TL;DR
Tasker is a free, open-source desktop agent designed to automate browser workflows and OS tasks. It offers recording or plain-English description of actions, AI-driven execution that adapts to page changes, local execution for privacy, and developer-friendly features like variables, loops, and visual debugging.
What happened
A project called Tasker is being presented as an open-source desktop agent aimed at automating browser and operating system workflows. According to its homepage, users can either record interactions or describe desired actions in plain English to create automation routines. The tool claims to use AI to interpret pages and adapt when websites change, helping workflows continue to run despite updates. It also supports dynamic variables and looping constructs so a single workflow can process many items, and it provides visual debugging with screenshots to observe execution in real time. Tasker emphasizes local operation, stating that data remains on the user's machine, and the project is distributed under the MIT license, making the source code available for inspection, contribution, and customization. The site repeatedly frames these capabilities as part of a free and open-source offering.
Why it matters
- Local execution could reduce the risk of sensitive data being sent to external servers, which matters for privacy-sensitive automations.
- AI-driven adaptation to page changes may lower maintenance overhead for web automations that break when sites update.
- Open-source licensing enables transparency, third-party inspection, and community-driven customization or extensions.
- Support for variables and loops suggests the tool can scale from simple tasks to batch processing across many items.
Key facts
- Tasker is presented as a desktop agent for browser and OS automation.
- Users can create automations by recording actions or by describing tasks in plain English.
- The product uses AI to adapt workflows when webpages change, per the site.
- Variables and loops are supported to handle dynamic data and iterate over items.
- Visual debugging includes real-time execution views and built-in screenshots.
- Tasker is designed to run entirely on the user's machine so data does not leave the computer.
- The project is released under the MIT open-source license.
- The site describes the offering as free and fully open source.
What to watch next
- Specific operating system support (Windows, macOS, Linux): not confirmed in the source
- Details on browser integrations or required extensions for automation: not confirmed in the source
- Repository activity and community adoption metrics (contributors, issues, forks): not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Desktop agent: A software component that runs on a local computer to perform automated actions or coordinate tasks across applications and the operating system.
- AI-powered execution: Using machine learning or AI techniques to interpret interfaces and adapt automated actions when the underlying page or application changes.
- Variables: Named placeholders used in automation scripts to store and manipulate dynamic data during execution.
- Loops: Programming constructs that repeat a sequence of actions multiple times, often used to process lists or batches of items.
- MIT license: A permissive open-source license that allows reuse, modification, and redistribution with minimal restrictions.
Reader FAQ
Is Tasker free to use?
Yes — the site describes Tasker as free and open source under the MIT license.
Does Tasker send my data to external servers?
The site states that Tasker runs locally and that data never leaves the user's machine.
How does Tasker handle changes to websites?
According to the site, Tasker uses AI to understand page changes and adapt workflows so they continue running.
Which operating systems and browsers are supported?
not confirmed in the source
Powerful Features Everything you need to automate your browser workflows. Free and open-source forever. Record or Describe Click record to capture your actions, or just describe what you want in…
Sources
- Show HN: Tasker – An open-source desktop agent for browser and OS automation
- Show HN: Tasker – An open-source desktop agent for …
- Tasker MCP Server: The Ultimate Guide to AI-Powered …
- Tasker and Join – Automate Your Life
Related posts
- How Prompting Habits from AI Are Reshaping Everyday Conversation
- Beginner’s guide to Mastodon: the open-source alternative to Twitter
- Wario Synth: Convert Any Song into a Game Boy–Style Track in Your Browser (Show HN)