Key Facts
- ✓ The web app generates cover letters in approximately 5 seconds.
- ✓ It connects to OpenAI-compatible local LLM endpoints like Ollama, LM Studio, and vLLM.
- ✓ Data is parsed and cached locally in the browser to ensure privacy.
- ✓ The tool is open source and free to use.
- ✓ It supports multi-language generation and editable output.
Quick Summary
A new open source web application has been introduced for generating cover letters using local AI models. The tool was developed by stanleyume to address privacy concerns and the inefficiencies of existing solutions. It allows users to generate professional letters without their data leaving their local machines.
The application connects to any OpenAI-compatible local LLM endpoint, including Ollama, LM Studio, and vLLM. The process is streamlined into three steps: uploading a resume, pasting a job description, and generating a letter in roughly five seconds. The tool is designed to be completely free and private, offering an alternative to paid services like ChatGPT or Claude APIs.
Core Functionality and Workflow
The application is designed to simplify the job application process by automating the creation of cover letters. The developer emphasizes that the tool eliminates the need for placeholders and manual typing, ensuring that the output is ready to copy and paste immediately. The entire workflow is handled within the browser to maintain data security.
The specific workflow consists of three distinct steps:
- Upload your resume in PDF format, which is parsed and cached locally in the browser.
- Paste the text of the job description into the designated field.
- Receive a personalized cover letter in approximately 5 seconds.
Because the tool connects to local LLM endpoints, the privacy of the data depends on the user's choice of model server. The developer notes that the output quality is high and that the generated text can bypass some AI detectors.
"I made this because I was tired of wasting time with writing letters while applying for jobs."
— Developer
Key Features and Technical Details
The web app offers several features aimed at privacy and usability. It is built to be 100% local, meaning resume and job data never leave the user's machine provided the chosen LLM runs locally. The developer utilized pdf-parse for smart resume parsing to extract relevant information efficiently.
Additional capabilities include:
- Multi-language support: Users can add more languages to suit their needs.
- Editable output: Generated letters can be modified before use.
- One-click copy: A feature designed for quick transfer of text.
The tool is compatible with various local model servers. While the creator uses Ollama with llama3.2, the application is flexible enough to work with any compatible server. It is available as open source software, allowing users to self-host it or run it locally in development mode.
Motivation and Availability
The development of this tool was driven by the creator's frustration with existing options. The developer stated, "I made this because I was tired of wasting time with writing letters while applying for jobs." They found that other tools required too much modification to replace placeholders, defeating the purpose of automation.
Furthermore, the developer noted a lack of tools that utilize local LLMs for free. They expressed a desire to avoid paying for ChatGPT/Claude API calls for every job application. The result is a free, open source solution that prioritizes user privacy and efficiency. The source code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing for community contributions and transparency.
