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Fred Nix

Fred Nix x Mastra

Mastra, the open-source TypeScript agent framework, now runs against NixNet, my local-AI GPU share. The agent decides which NixNet tools to call, one at a time (up to 5 steps), and answered live status questions in about 2 seconds. A workflow waits for a human before it does anything.

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What I built

A small private Mastra service runs on one of my home machines. It uses NixNet's OpenAI-compatible API, where the Auto model routes each message to the best local model on a single shared GPU.

  • An agent that explains the system. A Mastra agent connects to NixNet's own MCP server through Mastra's MCPClient. The agent decides which NixNet tools to call, one at a time (up to 5 steps), and answered live status questions in about 2 seconds.
  • A workflow with a human in the loop. A friend-onboarding Mastra workflow has an approval step. It suspends before anything happens, and a suspended run survives a service restart. On approval it writes handoff task files and a drafted welcome email in under 100 ms. It never sends mail, creates accounts or issues keys by itself, and deny ends it cleanly.

Why it matters

  • Tools work with Auto. NixNet's Auto model was dropping tool calls when relaying replies. It now passes tool calls and finish reasons through, streaming or not, so agents can use tools with Auto like any OpenAI-style API. I verified it with a full two-turn tool loop. With the gateway fixed, the agent moved from a precompute workaround to real model-driven tool calling.
  • A person stays in charge. The workflow pauses for approval, and it never sends mail, creates accounts or issues keys by itself.
  • Private by default. The service listens on loopback only and is not exposed to the network or internet. Tracing is off, so no prompts or answers are stored.

Architecture

Architecture diagram A Mastra agent and a Mastra workflow sit at the top. The workflow has a human approval gate. Both flow to the NixNet API, which is OpenAI-compatible, and to the NixNet MCP server. Both of those flow to a single GPU. Mastra agent MCPClient Mastra workflow friend onboarding human approval NixNet API OpenAI-compatible NixNet MCP server status, queue, model list Single shared GPU Auto picks the model

A private service on loopback only. Tracing is off.

Builder and community work

Alongside the Mastra write-up, here is the public work behind it: open source plugins, a weekly show, interviews and teaching. Every link goes to the live source.

Numbers checked Nov 3, 2026 (US Eastern). Sources: X profile, GitHub, spaces.nixfred.com, omarchy.builders.

Omarchy is an open source linux distribution created by DHH (source). Fred uses it, contributes pull requests, and builds plugins and apps for it. He does not build or maintain Omarchy itself.

Community

  • Omarchy X Spaces

    The running history of the weekly Omarchy X Space, with every episode's summary and full transcript. Fred co-hosts it every Sunday at 3 PM ET.

  • Omarchy Builders

    A written archive of Fred's one-on-one calls with people building on Omarchy: 25 interviews across 9 countries.

  • Omarchy Linux ATL Users Group

    A monthly Atlanta meetup for Omarchy users. Fred is listed as an organizer, handling the site and infrastructure.

  • Omarchy Stories, episode 007

    Guest appearance (Oct 14, 2026): building real tools with AI without a coding background. Hosted by Basti.

Agents and AI teammates

  • Nixfred.com HQ

    A live window into the office where Fred's AI team works: about sixty Grok Bots and the Claude Code sessions on his machines, reporting status as they work. An agent orchestration story you can watch.

  • Larry

    Fred's persistent AI teammate, built on Claude Code. Memory lives in files and git, so yesterday carries into today.

  • nixfredOS

    The free, open source machinery behind Larry: an AI teammate that remembers its human, keeps its own laws and shows proof before it says done. How-tos live at how.nixfred.com.

  • The Ladder

    A free student checklist for building your own AI with nixfredOS. Teaching and mentoring, one step at a time.

Open source Omarchy plugins

  • Infomarchy

    An Omarchy plugin that turns the wallpaper into a live desk of running AI agents, usage and machine stats. MIT license. Source on GitHub (134 stars, 24 forks, Nov 3, 2026).

  • Rift

    An Omarchy bar plugin that remembers which apps belong on a workspace and brings them back in one click.

  • Plugin catalogue

    One person's collection of Omarchy plugins, apps and a theme, built in the open. Not an official Omarchy project.