mind

Overview

Edit Mind is a local-first video knowledge base for indexing personal or self-hosted video libraries. It analyzes video files with transcription, frame analysis, and multi-model embeddings, then lets users search the library in natural language.

The repository describes the project as running fully locally for privacy, with Docker Compose used to start the services. It is currently in active development and not yet production-ready, so the source explicitly notes that users should expect incomplete features and occasional bugs.

Core features

Automatic video indexing

A background service watches for new video files and sends them into the analysis pipeline, so newly added media can be processed without manual reindexing steps.

Multi-modal analysis

The analysis pipeline extracts transcription, frame-level signals, face recognition, object and text detection, scene analysis, and multi-model embeddings to build richer metadata for each video.

Semantic scene search

Search works with natural-language queries and can target whole videos or specific scenes, making it easier to find moments by meaning rather than filename.

Vector search with ChromaDB

The system uses ChromaDB for vector-based retrieval, supporting semantic matching across the indexed video library.

Docker-first setup

The project is built for containerized deployment with Docker Compose, and the README provides a separate CUDA compose file for NVIDIA GPU setups.

Where it fits

  • Private personal video archive

    A solo user can point Edit Mind at a video folder and build a searchable archive without sending media to a hosted service.

  • Find specific moments in long recordings

    People managing a large library can search for moments by spoken words, faces, objects, or scene content instead of remembering filenames or timestamps.

  • Self-hosted media search

    Teams or hobbyists who self-host infrastructure can run the system in Docker on a server and keep the workflow inside their own environment.

  • Review extracted video metadata

    Users who want to inspect how the pipeline interprets media can rely on the indexed metadata, including transcription and visual analysis, to review what was extracted.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Runs fully locally, which the README positions as a privacy-preserving approach.
  • Supports natural-language search across videos and specific scenes.
  • Combines transcription, face recognition, object and text detection, and scene analysis into one indexing flow.
  • Works with Docker Compose and includes guidance for NVIDIA GPU users.
  • The self-hosted version is described as free.

Cons

  • The project is still in active development and not yet production-ready.
  • Setup depends on Docker and a configured media folder, so it is not a zero-config app.

FAQ

How is Edit Mind deployed?

Edit Mind is designed to run locally with Docker Compose. The README says it works on any computer or server with Docker installed, and the setup guide uses Docker Desktop plus environment variables for configuration.

What does Edit Mind do with my video library?

The README describes indexing videos with transcription, frame analysis, face recognition, object and text detection, scene analysis, and multi-model embeddings. It then supports natural-language search over videos or specific scenes using ChromaDB.

Is Edit Mind free?

The repository README says the self-hosted version is free. It also mentions a separate commercial desktop app for macOS and Windows with one-click installation, but the source shown here does not list pricing details for that app.

What do I need to get started?

The setup section says you need Docker Desktop, a media folder shared with Docker, and a choice of model setup such as Ollama or Gemini API. It also notes that NVIDIA GPU users can use docker-compose.cuda.yml.

Is Edit Mind production-ready?

The README says the project is in active development and not yet production-ready, with incomplete features and occasional bugs.

Quick Facts

Category
Video knowledge base
Deployment
Self-hosted with Docker Compose
Primary workflow
Index videos, then search them in natural language
Core technologies
ChromaDB, PostgreSQL, React Router V7, Node.js, Python, Whisper
Platform fit
Any computer or server that can run Docker
Project status
Active development; not production-ready