Workspace and files

Otto has its own Linux computer, called the workspace, where it runs commands and keeps files for your conversation.

The workspace is separate from your computer. Otto can write documents, convert files, run code and keep notes there without touching your own files.

What Otto can use

For	The workspace has
Office files	LibreOffice, to convert, render and recalculate documents and sheets
PDFs	qpdf, Ghostscript and pypdf, to fill forms and repair files
Text in any language	Noto fonts for other scripts and emoji
Video from a link	`save-video`, which saves a video as an MP4 of 15 MB or less
Anything else in Python	`pip install`, which adds libraries to `~/.local`

save-video refuses live streams and videos too long to fit at a watchable quality.

What the workspace can't reach

flowchart LR
  you([You]):::accent
  home[(Your home folder)]:::muted
  server[Otto server<br/>keys stay here]
  subgraph otto ["Otto's computer"]
    ws[Workspace]
    br[Browser]
  end
  you -- attach files --> server
  server -- copies files in --> ws
  ws -- shared files --> server
  server -- attachments in chat --> you
  server -- drives --> br

Your files. The workspace doesn't see your home folder. It only gets the files you attach or that Otto fetches.
Keys. Model provider keys and Otto's access key never enter the workspace. If you connect a command-line tool, its token reaches only that tool, never code Otto writes.
The browser. Otto's browser runs in its own container. The workspace can't read its saved sign-ins.

Give Otto files

Attach them in chat. You can attach up to 20 files per message, each 15 MB or smaller. Otto gets a copy in the workspace and sees images directly.
From your apps. Files from a connected app, such as an email attachment, are saved privately in the workspace.
From the web. Files that Otto downloads in its browser go into the workspace.

Get files from Otto

When Otto shares a file, it appears as an attachment in chat, up to 15 MB. Select it to preview or download it.

Files Otto saves along the way stay private in the workspace until it shares them. Ask for one by name if you want it. On Telegram, shared files arrive as documents. WhatsApp can't receive files from Otto, so open Otto to get them. See Telegram and WhatsApp.

How long files stay

Files stay in the workspace for the whole conversation. Otto can come back to them days later.

In a development run, Clear messages gives Otto a new, empty workspace folder. Saved browser routines in /workspace/.otto/browser-flows stay. See Start with an empty chat.