# I built a zero-backend, browser-only alternative to Open WebUI and heavy LLM stacks

> Source: <https://dev.to/talos1313/i-built-a-zero-backend-browser-only-alternative-to-open-webui-and-heavy-llm-stacks-5el7>
> Published: 2026-09-12 19:47:15+00:00

Most open-source LLM chat interfaces follow the exact same blueprint: a heavy Python or Node.js backend, a Postgres/Redis database, and a multi-container Docker Compose setup just to pass a JSON prompt to an API.

If you just want a clean, responsive workspace to inspect token counts, test system prompts, or chat with your local Ollama instance, deploying 2GB+ of Docker containers is massive overkill.

That’s why I built **Lab** - a lightweight, completely serverless, local-first web environment for LLMs.

Since Lab runs entirely in your browser over HTTPS, connecting to a local Ollama instance (`http://localhost:11434`) requires allowing browser cross-origin requests.

Simply set the environment variable on your Ollama host:

```
# Linux (systemd)
sudo systemctl edit ollama.service

# Add:
[Service]
Environment="OLLAMA_ORIGINS=*"
```

Restart Ollama, and Lab connects instantly directly from your browser tab.

The project is fully open-source under the MIT license:

Feedback, bug reports, and PRs are more than welcome!