Setup guide · updated 12 Nov 2026

Project NOMAD: a computer that still works when the internet doesn't

Project NOMAD is a free, open-source (Apache-2.0) offline knowledge and education server by Crosstalk Solutions. It puts Wikipedia, books, maps, Khan Academy courses, handy tools and an optional local AI on a machine you own. You open it all from a browser, with no internet needed after setup.

Read this first It runs on Debian-based Linux (Ubuntu 26.04 LTS recommended; 24.04 and Debian 12 also work). Windows users have a community-supported WSL2 route. You need internet during install and while downloading content. After that it works offline.

01What's inside

Information library (Kiwix): offline Wikipedia, medical references, survival guides, ebooks
AI assistant (Ollama + Qdrant): chat with a local AI and search your own documents
Education (Kolibri): Khan Academy courses with progress tracking
Offline maps (ProtoMaps): download your region
Tools: CyberChef for data, FlatNotes for notes, a benchmark, and Supply Depot, a one-click app catalog

02Pick your hardware

Library only: a 2 GHz dual-core CPU, 4 GB RAM and about 10 GB free to install comfortably. The stack without AI runs in under 1 GB of RAM. Your offline content is what fills the drive.

With the AI: the README recommends a Ryzen 7 or Core i7, 32 GB RAM, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better, and 250 GB+ of SSD. The AI part alone is roughly 25 GB to install.

03Install on Ubuntu or Debian

Open a terminal and run the command from the README:

sudo apt-get update && \
sudo apt-get install -y curl && \
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Crosstalk-Solutions/project-nomad/refs/heads/main/install/install_nomad.sh \
  -o install_nomad.sh && \
sudo bash install_nomad.sh

Then open http://localhost:8080 in a browser. Other devices on the same network can use http://DEVICE_IP:8080.

04Download everything while you're online

Run the setup wizard and pick a content collection.
Download Wikipedia (choose a size that fits your drive), your region's map, the courses you want and an AI model if your PC can run one.
Wait for everything to finish, then test it with Wi-Fi off.

05Windows

There's no native Windows installer. Follow the project's WSL2 install guide (community-supported). Or use a spare PC or mini PC running Ubuntu as a dedicated NOMAD box.

Links Repo: github.com/Crosstalk-Solutions/project-nomad
Website: projectnomad.us