OSTT

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Daemon Mode ​

When OSTT transcribes with a local model, it loads the model from disk on every call and releases it when done. For small models this adds half a second or so. For large models it can add 5–15 seconds — a noticeable pause before every transcription.

Daemon mode keeps the model loaded in a background process. Start it manually, or install it as a login service, when you want local transcriptions to avoid loading the model each time.

Daemon mode only applies to local models. It has no effect when using cloud providers.

How It Works ​

Daemon mode is controlled with ostt daemon commands, not with ostt.toml settings:

  • ostt daemon start starts a background daemon for the active local model.
  • ostt daemon stop stops it.
  • ostt daemon install installs it as a login service.
  • If you do not start or install the daemon, local transcription runs directly in the OSTT process.

Configuration ​

There are no daemon settings in ostt.toml. Daemon mode uses the currently active local model selected with ostt model.

Daemon Commands ​

All daemon commands are under ostt daemon (alias: ostt d).

ostt daemon start ​

Starts the daemon for the currently active local model. If a daemon is already running for a different model, it is stopped first.

bash
ostt daemon start

Daemons started this way have no idle timeout and run until explicitly stopped or the machine reboots.

ostt daemon stop ​

Stops the running daemon gracefully.

bash
ostt daemon stop

ostt daemon restart ​

Stops the running daemon and starts a fresh one for the currently active model. Use this after switching models with ostt model if you want to pre-warm the new model.

bash
ostt daemon restart

ostt daemon status ​

Shows the current state of the daemon.

Status:  running
PID:     72233
Socket:  /home/you/.local/share/ostt/ostt-daemon.sock
Model:   turbo
Service: installed (~/.config/systemd/user/ostt-daemon.service)
Log:     ostt logs

If the daemon is loaded with a different model than the currently active one:

Status:  running
Model:   tiny (active: turbo)
Warning: run 'ostt daemon restart' to load the active model

Install as a Login Service ​

To have the daemon start automatically at login and restart on crash, install it as a service:

bash
ostt daemon install

macOS — writes a launchd plist to ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.ostt.daemon.plist and loads it immediately.

Linux — writes a systemd user unit to ~/.config/systemd/user/ostt-daemon.service and runs systemctl --user enable --now ostt-daemon. Logs are also available via journald:

bash
journalctl --user -u ostt-daemon -f

To remove the service:

bash
ostt daemon uninstall

The service always loads the model that is active in config at the time it runs. After switching models with ostt model, run ostt daemon restart to load the new model.

Model Screen ​

The ostt model screen shows a run badge next to any model currently loaded in the daemon. The badge updates every two seconds. After switching models, run ostt daemon restart to load the new active model.