What CLIO is
CLIO is an open-source AI workspace for scientific data. You describe a question in plain language. CLIO finds the data, runs the analysis, shows you the results, and keeps a record of what it read, what it ran, and what it produced.
New to CLIO? Install it, connect a model, then follow your first analysis. Already have a dataset? Attach it in a workspace and start a session there.
How a session works
Section titled “How a session works”Work happens in sessions, and each session belongs to a workspace, which is a folder on your computer.
- You ask a question, for example “Find the five EarthScope GNSS stations nearest Palm Springs, California, show them on a map, and wait for me to choose one.”
- The agent for that session plans the work. Each session runs one agent blueprint, which defines the agent’s instructions, its tools, and the expert agents it can call on.
- The agent calls tools to read files, query data sources, and run analyses. When a task suits a domain expert, it hands that task to one of the expert agents its blueprint declares. Each expert runs as its own child session, and several can work at the same time.
- When a choice is yours to make, the agent stops and asks you. The question can be free text, a list of choices, a confirmation, or an interactive view such as a map.
- Results come back with their evidence: the files that were read, the changes that were proposed, and the artifacts that were created. See Memory and evidence.
The model decides what to do next. CLIO does not route your request with keyword rules, and an agent can only call the experts its blueprint declares.
Compare, assemble, and share
Section titled “Compare, assemble, and share”Use Best of N to compare independent attempts or refine one answer with feedback. Ask the agent to build a dashboard when several views need one structure, shared controls, and explanations. Use exports and downloads to send one output or retain the whole investigation. Each guide identifies the development features that are not included in beta 5.2.
Where it runs
Section titled “Where it runs”CLIO runs on your computer. The same backend is available through several interfaces:
- The desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- A web interface, opened in your browser.
- A terminal interface.
- Docker images, for running the workspace on a server.
See Install for each option.
Models
Section titled “Models”CLIO does not ship a model. You connect one: a model running on your machine through LM Studio, Ollama, llama.cpp, or vLLM; a cloud API; a Claude Code or Codex subscription; or an ALCF system. Prompts go only to the provider you choose. See Connect a model.
What makes it different
Section titled “What makes it different”- Evidence and provenance. Every tool call is recorded, proposed file edits wait for your approval, and each artifact has a content hash with versions and lineage.
- Your models. You choose where the model runs, and you can switch at any time.
- Blueprints you can read. An agent is a folder of Markdown files, not a hidden configuration. You can open one, change it, or write your own.
- Permissions you control. Reading is always allowed. Writing, running commands, and network access ask first unless you have allowed them. See Permissions and sandbox.
CLIO is in beta and releases ship often.