ChickenButt
Show HN: ChickenButt a Native GTK Chat Client for Ollama on Linux
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What is ChickenButt?
ChickenButt is a native GNOME desktop client for running language models locally via Ollama. It provides a streamlined interface with streaming responses, syntax-highlighted code blocks, and persistent local conversation history—all with no account, subscription, or cloud dependency.
ChickenButt pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free and open source (GPL-3.0)
ChickenButt pros
- 100% local-first with zero external telemetry—conversations stay on your machine
- Native GTK4/libadwaita integration for seamless Linux desktop experience
- On-the-fly model switching between local and cloud Ollama models without restarting
- Clean, distraction-free UI with live streaming, syntax highlighting, and one-click code copying
- Free and open source (GPL-3.0)
ChickenButt cons
- Linux/GNOME-only (requires GTK4 + libadwaita support)
- Requires separate Ollama installation and model management
- Limited to models available through Ollama ecosystem
- Requires Python 3 runtime
Frequently asked questions about ChickenButt
Why is it called ChickenButt?
The logo is a rooster beside a speech bubble that structurally resembles a butt. The developer chose it because it's memorable, made them laugh, and the software is built carefully.
How do I install it?
Install Ollama first, then download the Flatpak from GitHub Releases and run it. Alternatively, clone the source and run ./run.sh.
Is my data private?
Yes, all conversations stay local on your machine with zero external telemetry, analytics, or remote logging.
Can I use cloud models?
Yes, Ollama can proxy large models through their servers using the :cloud suffix. Sign in to Ollama and pull cloud models to use them in ChickenButt.